The Senate expanded and passed a comprehensive transportation package this week, answering calls from House GOP leadership to receive a transportation bill “three weeks of more” before the June 30 budget deadline so the lower chamber would have time to vet and volley.

The Senate agreed Thursday morning to end debate on the farm bill and proceed to a final vote – invoking cloture on a vote of 75 to 22. In remarks ahead of the vote – Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow noted that the bill includes 38 amendments approved by the Senate last year and 14 added in debate this year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the vote on final passage of the farm bill will be held Monday at 5:30 Eastern time. The Senate version of the five year plan includes many of the energy related programs and an energy title.

Primary election week and Memorial Day holiday are traditionally “break weeks” for the General Assembly, and this year was no different. With legislators taking a break from session for the Primary Election and the Memorial Day holiday, this past week, things have been fairly quiet in the state Capitol.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently ruled on Butler v Powers, a case with big consequences for the natural gas industry. The Court was tasked with determining whether or not natural gas rights should be part of the broader concept of “mineral rights” in Pennsylvania.

Both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees gave approval last week to their respective versions of a five-year farm bill, setting the stage for a vote in the full Senate and House on the measures soon. The current extension expires in September.

Former DEP Secretary John Hanger is campaigning to be on the Democrat ticket for governor of Pennsylvania. Recently he released his plans to protect and restore the state’s environment, create jobs and grow the economy.

Last week the House and Senate Republican and Democratic Transportation Chairs were joined at a press conference by more than 100 stakeholders from across the state to unveil their proposal to fund Pennsylvania’s transportation needs. PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch also participated in the event.

The “Marcellus Works” package of legislation is designed to “secure Pennsylvania’s energy future and create thousands of new jobs by fostering the transition to natural gas as a primary fuel for consumer and commercial vehicles – a fuel that is plentiful in Pennsylvania’s large Marcellus Shale formation,” according to Rep. Stanley Saylor (R-York) and members of the House Republican caucus. 

As previously announced, Michael Krancer stepped down from his role as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection by April 15. As part of the mid-March announcement, Christopher Abruzzo, deputy chief of staff for Governor Tom Corbett, was named to serve as acting secretary. Abruzzo worked closely with Krancer and the DEP staff in his position as deputy chief of staff, and is expected to hold both positions until Corbett names a new Secretary.

Members of the General Assembly are back in their home districts for spring break, slated to return to Harrisburg the week of April 8. All of the large agenda items are still on the table, but are beginning to take shape.