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| Mehaffie Message |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Deadline Nears for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s 2018 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Remember, you can obtain the application through my office or at various outreach locations throughout the district.
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.
For additional information and applications, click here, or contact my office for referrals for assistance.
You do not need to pay a private firm.
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Helping You Save Money on Prescriptions
Seeking to increase transparency in prescription drug pricing, the House approved some long-overdue legislation to ensure pharmacists would be permitted to disclose cost-related information to patients.
For some less expensive, generic medicines, co-pays can often be more expensive than if the patient simply pays out-of-pocket and bypasses insurance. However, companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers often include in their contracts a “gag clause” that prevents pharmacists from sharing this information with their customers.
House Bill 943 would put an end to the use of a gag clause and ensure pharmacists are empowered to help their customers by sharing information that could save them money on their out-of-pocket costs for medications, not to mention their overall health care.
The measure was approved unanimously as part of the House #HealthierPA package of bills. Learn more about that initiative here.
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Protect Your Personal, Financial Data
In recognition of National Tax Security Awareness Week, the state Department of Revenue outlined several tips to help protect yourself from identity thieves:
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Shop at websites where the web address begins “https” – the “s” is for secure communications. |
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Don’t shop on unsecured public Wi-Fi in malls or hotels, where thieves can tap in. |
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Secure your home Wi-Fi with a password. |
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Use security software for computers and mobile phones; keep it updated. |
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Protect your personal information; don’t hand it out to just anyone. |
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Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts. |
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Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. |
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Back up your files on computers and mobile phones. |
You should also be on the lookout for “phishing” scams in your email. Identity thieves sometimes pose as companies or government agencies you know, such as the IRS or state Department of Revenue. Other phishing emails may tell an urgent story to trick you into opening a link or attachment that ultimately adds a virus or spyware onto your computer.
Finally, the IRS or Department of Revenue will never call to demand a tax payment on a gift card.
If you are a victim of identity theft or discover a fraudulent Pennsylvania personal income tax return was filed using your identity, please contact the Department of Revenue’s Fraud Detection and Analysis Unit at 717-772-9297 or
RA-RVPITFRAUD@pa.gov.
For more information on ways to protect yourself, click here.
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Give the Gift of Fishing!
Just in time for the holiday season, 2020 fishing licenses, permits and gift vouchers are now available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).
All fishing licenses and related permits purchased now are valid for up to 13 months, from December 2019 through Dec. 31, 2020. Licenses and permits can be purchased at www.gonefishingpa.com, or from any of more than 700 issuing agents, county treasurers’ offices and all PFBC regional offices. Vouchers are also available to give as gifts that can be redeemed for a license or various permits, such as trout/salmon or Lake Erie permits.
The price of an annual resident fishing license is $22.90. Multi-year options are also available in three-, five- and 10-year increments. The most popular add-ons, a trout-salmon permit and a Lake Erie permit, cost $9.90 each, or $15.90 for a combination permit. A collectible fishing license button is available for $10.
You may also purchase voluntary permits for Bass, Musky, Wild Trout and Enhanced Waters, and Habitat/Waterways Conservation. These permits are not required for fishing and carry no additional privileges, but all funds generated through them are reinvested into their respective program.
While youth anglers under age 16 do not require a fishing license, they must have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License ($2.90) or a free Mentored Youth Fishing Permit to participate in various youth opportunities throughout the season. This includes the Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Days, which occur the week before the opening of the regional and statewide openers in each area.
For more information, visit www.fishandboat.com.
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Thank you, Rafay Nasir, Nasir Iqbal and Dr. Munima Nasir, for inviting me to speak at a gathering of the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of APPNA: Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America. I also appreciate that they invited me to try some tasty food.
I had the honor of presenting a citation to Troop 74’s newest Eagle Scout, Wyatt Petula. Wyatt’s Eagle Scout project was managing a tree-planting project in Hummelstown. Congratulations, Wyatt, on your achievement and best of luck as you pursue your new business venture! It’s encouraging to see such entrepreneurship at such a young age.
Happy 50th Anniversary to Tom and Judy Oxenford! Many thanks to their family for inviting me to help celebrate the golden anniversary of such a wonderful, community-minded couple.
I presented a World War II Certificate of Appreciation to Claude Swartzbaugh Jr. as well as veterans breakfast packets and pins to Claude and fellow Hershey veteran Francis McCarthy.
It was a nice (and cold!) morning Nov. 16 when volunteers gathered for the “Flags Down” program at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Having so many helping hands was greatly appreciated.
I recently joined Amy Bollinger from Penn State Children’s Hospital, Emma Horst Martz from PennPIRG and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, at a press conference related to potentially dangerous toys. PennPIRG put out its 34th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report to draw parents’ attention to hidden dangers in toys, which is so important, especially at this time of the year.
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| Office Locations |
| 250 W. Chocolate Avenue, Suite 2 | Hershey, PA 17033 | Phone: (717) 534-1323 |
| 159-B East Wing | PO Box 202106 | Harrisburg, PA 17120-2106 | Phone: (717) 787-2684 |
| Email Address: TMehaffie@pahousegop.com |
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