Pennsylvania State House

Thank you for your interest and investment in this incredibly important issue. I stand with all of you in opposition to this windmill project in Penn Forest Township. Windmill projects of this magnitude are neither efficient nor safe for our environment. I summed up my thoughts in an op-ed which you can read here (http://www.repheffley.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=263618). I am also submitting a letter to the Penn Forest Township Board of Supervisors and Zoning Board stating my opposition to this project. In order to give you a forum to voice your concerns about the project, I am holding a town hall meeting on Thursday, May 26, from 6-7 p.m. at Penn Forest Fire Company No. 2, State Route 534, in Albrightsville. Again, I appreciate your efforts and support of this cause. I hope to see many of you on Thursday. - Rep. Doyle Heffley

Thank you for your petition regarding the proposed SEPTA High Speed Line Extension into King of Prussia. Many of those commenting are constituents of mine, and I always appreciate and believe it is very important to hear the views of local residents on their concerns. As you are aware, Upper Merion over many years has become an economic engine of Southeastern Pennsylvania. This growth has brought many challenges related to traffic and congestion, and will only become a more significant problem for our area as we continue to move forward. I support many studies to explore potential solutions to these challenges, like PennDOT’s recent decision to explore the feasibility of utilizing the shoulders of the Schuylkill Expressway during morning and afternoon rush hours as well as funding studies, improvements and the eventual expansion of Route 422. I take my position seriously and obtaining accurate information is an important component to making any decision. However, with everything in life it is also necessary to be able to find a balance. A balance between protecting our great neighborhoods and community and allowing Upper Merion to move forward by supporting our commercial and retail assets in order for them to thrive in the future. This is the approach I have taken in regards to exploring the possibility of extending a rail line through King of Prussia. SEPTA is currently in the process of studying various routes that an extension of the high speed line could make and will determine one that will be called the Locally Preferred Alternative (“LPA”). It is important to note that this project is still in the very early stages of consideration, and I have attended many public meetings that were open to our community. My understanding of the process is that once SEPTA recommends an LPA the next step would be the adoption of the LPA by the Upper Merion Board of Supervisors and County Commissioners. For the extension to be pursued further, there must be agreement between SEPTA, county, and local officials regarding the proper route, as well as obtaining significant funding from the federal government and other sources. Although I do not have ANY vote regarding these next steps, I will only support this project if it finds the right balance. Many of the aspects that are currently being considered are not what I had in mind when this was initially being discussed. It is also essential that the concerns of UM residents be taken into account throughout this process. I will continue to listen to my constituents, and I encourage you to attend upcoming SEPTA community meetings as well as contacting SEPTA, the Township Supervisors, and County Commissioners to let them know about any specific concerns you might have. Below is their contact information: Montgomery County Commissioners • Josh Shapiro (Chairman) – josh@montcopa.org • Val Arkoosh (Vice-Chair) – val@montcopa.org • Joe Gale (Commissioner) – joe@montcopa.org Upper Merion Board of Supervisors - Contact Page • William Jenaway (Chairperson) • Greg Waks (Vice-Chair) • Erika Spott • Carole Kenney • Greg Philips SEPTA Comment Form - http://kingofprussiarail.com/comment.html Thank you again for contacting me regarding this important issue. Tim Briggs

Thank you for your petition regarding the proposed SEPTA High Speed Line Extension into King of Prussia. Many of those commenting are constituents of mine, and I always appreciate and believe it is very important to hear the views of local residents on their concerns. As you are aware, Upper Merion over many years has become an economic engine of Southeastern Pennsylvania. This growth has brought many challenges related to traffic and congestion, and will only become a more significant problem for our area as we continue to move forward. I support many studies to explore potential solutions to these challenges, like PennDOT’s recent decision to explore the feasibility of utilizing the shoulders of the Schuylkill Expressway during morning and afternoon rush hours as well as funding studies, improvements and the eventual expansion of Route 422. I take my position seriously and obtaining accurate information is an important component to making any decision. However, with everything in life it is also necessary to be able to find a balance. A balance between protecting our great neighborhoods and community and allowing Upper Merion to move forward by supporting our commercial and retail assets in order for them to thrive in the future. This is the approach I have taken in regards to exploring the possibility of extending a rail line through King of Prussia. SEPTA is currently in the process of studying various routes that an extension of the high speed line could make and will determine one that will be called the Locally Preferred Alternative (“LPA”). The next step of this process once would It is important to note that this project is still in the very early stages of consideration, and I have attended many public meetings that were open to our community. My understanding of the process is that once SEPTA recommends an LPA the next step would be the adoption of the LPA by the Upper Merion Board of Supervisors and County Commissioners. For the extension to be pursued further, there must be agreement between SEPTA, county, and local officials regarding the proper route, as well as obtaining significant funding from the federal government and other sources. Although I do not have ANY vote regarding these next steps, I will only support this project if it finds the right balance. Many of the aspects that are currently being considered are not what I had in mind when this was initially being discussed. It is also essential that the concerns of UM residents be taken into account throughout this process. I will continue to listen to my constituents, and I encourage you to attend upcoming SEPTA community meetings as well as contacting SEPTA, the Township Supervisors, and County Commissioners to let them know about any specific concerns you might have. Below is their contact information: Montgomery County Commissioners • Josh Shapiro (Chairman) – josh@montcopa.org • Val Arkoosh (Vice-Chair) – val@montcopa.org • Joe Gale (Commissioner) – joe@montcopa.org Upper Merion Board of Supervisors - Contact Page • William Jenaway (Chairperson) • Greg Waks (Vice-Chair) • Erika Spott • Carole Kenney • Greg Philips SEPTA Comment Form - http://kingofprussiarail.com/comment.html Thank you again for contacting me regarding this important issue. Tim Briggs

Thank you for your petition regarding traffic improvements and safety concerns in West Conshohocken. I appreciate all of the petitioner’s input on the subject. I have spoken with West Conshohocken Borough, and they’ve assured me that they are reviewing your suggestions with the traffic engineer and studying the possibilities for improvement. I’ve informed them that, should any of these improvements be located on state roads, my office is prepared to assist if PennDOT’s involvement is needed.

Thank you for voicing your concerns regarding the Pledge of Allegiance. There is nothing in federal or state law to prevent a school classroom from reciting the pledge. I am a strong supporter of reciting the pledge. In Pennsylvania, local school districts are responsible for these policies. The issue should be addressed with your child's classroom teacher, building principal, school district superintendent or local school board of directors. I would recommend, if you have concerns, to schedule an appointment with the classroom teacher to discuss, whether or not, the classroom is reciting the pledge. If you disagree with the classroom teacher, schedule an appointment with the building principal or the superintendent. You may also contact the school district administrative office and request to address the board of directors. You may be required to request being placed on their meeting agenda. Parents have a right, and a duty in my opinion, to play an active role in their child's education. I would encourage you to know, not just whether or not your child says the pledge, but what is taught throughout the school day. Thank you for contacting me regarding this issue. Rep. Kathy Rapp

Well, first of all, the picture is not me but of my predecessor, Jennifer Mann. I assure you I look nothing like her :) I full support raising the minimum wage and am a cosponsor on this legislation. This needs to happen now and I will do everything in my power to raise the minimum wage. No one who works forty hours a week should live in poverty. Here's an article in which I publicly discuss my support: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-minimum-wage-lawmakers-20140929-story.html

I couldn't agree more. We need to do everything possible to protect our children, anything less, the perpetrators will continue to abuse our children. This is a great start, however, there is even more to be done. We also need to open a Two Year Window for past victims of sexual abuse to seek justice and expose their perpetrators, and only this will end generational abuse.

Education of a high quality for our young people is one of the most critical things government does. Cyber charter schools, charter schools, public schools, private schools, etc. all provide choices which each parent can select the best school for their children. Some regular public schools and some cyber charter schools have very poor student performance. Most parents want their kids to be in a good school and I support parents having that choice. Regular public schools in our area spend about $12,000 per student and most public schools in our area pay about $9,000 a year for each student who goes to a cyber charter school. The school district retains the other $3,000 and uses it to cover fixed costs as well as on the remaining students. Regular public schools and cyber charter schools both have examples of discrimination, student sex abuse, abuse of sick time, low student test scores, crime, financial mismanagement, criminal investigations, nepotism, etc. can be found at regular public schools and at cyber charter schools. Firings, school closings, and jail should be used to address these issues. Taxpayers should not be funding failing schools. Teachers who are not good at their jobs should be fired. Administrators who steal should be put in jail. Failing schools should be closed and the students should be allowed to attend a good school.