Why Vote for Bill?

Here's Why:

Economics:

• Bill DeWeese authored House Bill 1489 to reduce property taxes by more than $700 million. He also voted for a bipartisan plan to abolish property taxes. "Paired with the anticipated $1 billion in revenue from gaming, this proposal will enable all homeowners to see real, significant, and immediate relief," Bill DeWeese said.

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in a bi-partisan agreement with House Republicans on a no-tax-increase state operating budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, while still managing to address the state's health-care system and investing in early education and energy independence.
  

• Bill DeWeese has worked with both Republican and Democratic Governors to bring two state prisons to the 50th district, which have provided 1,500 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in spin-off revenue.
  

• Bill DeWeese has secured thousands of family-sustaining jobs within the 50^th District.
  

• Bill DeWeese fought to increase the minimum wage.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation to increase the earned income tax credit for low-income working people.
  

• Bill DeWeese supports a constitutional amendment allowing for a 100% exemption of homestead property taxes.
  

• Bill DeWeese fought for mortgage reform legislation to alleviate the nationwide mortgage crisis.
  

• During a 30-year career, Bill DeWeese has been instrumental in securing funding for hundreds of projects. A sampling of them are:
  

• Greene County Swimming Pool
• Shannopin Mine Water Treatment Facility
• EverGreene Technology Park
• Mather gob pile clean-up
• Ryerson State Park
• Greene County Vo-Tech
• Greene County Memorial Hospital
• Primary Care Center of Mount Morris
• Centerville Clinic
• Cornerstone Care
• Countless grants for nearly every volunteer fire department within his district and for all of the local school districts and municipalities.

Service to Constituents:

• As the House Majority Leader, Bill DeWeese holds the highest rank among state legislative officials from Southwestern Pennsylvania. Bill DeWeese's voice at the budget negotiating table ensures that the needs of his constituency are not overshadowed by Philadelphia and the rest of the state.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in securing funding for a shopping center expected to generate up to 800 jobs and bring in $20 million in private investment.
  

• Bill DeWeese secured state funding for the United Mine Workers Career Center in Ruff Creek to provide occupational education to current and future workers.
  

• Bill DeWeese worked to provide grants for volunteer fire departments and emergency medical services.
  

• Bill DeWeese and State Senator J. Barry Stout worked for funding to the Fayette County EMS Council and superintendents of the five Greene County school districts to develop student-driven education materials that will be based on the content of the new miner curriculum at the UMWA Career Center.
  

• Every year, Bill DeWeese and his staff assist nearly 30,000 constituents with PennDOT, PACE and Property Tax/Rent Rebates, and many other state programs.
  

• Bill DeWeese has sponsored free information workshops regarding state mortgage and homeowner assistance, community revitalization, and "Doing Business with the Commonwealth."
  

• Bill DeWeese was a co-sponsor of the Senior Fair at the Greene County Fairgrounds, during which free flu shots, health screenings, and helpful information from more than 40 local, state and federal agencies were provided.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation expanding funding for Pennsylvania Veterans Services Officers.
  

• Bill DeWeese co-sponsored The Mine Families First Act, which would improve critical communication with miner family members during mine emergencies.
  

• Bill DeWeese served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 to 1976 and is the senior most ranking military veteran serving in the entire House and Senate combined.
  

Transportation and Infrastructure:

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing a comprehensive transportation plan to make fundamental improvements to Pennsylvania's roads and bridges and mass transit systems - without raising the gas tax.
  

• Bill DeWeese is continually working toward a finished Mon-Fayette Expressway and ensuring adequate state funding for road and bridge improvements.
  

• Bill DeWeese has worked cooperatively with local officials in securing vital state funding for new and expanded water and sewer lines from Brownsville to Nineveh.

• Bill DeWeese supports Rebuilding Pennsylvania, an effort to repair the state's aging infrastructure by repairing at least 1,000 bridges and all state-owned high-hazard dams, and helping local governments repair their dams.
  

• Bill DeWeese has been instrumental moving forward on plans to rebuild the Ryerson dam and to restore Duke Lake.
  

• In his efforts to improve roads and bridges across Pennsylvania, Bill DeWeese supported a proposal to update Pennsylvania's regulation of road bonds for overweight vehicles and increase the bond amounts.
  

Healthcare:

• Bill DeWeese sponsored a law that added 100,000 senior citizens to the PACE program, giving them access to low-cost prescription drugs.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation that would provide health-care coverage for 250,000 working Pennsylvania adults through the PA ABC program.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation that protects small businesses that purchase group medical insurance.
  

• Bill DeWeese improved access to health services in rural areas by expanding the scope of practice for physician assistants and dental assistants.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation that would protect patients by ending the practice of mandatory overtime that forces nurses and other medical professionals to work longer shifts that lead to medical errors on the job and a reduced quality of life outside of the job.
  

• Bill DeWeese supports a smoke-free workplace bill.
  

• Bill DeWeese openly criticized President Bush's veto of legislation to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program and urged the U.S. Congress to override it.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, which would invest state dollars in building new facilities for health-related research projects and give hope to people waiting for medical breakthroughs. State Senate Republican Leadership has refused to address the bill thus far.
  

Energy:

• Leading the House of Representatives in the fight to halt the construction of the TrAIL power line in his and other Pennsylvania districts, Bill DeWeese has testified both locally and in Washington, D.C. before the United States Congress on behalf of Greene County residents. "I will continue to oppose efforts to create national interest electric transmission corridors and any projects seeking to locate and construct interstate high voltage transmission lines in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that will provide no economic or quality of life benefit to my constituents and the citizens of this great state." He has also worked on this issue with Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey Jr., and he is attempting to join forces with other states to form a "regional transmission siting agency" to facilitate the siting of future electric transmission facilities within those states.
  

• Bill DeWeese has been instrumental in passing legislation promoting investments in alternative energy to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and invest in high-tech jobs.
  

• Bill DeWeese advocated the creation of a state energy office to promote energy development and conservation.
  

• Bill DeWeese advocates smart metering to reduce the high cost of energy bills.
  

Education:

• Bill DeWeese advocates reform with respect to teaching practices and school funding and supports a significant increase in state education spending.
  

Protecting Citizens:

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation reforming the state's prison system, redirecting more serious offenders out of county prisons into state prisons and increasing punishment for violent felons, while giving non-violent offenders reasonable sentence options - actions that saved hundreds of millions of dollars in prison construction costs.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation that protects patients from medical errors and punishes hospitals that do not take steps to reduce such errors.
  

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation to address the mortgage foreclosure crisis, providing financially strapped homeowners with options while preventing predatory lending and protecting reputable banks and lenders.
  

Protecting the Right to Bear Arms:

• Bill DeWeese was instrumental in passing legislation that protects lawful firearms owners while increasing punishment for criminals.
  

• Many elected officials are in favor of legislation that would infringe upon your right to protect your family. Bill DeWeese is proud to be a rural Democrat who stands tall for gun owners and their 2^nd Amendment rights. Not only is Bill DeWeese the most senior ranking member of the legislature with an A+ rating from the NRA, he is a recipient of the prestigious NRA Defender of Freedom Award, which was presented to him by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.