John P.John P.

Jr.Jr.SABATISABATINANA

SPRING 2016WWW.SENATORSABATINA.COM

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Keeping Guns Out of the Handsof Terrorists

PA RIVERS CAN POWER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

U.S. Cabinet Secretary Visits 5th Senate District

PA RIVERS CAN POWER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Senator Sabatina discusses economic development along the Delaware River with Lt. Governor Mike Stack.

he recently announced layoffs at BemisHealthcare Packaging’s NortheastPhiladelphia plant could be seen as an

inevitable shift in the unpredictable world of business.But government leaders should also considershortsighted economic policy that has putPhiladelphia on an uneven playing field in thecompetition for jobs.

The Bemis facility had been productive usinglocal union workers for six decades but the closingwas preceded by years of decline in Pennsylvania’seconomic development and job-training efforts.

Among states, there is a cut-throat competitionfor jobs which leads to very profitable companiesbeing handed enormous sums of money to moveworkers around. As tough as it is, Philadelphia andother urban centers are fighting with one arm tiedbehind their backs.

Cuts over the past four years to economicdevelopment programs and job training, in favor of large tax

breaks to multinational gas drillers, have benefitted small pockets of ruralPennsylvania while handicapping large urban centers like Philadelphia. The closure warning for the Bemis-Perfecseal facility on BustletonAvenue came during an unprecedented budget standoff – unique in thenation – that prevented the flow of money to schools and jobs programsalready stymied by years of short-funding. Oshkosh (Wis.) offered Bemis millions in tax breaks at a time whenPhiladelphia couldn’t say for certain whether schools would open afterChristmas. Cuts to funding for schools, long delays in infrastructureimprovements and a dysfunctional government are no way to attract and retain companies.

Community RelationsCommunity RelationsHealth Care Counseling with APPRISE Healthcare

Feb. 3 & 17, March 2 & 16, April 6 & 20 and May 4 & 188016 Bustleton Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19152-2802

Must schedule appointment.Please call (215) 456-7600 to schedule an appointment.

Assistance to VeteransFeb. 4 & 18, March 3 & 17, April 7 & 21 and May 5 & 19

DMVA Representative will be available to answer your questionsMust schedule appointment.

Please call our Bustleton District Office at (215) 695-1020 to schedule an appointment.

Letter to the Reader

TLetter to the Reader

enator Sabatina recentlyinvited the Senate DemocraticPolicy Committee to

Northeast Philadelphia for aroundtable discussion on ways toencourage waterfront developmentin Pennsylvania.

In addition to Senate colleagues,the meeting brought togetherbusiness, local government andlabor leaders, fostering a broaddialogue about untapped economicpotential along Pennsylvania’swaterways.

Much of the discussion focusedon Senate Bill 282, which wouldprovide up to $10 million in taxcredits to business entities andothers that invest in waterfrontdevelopment initiatives. The taxcredit would be available toindividuals or businesses that

contribute to nonprofit waterfront improvement organizations.The Philadelphia region has a wealth of waterways and rivers that are

ripe for development and could be used as core areas to spur family-friendly recreation and economic development investment. “With the proper environmental oversight in place, I view this as awin-win proposition,” Sabatina said.

Experts noted that some waterfrontdevelopment organizations have partnered withmunicipal leaders to offer the tax credit programon a regional basis. The “Riverlife” program inPittsburgh has already attracted $130 million ininvestments – and $4 billion in adjacentdevelopment – since it began in 1999.

Under Senate Bill 282, contributions wouldbe used for specific waterfront developmentprojects, such as: streets and public rights-of-way; waterfront parks, gardens and openspaces; access to public utilities, erosioncontrol, storm water management and otherenvironmental projects that promote economicdevelopment; water transportation facilities for

use by the public, including water transit landings and boat docking; andamenities including infrastructure and recreational projects. Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman VincentHughes, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Anthony H.Williams, and Senator Larry Farnese joined Policy Committee ChairSenator Lisa Boscola at the meeting.

S

Senator Sabatina toured NortheastPhiladelphia port facilities with Lt. Gov. Mike Stack to highlight

the importance of Philadelphia’sriverfront to the local economy.

Sister Maureen McGarrity, (left) presidentof Holy Family University welcomedSenator Sabatina and Senator Lisa

Boscola to the university for a meeting ofthe Senate Democratic Policy Committee

to discuss riverfront development.

PA Rivers Can Power Economic Development PA Rivers Can Power Economic Development

Senator Sabatina greets Health and HumanServices Secretary Sylvia Burwell outsidePhiladelphia Health Center #10 (in the 5th District)before an Enrollment Fair designed to help peoplefind affordable health insurance during theenrollment period under the Affordable Care Act. Burwell visited the center to promoteenrollment and to conduct a meeting of localexperts and officials on the trials and successes of the health delivery system. Background, from left: HHS Regional DirectorJoanne Grossi, and Philadelphia City CouncilmanBobby Henon.

BI data released last year says that more than 2,000people listed as known or suspected terrorists bought a handgun, sports rifle or assault weapon in the past

ten years.That’s right, thousands of people who are prohibited from

boarding a plane are welcome to purchase firearms.That’s why Senator Sabatina is introducing Senate Bill 1100

which is intended to prohibit those on federal watch lists frompurchasing firearms in Pennsylvania.

Under Sabatina’s SB 1100, these checks of the federal terrorwatch lists would become a mandatory part of any firearmbackground check and appearance on one of those lists wouldbe reason for denial.

In the aftermath of recent mass shootings, states are takingbipartisan action to ensure the safety and security of their

citizens. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, aDemocrat, recently signed an executive order prohibitinggun sales to those on federal watch lists, while RepublicanGovernor Chris Christie of New Jersey has signed into lawa bill that would prevent those on the federal "No Fly" listfrom purchasing a firearm.

In every state, National Crime Information Center(NCIC) review leads to purchases and permits beingrejected if it reveals a disqualifying factor under state orfederal law. In most states, that means someone who hasa felony conviction, is not a U.S. citizen, or is subject tocertain court orders.

Buyers in New Jersey, however, also are rejected if theapplicant's name appears on the NCIC's "known orappropriately suspected terrorist" list, one of several suchterror watch lists maintained by U.S. law enforcement.

2,000 Suspected Terrorists Allowed to Buy Guns

U.S. Cabinet Secretary Visits NE Philly

UNTHINKABLE:

U.S. Cabinet Secretary Visits NE Philly

F2,000 Suspected Terrorists Allowed to Buy Guns

2004 48 43 5 2005 149 141 8 2006 179 153 26 2007 287 259 28 2008 246 228 18 2009 272 250 22 2010 272 247 25 2011 142 130 12 2012 153 137 16 2013 256 240 16 2014 229 215 14 TOTAL 2,233 2,043 190

NUMBER ALLOWED YEAR OF BUYERS TO BUY DENIED

Source: U.S. Government Accounting Office.

. . . Touring Community College of Philadelphia with Dr. Donald Generals, college president (left)

and Lynette Brown-Sow.

. . . Attending a ceremony honoring Marines from fall of Beirut with Col. John Church (center) Dan Murphy,

Commander of All Division Marine Corps.

. . . Spending some time reading and talking with students at Paley Learning Center

on Strahle Street in Rhawnhurst.

. . . Senator Sabatina with Philadelphia CityCouncilmen David Oh (left) and Mark Squilla (center)

during the Casmir Pulaski Day Parade.. . . Helping out at the Toys for Tots drive

at Cavanaugh's River Deck on Columbus Boulevard.

around the 5th district . . .SABATINA

John P.

STATE SENATORJOHN P. SABATINA JR.

Senate Box 203005Harrisburg, PA 17120-3005

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 603

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CITY OFPHILADELPHIA

Pennypack Cree

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Woodhaven Rd

Philmont Rd

Grant Ave

Cottman Ave

Aramin

go Ave

Castor Ave

Allegheny Ave

Levick St

Bridge St

Casto

r Ave

Cottman Ave

Welsh Rd

Bustl

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Vietn

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Veteran

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Red Lion Rd

Roos

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lvd

Frankford

Ave

Betsy Ross Bridge

Delaware Ave

Wissinoming

Byberry

NormandyVillage

Burholme

OxfordCircle

ParkwoodManor

FranklinMillsModena

Richmond

Harrowgate

JuniataPark

Frankford

Tacony

WestTorresdale

NortheastPhiladelphia

Airport

Pennypack Park

Lexington Park

WinchesterPark

Pennypack Woods

Aston

CrestmontFarms

Millbrook

Somerton

Bustleton

Torresdale

Holmesburg

Bridesburg

Rhawnhurst

Pennypack

Academy Gardens

MorrellPark

OFFICES TO SERVE YOUDISTRICT OFFICES

12361 Academy RoadPhiladelphia, PA 19154-1927

(215) 281-2539Fax: (215) 281-2798

8016 Bustleton AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19152-2802

(215) 695-1020Fax: (215) 695-1027

www.SenatorSabatina.com

John P. Sabatina Jr.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

5thSENATE DISTRICT

Printed on recycled paper

Father Judge High School3301 Solly Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19136

State Senator John P. Sabatina Jr. hosts a

FINANCIAL AID SEMINARMarch 2, 2016 • 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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