News & Brews August 17, 2021
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Wolf admin pushes vaccine clinics, student COVID testing in schools
Yesterday, the Wolf administration announced two new COVID “initiatives” directed at K-12 schools. First, the Department of Health (DOH) is ordering vaccine providers to support vaccine clinics at schools (including both K-12 schools and institutions of higher learning), and second, the Department is partnering with an external vendor to provide free, voluntary COVID testing in K-12 schools. Read DOH’s announcement here.
Senate committee considers proposal to allow for longer retention of unfounded child abuse claims
The Senate Aging and Youth Committee recently heard input on a proposal that would allow the state to retain unfounded child abuse reports longer than currently permitted. Now, the state keeps such reports for a year. Proponents of extending the timeframe argue it would improve child protection and allow for consistency between state and county practices. But others argue the move runs counter to the bedrock principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” One opponent of the proposed extension noted, “By definition, being unfounded means no evidence of child abuse or insufficient evidence of child abuse was found. Like arrests, people deserve not to have mere allegations held against them and used against them forever.”
Hearing today on growing PA’s economy
This morning at 10:30 am, the House GOP Policy Committee will hold a hearing in Williamsport on growing our state’s economy. The list of those scheduled to testify can be found here, and the hearing will be live-streamed here.
Op-Ed: RGGI offers false climate hope; there’s a better way
Michael Green, an economics student at Ursinus College near Philly, looks at a recent analysis from the Caesar Rodney Institute that concludes the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is “a solution in search of a problem.” Instead, Green writes, the state should encourage young aspiring entrepreneurs to create better solutions, “such as carbon capture technology and improved nuclear technology.”