A bill to set up individual education spending accounts funded with money earmarked for public schools passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

By a 7-5 vote, the committee's Republicans reported SB 2 to the Senate, barring Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks) who sided with Democrats against it.

In a deindustrialized world and amid declining populations, Allegheny County municipalities from Wilkinsburg to Rankin have found it difficult to stay afloat. 

To ease the burden, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald — along with his predecessors Dan Onorato and Jim Roddey — testified at a public hearing in support of HB 2122 Tuesday, legislation that would allow municipalities to elect to voluntarily disincorporate.

Redistricting won its first vote in the General Assembly Tuesday to the applause of advocates packing the room.

A compromise amendment forged by Senate State Government Committee Chair Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and redistricting advocates led by Fair Districts PA was added onto SB 22, then passed by all members in attendance.

In addressing the state press club Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Tioga) showed an two month turnaround in attitude among legislative leadership.

While he echoed Republican colleagues in a scathing denouncement of the state Supreme Court, he also shared a reluctant acknowledgment of the need to reform redistricting.