Costello, Meehan back measure to help students with loan problems
WASHINGTON, D.C, — U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6), Patrick Meehan (R-7), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) have introduced the SIMPLE Act, legislation to reduce administrative burdens on struggling student loan borrowers.
The legislation allows vulnerable borrowers to automatically enroll in affordable income-driven loan repayment plans, and it removes burdensome paperwork requirements...
Costello, Smucker appear to buck Trump, back bipartisan healthcare plan
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Two local congressman — Lloyd Smucker and Ryan Costello — say a moderate, bipartisan group of House members they belong to, the Problem Solvers Caucus, have reached an agreement on a package of fixes for the Affordable Care Act, a package that could provide a framework for a true bipartisan fix for the healthcare marketplace.
After the U.S. Senate rejected a series...
Costello continues fight against human trafficking
Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06), a member of the Human Trafficking Caucus, spoke on the U.S. House of Representatives Floor Wednesday in support of bipartisan legislation to fight human trafficking.
“Combatting human trafficking is critical to ensuring our constituents have safe and healthy communities,” Costello said. “It is important to advocate for resources for those fighting human trafficking...
Unintended consequences and Newton’s Third Law
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
While Democrats wept over special election results this week, U.S. Senate Republicans — in secret — put together their version of the health care reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which apart from some minor details, appears to be a lot like the house health care plan, the American Health Care Act: it cuts benefits for the poor, could lead to big rate...
Costello pushes DeVos on Title IX issues
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6)
WASHINGTON — Friday, on the 45th anniversary of Title IX, Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos urging her to maintain Title IX guidance in K-12 schools that protects young people from sexual assault and harassment. The letter, signed by 52 Members of Congress, also urges Secretary DeVos...
It is time to try to dial back the anger
We’re deeply thankful that Costello, Meehan and Smucker are OK after DC shooting
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) should have been at his usual perch, at shortstop, next to Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Wednesday morning, when a lone gunman opened fire on Republican congressman and staffers Wednesday morning — but he missed his ride by a couple of minutes.
The congressmen...
Is a ‘cross-fire hurricane’ bearing down on the 6th District?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
“I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at the morning driving rain
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas
But it’s all right. I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash
It’s a gas, gas, gas”
— The Rolling Stones, Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
It’s pretty clear that politics over the next 18 or so months will be anything but calm, as...
Costello, Meehan, Casey rip Trump decision on Paris Agreement
Three of Chester County’s federal elected officials, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6), U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-7) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D) took strong issue with President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to withdraw from the Paris Agreement to limit carbon emissions.
The county’s other two elected officials — U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-16) and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey appear...
Comey firing raises the stakes for 2018 elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Just when the healthcare mess seemed ready to drown our local Congressvictims in a Jonestown Flood like deluge, President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Tuesday, swooped in and saved them by changing the subject.
And by saving them, I mean sparing them from a looming electoral firing squad by hitting them with a flaming asteroid.
While Pennsylvania’s...
The final straw
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Maybe it was when the U.S. House Representatives voted Thursday to blow up the increasingly popular Affordable Health Act and replace it with a non-vetted, closely-held replacement supported by less than 20 percent of voters (the cheering and beer party at the White House didn’t help, either).
Or maybe it was when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents...
