Dec. 22 – WILKES-BARRE – Gov. Josh Shapiro this week announced the appointment of Attorney General Michelle Henry as State Inspector General of Pennsylvania, effective Jan. 21, 2025.
With decades of experience as a prosecutor and now as attorney general, Shapiro said Henry will be prepared from day one to lead the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) and continue to protect Pennsylvanians’ tax dollars.
OSIG protects the integrity of Commonwealth agencies by investigating fraud, misconduct, and abuse in executive agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.
OSIG has four bureaus, including the Bureau of Inspections and Financial Integrity (BIFI), which aims to help taxpayer-funded grant programs, contracts and procurements save money and reduce risk, and the Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution, which works closely with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to investigate public benefit fraud and collect misused taxpayer dollars.
“I want to thank Inspector General Miller for his service to the Commonwealth, and I am proud to nominate Attorney General Michelle Henry as Pennsylvania’s next State Inspector General,” said Governor Shapiro. “Michelle is an experienced prosecutor who has spent decades working in the public sector to protect consumer rights, advocate for public safety and the rule of law, and fight for people across Pennsylvania. As our next Inspector General, I have full confidence in her abilities to hold bad actors accountable for fraud and misconduct and to root out waste and abuse, I look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure that State Government gets results for the good people of Pennsylvania.
“I am honored to serve as Pennsylvania’s next Inspector General and humbled by the trust Governor Shapiro has placed in me,” said AG Henry. “As Attorney General, I worked to root out fraud and protect Pennsylvania taxpayers from deceptive practices – and as Inspector General, I will continue to hold bad actors accountable and protect the Commonwealth from waste, fraud and abuse. Working with Governor Shapiro, we will ensure that the Office of Inspector General always has the support of Pennsylvanians.”
Inspector General Lucas M. Miller has resigned effective January 2, 2025. First Deputy State Inspector General Clarke Madden will serve as interim State Inspector General between January 2 and 21, 2025.
Meuser calls on the new Minister of Energy to end the interruption of the LNG export license
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, signed a letter this week to Chris Wright, the incoming U.S. Secretary of Energy, urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to pause its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export licenses. to lift.
Meuser said the Biden-Harris administration initiated the pause in January and halted approval of LNG export permits while the DOE conducted updated “environmental and economic analyses.”
Nearly a year later, Meuser said the study results were released, confirming previous findings: U.S. LNG exports, even in high-demand scenarios, have minimal impact on domestic natural gas prices, contribute minimally to global emissions and is expected to have major economic consequences. advantages.
LNG exports are expected to contribute $410 billion in direct economic growth by 2050, along with billions more in indirect growth across the sector, according to DOE projections.
Representative Meuser and his colleagues argue that lifting the pause is essential to ensure energy independence, support U.S. economic growth, and strengthen the U.S. role in global energy markets.
“Pennsylvania’s Ninth District, home to much of the Marcellus Shale natural gas region, contains one of the world’s largest reserves,” Meuser said. “This vital resource powers homes and businesses across the country and contributes $25 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy. The Biden-Harris administration’s pause on LNG export permits is an attack on our economy, our energy workers, and our national security.
“Even their DOE research confirmed the significant benefits of LNG exports to our economy and the world. Minister Wright has a strong background in energy production. The trust President Trump has placed in him to lead the responsible domestic growth of the U.S. energy industry encourages confidence that he will lift this disastrous ban. Lifting this ban will unleash America’s full natural gas potential and strengthen our economy and global position.”
Shapiro Admin emphasizes work to reduce taxes and reduce costs
Gov. Josh Shapiro said this week that he has made good on his promise to put more money back into Pennsylvania’s pockets.
The governor said the administration has lowered costs for families, seniors and businesses across the Commonwealth through major tax cuts and reforms included in the 2024-2025 bipartisan budget.
“From child care to property taxes, Pennsylvanians are struggling to make ends meet, and my administration has taken action to help,” said Governor Shapiro. “Whether you’re raising a family, running a small business or retiring in Pennsylvania, we’re working every day to lower costs and provide real relief to Pennsylvanians.”
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro said he has brought Republicans and Democrats together to cut taxes four times, including the creation of the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which allows companies to support employees’ child care expenses.
Shapiro said this builds on the expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, which now matches the federal credit and increases the maximum benefit to $2,100 for more than 218,000 families.
The governor said he has also increased the limit for net operating loss deductions, allowing companies to reduce taxable income by as much as 80% by 2029, keeping Pennsylvania competitive.
Governor Shapiro said the expansion of the Property Tax/Hent Rebate Program has provided more than $300 million to more than 500,000 seniors and people with disabilities, nearly doubling rebate amounts and eligibility. This includes 105,000 new filers this year. He said this vital program helps seniors stay in their homes by offsetting rising property taxes and rental costs.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
