
The Plumber’s Perspective
OpEd by Senator John Kane
Senator John I. Kane shares his thoughts on Governor Shapiros Proposed Budget and its impact on District 9.
Folks, let me tell you something: if being a plumber and union business manager has taught me anything, it taught me about being responsible for the finances of others. It taught me to invest in yourself, your trade, your people, and your community. Every year, Pennsylvania’s budget is a statement of who we are and what we want to be. Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal is exactly what our 9th Senate District needs to keep moving forward.

Kane, Comitta Remind Residents of Friday Deadline to Review Broadband Access Map
West Chester, Pa − January 10, 2023 – Residents have until Friday, January 13 to review the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband access map and challenge any inaccuracies regarding location, service, speed, or availability, said State Senators Carolyn...
Senator John I. Kane Announces $6 Million Grant Award for Riddle Memorial Hospital Project
Harrisburg, PA − January 5, 2022 − Senator Kane has announced that Riddle Hospital would be the beneficiary of the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant, totaling $6 Million dollars. The awarded funding will be used for the renovation and...
$4.67M In Funding Allocated For Chester County Parks
CHESTER COUNTY, PA —Gov. Tom Wolf announced grants totaling $4.67 million for two projects that will provide scenic recreation parks in Westtown and East Pikeland townships. Westtown Township was awarded $4 million toward the purchase of 208 acres of the Crebilly Farm...
Everyone needs to support digital equity for all in Southern Chester County
Digital Equity—what does it mean? If you lived through the pandemic without having Internet to engage schoolwork, conduct business, use telehealth, connect with friends and family or attend church services online, you will know what digital inequity means. Adequate...
Kane, Comitta Announce $4 Million for Westtown to Preserve Crebilly Farm
West Chester, Pa − December 29, 2022 – State Senators Carolyn Comitta and John Kane announced today that an additional $4 million in grant funding is being directed to efforts to preserve Crebilly Farm in Westtown Township. The grant, funded by federal dollars...
PBDA Announces Adoption of PA Statewide Broadband Plan, Senator Kane Urges Pennsylvanians to Review New FCC Broadband Access Map
Harrisburg, PA − December 2, 2022 − On Thursday November 17, the PA Broadband Development Authority voted unanimously to adopt the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Statewide Broadband Plan. This broadband plan will focus on four challenge areas and explore...
Senators Kane and Kearney Announce Youth Court Pilot Program Legislation
HARRISBURG, PA − October 18, 2022 − Senators Tim Kearney (D – Delaware/Chester), and John Kane (D – Chester/Delaware) recently announced plans to introduce legislation to establish a five-year pilot program for school-based youth courts. The School-Based Youth...
Pa. lawmakers propose pilot program to plug ‘school-to-prison’ pipeline
Two Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday announced plans for a bill creating a pilot program to develop school-based youth court programs to improve restorative justice initiatives and disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. Legislation expected from Sens. Timothy...Sen. Haywood Announces Legislation to Disqualify Insurrectionists from Pennsylvania Ballots
Harrisburg, Pa. – October 12, 2022 – Today, State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Free Speech For People President John Bonifaz to announce legislation that requires the secretary of the Commonwealth to disqualify any candidate who has...
Sen. Muth, Sen. Kane Propose COLAs for PSERS, SERS Annuitants
HARRISBURG, September 19, 2022 — State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) and State Sen. John Kane (D-Delaware/Chester) today introduced plans to introduce legislation providing a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for beneficiaries of both the Pennsylvania...
Senator Kane and Senator Kearney Reflect and Remember Lives Lost To Overdose
Delaware County, September 5, 2022 – Last week, State Senator John I. Kane (D-Chester/Delaware) and State Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) reflected and remembered lives lost due to overdose with a candlelight vigil at the Delaware County Courthouse. Overdose...
Senator Kane Kicks off the 2022 School Year with His First Kids Fair at Subaru Park
Chester, PA – September 2, 2022 – Senator John I. Kane (D–Delaware/Chester), hosted his first District 9 Kids Fair Event at the Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park on Sunday August 28th. The aim of this event was to connect residents to the local businesses,...Policy Hearing: Secondary Impacts of Gun Violence

Senate Democrats Discuss Secondary Impacts of Gun Violence at Policy Hearing
EAST NORRITON, August 24, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, hosted a public hearing in Montgomery County on the secondary impacts and consequences of gun violence in Pennsylvania along...
Christiana Purchase Negotiation Ends, Senator Kane’s Statement
DELAWARE COUNTY – August 18, 2022 – Today, State Senator John Kane issued the following statement in response to news that the ChristianaCare Health System will not acquire Crozer Health: “Today’s announcement is deeply troubling to me and the people of...
Senator John I. Kane Announces Free Naloxone Community Training
Chester, PA − August 8, 2022 − Individuals, businesses, community organizations, restaurant, hospitality employees, construction professionals and others interested in learning how to properly administer Naloxone to those experiencing a drug overdose can attend a free...
Senator Kane Votes No on Republican Attempt to Ban Abortion
Harrisburg, PA – July 8, 2022 − Today, Senator John I. Kane (Delaware/Chester County) voted no on SB 106 to uphold the right to an abortion. SB 106 was amended in the dark of night Thursday to include language that could ban abortions in the Commonwealth. “It...
Senator John Kane Reacts to SCOTUS Ruling Striking Down Roe vs. Wade
Harrisburg, PA – June 24, 2022 – Today, Senator John Kane issued the following statement in response to the US Supreme Courts’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade: “Today’s decision is a devastating rollback of our rights. I’ve continued to say that people will die...Senator Kane Reacts to SCOTUS Ruling Striking Down Roe v. Wade

Sen. Kane with Delco Senate and House Delegation Introduce New Bills to Reform Abusive For-Profit Hospital Deals
Delaware County – June 16, 2022 – Today, State Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware) was joined by Senator John Kane, Senator Anthony Williams, Representative Gina H. Curry, Representative Leanne Krueger, Representative Jennifer O’Mara, and Representative Mike Zabel, to discuss new legislation that will prevent financial looting of Pennsylvania hospital systems by private-equity and for-profit companies. The package of bills was created in response to decisions made by Prospect Medical Holdings – the parent company of Crozer Health- to close numerous departments, cut healthcare staff, and discontinue services within several Delaware County hospitals.
“What’s happening with Crozer Health is a tragedy and underscores the need for legislators to work to protect our local healthcare systems from manipulative and predatory private-equity practices in the future,” said Senator Kearney. “We want to give the state more oversight over these transactions and create other policies that deter these bad actors from looting our healthcare systems and then running once the resources vanish. If private equity in healthcare prioritizes investors and protects their assets, then this legislative delegation will work equally as hard to protect our constituents, and the integrity of our health care systems.”
Prospect Medical Holdings and its former majority owner Leonard Green & Partners have a history of abusing healthcare systems to maximize profits for executives and investors and then disregarding the well-being and on-going quality care of patients. Crozer’s financial collapse could have been avoided had there been state protections against irresponsible debt recapitalizations and other financial actions taken by the system’s owners.
“Each time they strike these kinds of deals and real estate splits, they know the end of their scheme will leave communities without access to quality healthcare,” said State Senator Anthony Williams. “We saw this happen with Hahnemann and now we’re seeing it happen with Crozer, by a company that has a history of these despicable actions. At this point, it’s clear Leonard Green & Partners is operating from a playbook that puts profit over people. This legislation will put a stop to that and let any private equity company know people over profit is the only option in Pennsylvania.”
“As a former labor union leader, I know how important it is to keep these essential jobs secure and without the worry of being fired due to corporate greed,” said Senator Kane. “As cancer survivor I have experienced firsthand what a high functioning hospital does to ensure the health and protection of a community. There’s no place for private-equity firms in Pennsylvania and we’re going to make it very painful for them to just bleed us dry and walk away.”
Six Senate bills will be included in the package introduced today. The bills will address:
SB 1270 – For-profit hospital purchase moratorium
SB 1271 – Prohibition of new for-profit hospitals
SB 1272 – State oversight of health system change in ownership
SB 1273 – Minimum severance package for mass layoffs
SB 1274 – Prevention of exploitive real estate splits
SB 1275 – Moratorium of dividends after health system acquisitions
“A healthcare system that prioritizes patients over the interests of private equity firms is the foundation to a healthy community,” said Senator Amanda Cappelletti, who is also a sponsor of the bill package. “Senate Bill 1275 would protect our communities from private equity firms making acquisitions only to extract the resources from the acquired companies and subsequently walk away from the community altogether.”
Each Senate Bill will have a companion bill in the State House. Rep Mike Zabel added, “There is nothing preventing what’s happening with Prospect Medical Holdings from happening again. Let’s not forget that these closures or fire sales not only affect the community at large, but they are also regional employers that impact our economy and the lives of hundreds and thousands of employees. There’s much that’s gone wrong with Crozer; let’s not waste this opportunity to learn from the mistakes and then affect the law in Pennsylvania going forward.”
“Access to life-saving, professional medical care should not be consumed by corporate greed and get rich quick schemes. My colleagues and I will do everything we can to prevent community hospitals from being exploited by for-profit systems,” said Rep. O’Mara.
“In Delaware County, we have seen firsthand what it looks like when a for-profit hospital system puts profits over people,” said Rep. Krueger. “This is why I have introduced legislation that would stop investors from acquiring hospital just to pay themselves massive dividends.”
Representative Curry, Dr. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council Chair, and Jamie Blair, of Put People First! PA, also spoke during the press conference to call attention to the need for high quality and reliable healthcare in the area.
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Senator Kane Welcomes ChristianaCare with Purchase of Jennersville Hospital
Chester, PA − June 15, 2022 − Today, ChristianaCare announced it will purchase Jennersville Hospital from Tower Health. This West Grove located hospital has been closed since December 31, 2021 but is estimated to be back open within 30-60 days under the ChristianaCare...
Senator Kane Announces Upper Chichester Library Awarded $2 Million from Capital Program
Chester PA − June 14, 2022– Senator John I. Kane announced that in a collaborative effort with State Representative Craig Williams’ office; the Upper Chichester Library will receive a $2 million grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. This grant...