A chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation gathered at the Capitol Tuesday to bring awareness to bleeding disorders in Pennsylvania.

The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation held a press conference to talk about Hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease and to call on lawmakers to continue important state funding to the seven hemophilia programs in Pennsylvania.

Tuesday was marked as “Equal Pay Day” in Pennsylvania with a number of events in the Capitol.

Following a House Labor and Industry Committee meeting where House Resolution 716, which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the issue of equal pay in Pennsylvania, was reported out with one negative vote, a group of legislators gathered to call for more action on equal pay issues.

Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks) who sponsored the aforementioned resolution, explained Equal Pay Day marks the day in 2014 on which it takes a woman to earn as much as a man of equal qualifications and experience did in 2013. She said calling for equal pay is not a battle of the sexes, but about leveling the playing field.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley remarked the issue is not partisan and should be of interest to all Pennsylvanians since having equal pay will bring fairness and equity to the state. He argued it is important that every man or woman who wants a job in Pennsylvania be employed and get a fair wage.

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said all businesses employing equal pay practices should be celebrated and encouraged as a mechanism to attract women to the workforce. He further called on employers to do more to attract young girls to enter traditionally male dominated fields in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Social work students and professionals joined The National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter (NASW-PA) at a rally in the Capitol Tuesday to advocate for the rights, privileges and protection of the social work profession.

Representatives Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), and Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) called on fellow lawmakers to support social workers by bringing Pennsylvania’s licensing and practice measures into compliance with the standards of other states.

House Bill 1581 introduced by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) took center stage in a number of events Tuesday and could foreshadow the first step in broader pension reform.

The legislation would reform municipal pensions by moving them to a cash balance plan where benefit holders will have individual accounts that are added to in the fashion of a defined benefit plan and paid out in the form of a defined contribution plan. Under the bill the employer contribution would be 4.5 percent and employees would contribute either six percent or nine percent, depending on whether they receive Social Security payments.

According to Rep. Grove, the plan also provides for an avenue to pay off the unfunded liability and remove pensions from binding arbitration.

To find out if the legislation will pass in its current form and how it plays into broader pension reform plans, CLICK HERE.

Tuesday morning the House Finance Committee unanimously voted out House Bill 2110 with amendment to be considered by the full House.

The legislation, which provides for so-called “margin relief,” lowers the required rate of return on profits from the Pennsylvania Lottery from 27 percent to 25 percent. The bill would also make the profit margin permanent.

An amendment adopted in committee makes the legislation apply to the coming fiscal year and makes permanent Lottery reporting requirements.

CLICK HERE to read more and find out about a competing Senate bill and when the legislation might be considered by the full House.