GOP Whip Pushing For Natural Gas Stations

Pennsylvania House Republican Whip Stan Saylor, who represents the 94th District in York County has just held a press conference in which he has introduced legislation to “incentivize the private sector to convert its commercial vehicle fleets to clean-burning natural gas and build a network of compressed natural gas filling stations throughout Pennsylvania.

A pessimist will say that the Republican leadership of Pennsylvania is half socialist. 
An optimist will say that the Republican leadership of Pennsylvania is half not-socialist.
A realist will say: “Are any friends of Republican leaders going to get money they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten?”

Bills Would Strengthen Veterans Preference Laws

Members of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a public hearing in Harrisburg last week to study two bills to strengthen veterans preference laws in public sector employment, according to state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) 

House Bill 1092 would create the Office of Veterans Advocate to assist veterans who experience problems with veterans preference, civil service appointments and post-deployment civilian employment. House Bill 1152 would reform, strengthen and clarify the use of veterans preference in the public sector. 

Late last year, lawmakers passed a veterans preference bill that Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law. Act 76 of 2011 requires at least one member of the State Civil Service Commission be a veteran.

Pa. Re-examines Adoption Laws

State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) reports that  House Children and Youth Committee held an informational meeting in Harrisburg this week to examine Pennsylvania’s adoption laws and processes, specifically looking at House Bills 449, 451 and 594. 

House Bill 449 would amend the state’s Domestic Relations Code to enhance counseling opportunities for parents unable to pay who are considering relinquishing or terminating their parental rights. 

House Bill 451 would reduce the amount of time a parent can use to revoke his/her consent for an adoption from 30 days to 96 hours. 

House Bill 594 would make extensive changes to the state’s adoption laws, including provisions to clarify issues relating to parental rights, especially for unknown birth fathers; address counseling and legal representation; and outline reimbursement of expenses for birth mothers. 

The bills aim to remove obstacles to adoption, as hundreds of Pennsylvania children are currently waiting long periods of time before being placed in a caring and loving home environment. 

Pa Senate OKs Voter ID, Thank You Rogers Howard

The Pennsylvania Senate, yesterday, March 7, passed HB 934 that would require voters to present identification at polling places and in applications for absentee ballots. The vote was 26-23 with all Democrats opposed along with Republicans Stewart Greenleaf of the 12th District, and Mary Jo White of the 21st District,  Jane Earll of the 49th District.
Not voting was Republican Jane Orie of the 40th District.
The bill which was introduced March 4, 2011 by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) passed the state House June 23, 108-88 and had been languishing in the Senate to the dismay of Tea Party and other citizen groups.
In fact, it didn’t reach the Appropriations Committee until Dec. 14 where it stayed until Monday when it was sent to the floor with expediency.
Could the action be  coincidental with the fuss Rogers Howard, who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in the 9th District Primary, has raised about it?
One could think what one wants one supposes.
The bill allows for acceptance of non-photo ID such as utility bills, the casting of provisional ballots for those not having identification and allows names to merely “substantially conform” to those on the district register  rather than be an exact matches which is a good thing.
The bill now returns to the House for reconciliation.
Pa Senate OKs Voter ID, Thank You Rogers Howard
Pa Senate OKs Voter ID, Thank You Rogers Howard

Texting Ban Takes Effect March 8

Texting Ban Takes Effect March 8 — The law banning texting while driving takes effect, Thursday, March 8.

The law will prohibit drivers of all ages from using interactive wireless communication devices for the purposes of reading, writing or sending a text message or email while operating a motor vehicle, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)  Texting while driving will be classified as a primary offense, allowing a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver solely for that offense. Anyone who is found texting while driving will face a $50 fine.

Any driver who reads, selects or enters a phone number or name in an interactive wireless communication device for the purpose of making a phone call will not be in violation of the texting ban.

Caylee’s Murder Inspires Proposed Pa. Laws

The murder of Caylee Anthony has inspired two bills that are now of the floor of the Pennsylvania House.

HB 1841 introduced by Tarah Toohil (R-116) would make strengthen the penalties of providing false reports to police during a criminal investigation involving a child.

HB 1842 introduced by Justin J. Simmons (R-131) would strengthen the penalties of for concealing the death of a child.

The bills — together known as Caylee’s Laws — would make upgrade both crimes to third-degree felonies and increase the maximum penalties to seven years and a $15,000 fine.

Hat tip Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)

Bill Strenghtens Penalties On Unemployment Fraud

A bill that would increase penalties for willful unemployment compensation fraud has been sent to the House for a vote, State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) said.

It was unanimously passed out of the  House Labor and Industry Committee, Feb. 14. unanimously voted to send a bill to the House this week that will increase penalties for willful unemployment compensation fraud.

HB 1852 would increase the penalty period for individuals who commit unemployment compensation fraud from two weeks to 10 weeks and would remove the current four-year limit on the imposition of these penalty weeks, Cox said. The bill would add a 15 percent penalty to the total owed to the fund for a fraudulent claim and create a 52-week penalty for individuals who commit willful fraud to collect benefits while in prison.

It is estimated the proposal will save the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund $15 million to $20 million annually. Pennsylvania’s rate of fraudulent unemployment claims is more than 5 percent, exceeding the national average.

HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project

HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project — A bill was re-committed, today, Feb. 15,  to the State House Appropriations Committee that would require the Governor to  itemize capital projects.

The bill, HB 2175,  was submitted Feb. 7 by Mike Turzai (R-28) who is majority floor leader and was almost certainly a response to legislation proposed by Democrat Rosita Youngblood of the 128th District, according to Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi.

Further it came soon after Tea Party candidates such as Rogers  Howard who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in the 9th District GOP primary criticized certain expenditures by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The program is specifically addressed in the bill.

To quote the bill:

At least once each legislative session, the Governor shall submit a capital project itemization bill to the General Assembly specifically itemizing the capital projects to be financed from the proceeds of obligations of the Commonwealth. No redevelopment assistance capital project may receive funds unless the project was itemized in a capital budget project itemization bill, a capital budget bill or a capital project itemization bill enacted within ten years of the date the project is approved under section 318 or the project has been approved by the secretary on or before December 31, 2011.


Kudos Mr. Howard and Ms. Youngblood.

 

 

HB 2175 Would Itemize Capital Project

Bill Streamlines State Dealings For Businesses

State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) reports that the Pennsylvania House has passed HB 2022, Feb. 7, which would establish an online portal where businesses can access their personal accounts to register, apply for, and track documents associated with setting up or doing business in the Commonwealth.

The portal would provide electronic submission of a permit application, permit fee or fines, tracking of payment status and pending permit applications, and a listing of information related to local permit application information for relevant local permitting authorities, among other services, he says.

The vote was 194-0.

It now goes before the Senate for consideration.

Laws You Never Knew Passed Or How To Impoverish Your Children

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) gets credit for Act 130 which began as SB 1054 and was signed into law by Gov. Corbett on Dec. 22. It provides for the capital budget for Fiscal Year 2011-2012. Pileggi got a unanimous vote for the bill in the Senate. The House passed  it with 75 dissenters who included the more conservative Republicans and the saner Democrats.

The bill borrows $1.6 billion with $450 million of that going to 197 projects in Philadelphia.

Among the things this borrowed billion-plus will be used for are:

— $10 million for the Janney Montgomery Scott Headquarters

— $2.5 million for Mount Airy Transit Village, a vacant lot.

–$2.197 million for Comcast Towers, a portion of the $30 million appropriated for Comcast.

–$850,000 for House of Imoja which is affiliated with Philadelphia Congressman Chak Fattah.

— $3 million for the Chelten and Pulaski revitalization project which is opposed by the neighborhood residents.

Representative Rosita Youngblood (D-198) introduced HB 2030 in November in an effort to bring accountability and some timely information as to the costs and benefits of the projects.  It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

Liberty Index subtracted 50 points from a legislator’s grade for a “yea” vote and added 50 points for a “nay” vote. Gov. Corbett, of course, lost 50 points.

Pileggi’s primary opponent, Rogers Howard, has been outspokenly critical of this act.