The Republican Party touted figures yesterday, Oct. 29, showing that Republican returned absentee ballots are 18.82 percent ahead of Democrat ones.
Category: Uncategorized
Veteran Bills Signed Into Law
Gov. Corbett has signed them into law, a package of bills aimed at helping the state’s veterans, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
|
• |
House Bill 2428 offers a special designation on Pennsylvania driver’s licenses for veterans who served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including reserve units or the National Guard, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable. The cost of the regular renewal remains the same, but there’s no additional cost to the veteran for the special designation mark. |
|
• |
House Bill 2591 brings the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) into compliance with the Federal Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Act of 2008 (HEART) and conforms Pennsylvania law regarding pension credit for military leave for state employees and SERS members with federal law. |
|
• |
Senate Bill 623 encourages state agencies to contract with veteran-owned small businesses. Under the new law, the Department of General Services has an annual statewide goal of not less than 3 percent participation in statewide contracts entered into by the department with veteran-owned small businesses, and provides training to help veteran-owned businesses learn how to apply for state contracts. The governor signed Senate Bill 623 into law this week. |
|
• |
Senate Bill 1531 establishes guidelines and funding for the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund, which administers grants to the PA Veterans Foundation and other veterans’ and charitable organizations for the purposes of providing benefits to veterans and their families. Revenue for the fund will come from proceeds paid by PennDOT from sales of a special “Honor Our Veterans” license plate and from contributions from a voluntary $3 check-off from driver license and vehicle registration renewals. |
|
• |
Senate Bill 1255 enacts the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act to simplify the process of absentee voting for United States military and overseas civilians in state elections conducted in Pennsylvania. |
|
• |
Senate Bill 1442 updates the Pennsylvania Code of Military Justice, which enforces order and discipline upon the Pennsylvania National Guardsmen who are not in active federal service under Title 10 of the United States Code. The code has not been extensively updated since 1975, and many of the current provisions date back to the Military Code of 1949. The law also establishes a State Military Justice Fund to pay expenses incurred in the administration of military justice and funded by fees and other monies paid to the Commonwealth under the Pennsylvania Code of Military Justice. |
Historical Tidbit Of The Day
Ulysses Grant’ and his wife, Julia, were invited to join President Lincoln’s party at Ford’s Theater on April 15, 1865. They turned it down and went to Burlington, N.J. instead.
Pa. Makes It Easier For Military Voters
Gov. Corbett signed into law, Oct. 24, The Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act — which was introduced as Senate Bill 1255 and is now Act 189 — the mandates of which include that the Pennsylvania Secretary of State establish an electronic transmission system through which military voters may apply for and receive voter registration materials, military-overseas ballots and other information.
Book By Volpe Describes Chicago Corruption
Mike Volpe, the reporter who broke the story on Anna Chacko and the Pittsburgh VA Hospital, has a book out about how, Chuck Panici, an influential Republican in the Chicago suburbs was railroaded by federal prosecutors in the early ’90s.
Pa. Takes On Fish Poachers
The governor signed into law a bill introduced in the House to protect high-value fish and other aquatic life from poachers, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Bill 2293 creates a new category of offenses within the Fish and Boat Code for serious unlawful takes and significantly increase penalties for poaching. Prior to this new law, poaching was graded as a summary offense punishable by a fine of $50. A serious unlawful take would be graded as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000.
The law also addresses the taking or possession of fish or other aquatic life by any means other than what is specifically authorized by law. Further, a person found guilty of violating these offenses would be assessed the costs incurred by the Fish and Boat Commission to replace the threatened or endangered species involved in the violation.
In addition, the new law also makes other changes to the Fish and Boat Code, including increasing the duration of time for which the Fish and Boat Commission can revoke a person’s fishing and boating privileges, increasing summary offense fines for the first time in more than a decade and increasing the severity of offenses for performing certain acts while a license, permit or privilege is suspended or revoked.
Weather Report Of The Minute
It’s raining.
Reagan Quote Of The Day
‘If we ever forget that we’re one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under.’
Hat tip Cathy Craddock
Smith-Casey Debate
The U.S. Senate debate between Republican Tom Smith and Democrat incumbent Bob Casey Jr. will air 1 p.m., today, Oct. 28, on Channel 6.
Tidbit Of The Day
Old Yeller was a “black mouth cur”.