April 28, 2009

Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"The Auditor General's concerns demonstrate the need to ensure greater accountability, transparency and oversight for every dollar we receive through the federal stimulus package. We cannot afford to see a single dollar wasted or misused."

-- Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) responding to the Auditor General's letter to the federal government urging stronger oversight and transparency measures for stimulus dollars. Senator Brubaker sponsors Senate Bill 6, which would establish the Pennsylvania Commission on Stimulus Accountability.

Preview

COMMITTEES: CONSUMER WORKFORCE COUNCIL, JUDICIAL, HOUSING BUDGETS

On Tuesday, the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), and the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, chaired by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia), will hold a joint public hearing on the Consumer Workforce Council. The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), will hold a public hearing on the budget of the State Judicial System.

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), will hold a public hearing on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's proposed budget.

Review

SEN. ARGALL ADVOCATES PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM

Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill) announced legislation Monday that would give Pennsylvania voters a stronger voice in the elimination of the state's outdated school property tax system.

Senate Bill 818 and House Bill 637 would allow voters to decide between the current property tax system and the three most popular property tax replacement proposals in the General Assembly, based on the number of cosponsors for legislation in the House and Senate.

The property tax proposals would be placed on the 2009 General Election ballot.  Voters would then be given the opportunity to choose between the three proposals or leave the current property tax structure intact.

News Conference
 Senator Alloway

SENATORS UNVEIL PACKAGE OF GAMING REFORM BILLS

A group of Senators led by Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) and Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) unveiled a wide-ranging, bipartisan package of reform bills April 22 intended to tightly regulate the gaming industry and provide greater accountability and transparency.

Among the measures in the reform package are bills to more tightly regulate the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, protect against conflicts of interest, and prevent criminals from obtaining gaming licenses.  Other measures would put the State Police or Attorney General in charge of licensing investigations, rather than the Gaming Board, and establish tighter financial suitability rules for license applicants.  The bills would also require detailed audits and crack down on transportation costs.

Also on hand to announce the package were Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Franklin), Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair) and Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland). (For a list of bills in the gaming reform package, please see In the Spotlight and Fast Facts, below.)
 News Conference  

HEALTHNET PA: SENATE APPROVES HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEER EDUCATION BILL

The Senate approved HealthNET PA legislation April 21 that would credit volunteer time by health care professionals toward their continuing education requirements. 

Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), would allow physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses or certified registered nurse practitioners to apply volunteer time served in a community-based health care clinic towards the completion of no more than 20 percent of their mandatory continuing education hours required by their individual licensure boards.  

HealthNET PA is a $100 million blueprint that expands access to health care and medicine to 507,000 uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians. It utilizes information technology to control costs and reduce health care-associated infections, and provides expanded insurance options for employers and families.

SENATE APPROVES LEGISLATION TO MAKE DO NOT CALL REGISTRATION PERMANENT

The Senate approved legislation April 21 that would eliminate the need for Pennsylvania consumers to re-register on the "Do Not Call" registry every five years.  

Senate Bill 304, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), would keep a consumer’s number in Pennsylvania’s "Do Not Call" registry until they asked to be removed. 

The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
 

SEN. MCILHINNEY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES 

Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks) introduced legislation April 22 that would strengthen the state's Safe Drinking Water Act by extending greater protections for drinking water sources. 

The senator noted that drinking water supplies can be contaminated by runoff pollution, industrial discharges, spills and various land uses. Senate Bill 777 would establish critical zones for surface water intakes and wellhead protection areas for community groundwater wells to help prevent contamination. 

The bill would also require the Department of Environmental Protection to establish statewide minimum standards for wellhead and surface water intake protection. Under Senate Bill 777, violators would be subject to fines of up to $2,500 and up to 90 days in jail. Willful or negligent violations of the law could lead to fines of up to $50,000 and up to two years in jail for each offense.
 

TEACHER STRIKES THE FOCUS OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE'S PUBLIC HEARING 

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), convened a public hearing April 22 on teacher strikes and the impact walkouts have on Pennsylvania students, academic achievement and performance, and the public education system.     

According to the Allegheny Institute, Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states to allow public school workers to strike.  Nearly 90 public school strikes occurred in the state between 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 school years, which averages to at least ten strikes per year.  Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher strikes.  

Those taking part in the hearing included critics of teacher strikes as well as state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak.
 

COMMITTEE APPROVES INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF BOX FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), approved legislation April 22 allowing charitable contributions to be added to income tax remittance payments. 

Senate Bill 165, sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), would allow taxpayers to make a contribution to Breast and Cervical Cancer Research, Wild Resource Conservation, the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund, Juvenile Diabetes Cure Research and Military Family Relief Assistance when they are remitting payment due for taxes at the time of filing their state income tax forms.  

Current law only allows a check-off donation to these charities when a refund is due to the taxpayer.

SEN. ALLOWAY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND SELF-DEFENSE LAW

Legislation today that would establish the Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania to protect gun owners who act in self-defense was announced April 21 by Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Franklin). 

The measure would remove the "duty to retreat" clause when an individual is threatened by an attacker in any place that individual has a right to be, including the individual’s home or vehicle. The bill would provide important protections against criminal prosecution or civil litigation for those who act to defend themselves. 

Under Senator Alloway’s bill, an individual would need to demonstrate a reasonable belief that he or she was in imminent danger in order to use lethal force. Twenty-three states have established the Castle Doctrine.

In the Spotlight

Fast Facts

Questions or Comments?

Contact the Senate Republican Communications Office or call 717-787-6725.

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