An update of recent legislative activity by Pennsylvania House Democrats

Oct. 19, 2007

PASSED BY THE HOUSE

House Democrats fight for sick kids, defeat GOP effort to push Bush agenda

 

The House Democratic Caucus unanimously stood together to urge the U.S. Congress to override President George W. Bush's veto of a proposal that would expand federal funding to states to help provide health insurance for children of working parents via the Children's Health Insurance Program. After several hours of repeated attempts by various Republicans to avoid voting on the resolution by offering arcane and seldom-used parliamentary maneuvers, the House adopted H.R. 447, introduced by Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, 124-71, with all Democrats voting yes.

 

"This program has been one of the most successful programs we have in Pennsylvania and we are not willing to sit back and let the federal government hack away at its funding," DePasquale said. "The president's action will have a significant negative impact on many working families. We have the ability to offer affordable health-care coverage to all kids in Pennsylvania under the bill passed by Congress, which would truly leave no child behind."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/DePasquale to read more.

 

House passes McGeehan political sign/TreeVitalize bill

 

The state House has overwhelmingly passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Michael McGeehan, D-Phila., which would prohibit the posting of signs on state property in Philadelphia. Should it become law, transgressors could end up benefiting the TreeVitalize program to encourage tree planting programs in Philadelphia, which is sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The measure (H.B. 1519) would impose a $25-per-sign fine on individuals who post a sign on state property, including the rights-of-way and medians of state roadways, in Philadelphia.

 

"These signs can be distracting to motorists and they certainly don't project a good image of Philadelphia to visitors, especially those signs that linger long after the election and through the winter," said McGeehan. "Too many political aspirants have failed to police themselves and clean up what they are responsible for causing."

 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/McGeehan to read more.

 

Santoni resolution to study electronic transmission of fingerprints approved

 

Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, said the state House of Representatives has unanimously adopted a resolution he introduced requiring a study of the feasibility of the Pennsylvania State Police using electronic means to send fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for background checks. The resolution (H.R. 174) calls for the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study: the extent to which electronic transmission would speed FBI clearances and accelerate the job application process; the costs incurred by the state police to implement the electronic process for non-criminal checks; possible fee increases and alternatives to prevent or minimize any increases; and the pros and cons of contracting a private agency under the state police to administer requests for federal criminal history checks.

"In Pennsylvania, many jobs involving children, the elderly or people with physical disabilities require a background check as part of the application process," Santoni said. "It is fiscally responsible to consider the option of transmitting fingerprints for background checks electronically, rather than mailing fingerprint cards."

 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Santoni to read more.

 

House unanimously adopts mandatory sentencing study

 

The state House has unanimously approved a resolution (H.R. 12) introduced by Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, that directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to conduct a study of the use and impact of mandatory minimum sentencing. Vitali said the study will assess the use and impact of mandatory minimum sentencing, include the cost-effectiveness, deterrence and justice of mandatory minimum sentences; in what circumstances and for what types of crimes mandatory minimum sentences are most effective, as well as the appropriate length of sentences; whether mandatory minimum sentences have a greater effect on deterring certain types of crime more than others; whether mandatory minimum sentences are rationally related to the type of crime committed; and the use and impact of mandatory minimum sentences on the criminal justice system, including the effect on pleas or verdicts and on offenders' eligibility for rehabilitation programs and early release. Vitali helped to secure $300,000 in the state budget for the study

 

"Mandatory minimum sentences drive up the cost of our criminal justice system by imposing longer prison terms on more offenders, in many cases nonviolent offenders," Vitali explained. "In addition, the legislature continues to pass mandatory minimum laws even though it is not clear if these sentences are effective in reducing crime or if they are an efficient use of tax dollars."

 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Vitali to read more.

 

APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

Gergely mental health-care access bill approved by committee

 

A bill introduced by Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, to expand access to certain mental health providers by easing the licensing process for out-of-state professionals was approved by the House Professional Licensure Committee today. Gergely said his bill (H.B. 1693) would remove a significant barrier for experienced health-care providers who are licensed in surrounding states to become licensed in Pennsylvania, while ensuring that residents have access to the quality mental health services they need. Current law requires these providers to undergo a cumbersome process to get licensed when they seek to relocate to Pennsylvania.

"Creating this controlled endorsement process would help ease our state's growing health-care crisis and also reduce the effects of the brain drain -- when Pennsylvania-educated health-care professionals flee to other states after graduation -- by making it easier for health-care professionals to move into the state," Gergely said. "It would serve both the health-care professionals and members of the community who are seeking their services."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Gergely to read more.

 

BILL INTRODUCTIONS

Siptroth gets ball rolling on fair and equitable education funding

 

At a Capitol news conference this week, Rep. John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike, introduced a proposal aimed at recalculating the formula used in allocating the state's education funding to ensure it is adequate and equitable across the state. The resolution would create a commission tasked with examining the data derived from the state Board of Education's costing-out study of public education in Pennsylvania and offer recommendations on changing the current system of public education funding.

 

"The rapid growth in Pike and Monroe counties shows little sign of slowing and has had a devastating impact on my local schools' budgets, which gets passed onto taxpayers," Siptroth said.  "The costs for new school construction, equipping our students with the technological advancements needed to succeed in the current economy and offering innovative programming have been overwhelming. We need to find an equitable solution for funding our growing schools while continuing to meet the needs of districts with declining enrollments but operational costs which have not declined."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Siptroth to read more.

 

James introduces legislation to open access to voting

 

Rep. Harold James, D-Phila., has introduced two bills to make it easier for Pennsylvania residents to register to vote. James' first bill (H.B. 1916) would provide free postage on all voter registration forms. James said prepaid postage was on voter registration forms, but that feature was repealed in 1995. The second piece of legislation (H.B. 1917) would allow eligible residents to register to vote at the polls on the day of an election. The eligible person would complete a voter registration card and show proof of residence, such as a valid driver's license.

 

"Voting is the very foundation of our democracy," James said. "We ought to encourage every eligible person to vote by making the process as user-friendly as possible."

 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/James to read more.

 

Smith legislation would limit excess spending at PHEAA 

 

Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, plans to introduce legislation that would require the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency to approve any discretionary spending over $25,000. Under the legislation, "discretionary spending" would be defined as any spending that does not meet PHEAA's purpose, which is to increase opportunities for citizens of the state to obtain higher education by ensuring the availability of loans through PHEAA, other lenders or educational institutions. It would not include employee base salaries or benefits packages.

"Over the last year, spending excesses at PHEAA have been brought to light, and the immediate outrage from the public was the impetus for this legislation," Smith said. "The purpose of this organization is to help students pay for higher education, and that trust was seriously abused with expensive travel arrangements and huge bonuses for staff."

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/MSmith to read more.

 

Preston introduces pipeline funding proposals

 

Rep. Joseph Preston, D-Allegheny, held a news conference this week at the state Capitol to announce the introduction of two energy-related proposals. Preston's one proposal would ask voters to approve a $1 billion bond issue so that utilities could apply for state low-interest loans to fix deteriorating pipelines in Pennsylvania. The second bill would add a $1.50 monthly charge on natural gas bills to pay for improvements and repairs to gas pipelines in Pennsylvania. Both bills were introduced this week as part of the Special Session on Energy.

 

"The time is now to address the deteriorating state of our natural gas pipelines," Preston said. "We cannot ignore this issue any longer because leaks can lead to explosions that claim people's lives, cause injury and destroy property."

 

-- Visit www.pahouse.com/Preston to read more.