Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"Government reform is a session-long focus for us. Making the Senate's floor activity open to anyone with an Internet connection is another step forward."

-- Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) on providing live video feeds of Senate floor action via the Internet.

THREE MEASURES AIMED AT BOOSTING ACCOUNTABILITY of state education programs are among the bills expected to be considered by the Senate this week. Senate Bill 806, Senate Bill 807 and Senate Bill 813 are part of a package of bills boosting education oversight. Senate Bill 805 was approved Oct. 2. (Please see "Review" for more.)

The Senate is also expected to consider bills banning staff bonuses (Senate Bill 986) and addressing death sentences in cases involving mental retardation (Senate Bill 751).

THE SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), will hold a public hearing Wednesday on legislation to prohibit illegal aliens living in Pennsylvania from receiving public benefits.

Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), would apply to benefits such as Medicaid, welfare, and in-state college tuition available to the more than 100,000 illegal aliens estimated to be living in Pennsylvania.

THE SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), and the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, chaired by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), will hold a public hearing Tuesday on nuclear energy and emergency preparedness.

The hearing will consider Pennsylvania's current and future use of nuclear energy, emergency preparedness and security at Pennsylvania nuclear plants, and the role of federal and state authorities regulating the nuclear industry.

A VIDEO FEED OF THE SENATE'S FLOOR ACTION IS NOW AVAILABLE LIVE via the Internet, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) announced.

The live video stream is available at www.pasenategop.com by clicking "Watch it live" or www.pasen.gov under "Senate Session Live."

Sen. Scarnati said: "This is another way for the Senate to make itself more transparent. We're proud of the work we do, and I hope this encourages even more people to take part in the legislative process."

(For more Senate reforms implemented to improve public access, please see In the Spotlight, below.)

Sen. Pileggi

LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVING OUTREACH ASSISTANCE and support programs for Pennsylvania's large veteran population was approved by the Senate on October 3.

Senate Bill 915, sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), will provide financial assistance to the Veterans Administration accredited service officer programs offered by nationally chartered veteran service organizations. These include the American Legion, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and the Disabled American Veterans.

The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will coordinate the program and work to enhance the availability of veterans' assistance throughout the state. Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation for the number of armed service members serving on active duty with at least one in four of today's soldiers returning from combat seeking federal Veterans Administration compensation for service-connected injuries or illnesses. Senate Bill 915 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Baker Floor Remarks
Sen. Baker
Sen. Bob Robbins (R-Mercer)

SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE REGIONAL FIRE COMPANY PARTNERSHIPS

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS WOULD RECEIVE HELP in forging cost-saving, regional partnerships under legislation approved by the Senate on October 3.

Senate Bill 96, sponsored by Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), creates a new initiative to provide private, non-profit volunteer fire companies or EMS organizations funds for mergers, regionalization and other partnerships. It would also support programs designed to recruit and retain members, and other innovative approaches to partnerships that would be evaluated by the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

The measure takes advantage of money already in place as part of a $100 million bond issue approved in 2002 to encourage volunteer departments to work together in a regional manner. Senate Bill 96 does not mandate cooperation, but rather provides financial incentives for departments.
Sen. White
Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York)
Sen. Bob Robbins (R-Mercer)

SENATE MOVES TO PROVIDE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE OVERSIGHT of the State Education Assistance Program was approved by the Senate on October 2.

Sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), Senate Bill 805 requires the state Department of Education to annually submit a report on the operation of the Education Assistance Program to the majority and minority chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations and Education committees. The legislation further requires the report to be posted on the department's website.

Sen. Folmer's legislation requires the report to include: a listing of approved education assistance providers and each eligible school that has entered into a contract with the provider, the number of students provided tutoring services, and the department's assessment of academic progress. Senate Bill 805 will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Folmer said: "I believe that in order for our children to receive the best education possible, and to make sure taxpayers are getting the best possible return on their investment into our children's future, we have to have as much accountability as we can in the Department of Education."

(For a list of additional bills increasing oversight of education programs, please see Fast Facts, below.)

JOINT HEARING CHECKS ON PROGRESS OF STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEM

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee held a joint informational hearing with the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on October 3 to determine the status of Pennsylvania's statewide emergency radio system.

In an effort that began during the Ridge Administration, the radio system now extends over 91 percent of the Commonwealth's 45,000 square miles, Charles Brennan, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Public Safety Radio Services, testified.

While acknowledging measurable progress since the last oversight hearing in 2005, there was bi-partisan agreement from committee members that the Administration needs to press forward with urgency to realize the infrastructure build-out and deployment.

"In a post 9/11 world, it is imperative that Pennsylvania's emergency responders be able to communicate statewide at a moment's notice. The implementation of a statewide radio system has required substantial time and resources on behalf of the Commonwealth. We must ensure that this system is up and running without further delay," said Communications and Technology Committee Chairman Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery).

"While there have been many serious challenges, the testimony demonstrates that the Commonwealth is making real progress in implementing this critical public safety system. Our committees will be following up with additional questions and we will continue to provide oversight of the project very closely in the coming months," said Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne).
Hearing (1 hour, 34 minutes)

COMMITTEE APPROVES ADDITIONAL SENATE OVERSIGHT OF KEY APPOINTMENTS

THE SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) approved legislation that will require confirmation by the majority of the Senate of individuals appointed to several key state government positions.

Senate Bill 920, sponsored by Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), would require Senate confirmation of the following appointments: Executive Director of the Gaming Control Board, Executive Director of the Lottery Fund, Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, CEO of the Liquor Control Board, and CEO of the Turnpike Commission.

The legislation stems from the recent selection process held by the governor's office when appointing a CEO of the Liquor Control Board. The focus of the legislation is to create a more transparent process in which the Executive and Legislative branches of state government work together in filling executive positions.
Sen. Rafferty

BROADCASTING SENATE FLOOR ACTION ON THE INTERNET is the latest in a string of reforms and improvements to public access. New Senate rules include:

In addition, House Bill 10 was amended by the Senate in June to unlink state judicial salaries from federal salaries and signed into law.

Other reform bills to pass the Senate this year include Senate Bill 467, which would increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law; Senate Bill 468, which would eliminate "lame duck" legislative sessions; and Senate Bill 729, which would require government salary information to be posted online.