Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"This package is both aggressive and balanced. We’re providing a fiscally responsible approach to encouraging the development of alternative and renewable energy and energy conservation."

-- Senate Special Session Committee on Energy Policies Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) on committee approval of legislation to invest $530 million over the next seven years in consumer energy programs, energy conservation, and the development of alternative and renewable energy.

THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), will meet Tuesday and is expected to consider key legislation.

The purpose of the meeting will be to consider Senate Bill 266, sponsored by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware), the proposed Pennsylvania Global Warming Act.

Additionally, the committee is expected to consider Senate Bill 1100, sponsored by Sen. White and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), to fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.

THE SENATE BANKING AND INSURANCE COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), will hold the first of two public hearings Tuesday on the status of the proposed merger of Highmark and Independence Blue Cross insurance companies.

The committee will hear testimony from acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario on the status of the merger and its impact on the health insurance marketplace. A second public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

LEGISLATION TO INVEST $530 MILLION OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS in consumer energy programs, energy conservation, and the development of alternative and renewable energy was approved Wednesday by the Senate Special Session Committee on Energy Policies.

The Alternative Energy Investment Act, introduced by committee chair Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) and Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks), provides funding for grants and loans to projects geared at improving energy supply and efficiency, improved conservation and reduced demand for energy – with no tax increases.

Special Session Senate Bill 1 now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The senators noted that much work lies ahead to reach a consensus on legislation creating a fund to promote energy conservation and alternative energy.

Sen. Tomlinson said: “Energy costs are going up, and the state should support energy conservation and alternative energy development as a long-term way to reduce the impact those rates have on Pennsylvania families.”

- Sen. Tomlinson

- Sen. Mary Jo White

- Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson)

- Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster)

- Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware)

- Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon)

- Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery)

- Sen. Don White (R-Indiana)

The Commonwealth Agency Bonus Ban Act, which would prohibit any Commonwealth agency, including the legislature and the courts, from paying a bonus to any of its employees, was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

Under Senate Bill 986, sponsored by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), employees who are paid a bonus after the effective date of the act would be required to reimburse their employer for the full amount of the bonus. An individual who intentionally approves or authorizes a bonus prohibited by the act would commit a third degree misdemeanor.

THE SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), held a public hearing Wednesday on legislation to prohibit the estimated 150,000 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.

The measure will require anyone receiving public benefits in the Commonwealth to provide identification proving they are legal residents. In addition, individuals would be required to sign an affidavit stating they are a United States citizen or an alien lawfully residing in this county.

Applicants signing the affidavit stating that they are a legal alien would have their status verified by the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement Program operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Sen. Scarnati said: “I appreciate that this country and this state has individuals with many diverse backgrounds, but it is imperative that to remain competitive and to ensure public safety, we must have laws in place to discourage the practice of residing in Pennsylvania illegally. Fundamentally speaking, this bill creates fair measures to ensure that the citizens of Pennsylvania are not funding illegal aliens.”

- Sen. Scarnati

- Hearing Part 1

- Hearing Part 2

JOINT HEARING ON NUCLEAR ENERGY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AT PA NUCLEAR PLANTS

THE SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a public hearing Tuesday to hear testimony on nuclear energy and emergency management.

Members of the committees discussed Pennsylvania’s current and future use of nuclear energy, emergency preparedness at Pennsylvania’s five existing nuclear plants, and the role of federal and state entities in regulating the industry. Nuclear energy currently accounts for 35 percent of all energy generation in Pennsylvania and 20 percent nationally.

The meeting also addressed public concerns that have emerged in recent months following the release of a videotape showing contracted security staff sleeping in the watch room at Peach Bottom Nuclear facility in York County. Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the nuclear industry has spent a reported $1.5 billion nationally on security and infrastructure enhancements to thwart outside intrusions.

Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) said: “By their design, construction, and management, nuclear facilities are intended to prevent the radiological releases in the event of natural disasters, operational accidents, or terrorist acts. However, when security breaches do occur at nuclear facilities, public confidence in nuclear energy, generally, and in the robustness of the safety protections, specifically, takes a hit. At these times, it is appropriate that we step back and take stock ensuring that these critical infrastructures are properly and appropriately secured.”

Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee Chair Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) said: “Clearly, any discussion of the Commonwealth's future energy picture must consider the role that nuclear will play given that it currently accounts for over one-third of all electrical generation. That being said, Pennsylvania's existing nuclear facilities and any further expansion of nuclear must be scrutinized carefully to ensure that public safety, homeland security, and environmental concerns are the paramount concern.”

HEALTHY PENNSYLVANIA, A CONSUMER-DRIVEN ALTERNATIVE to Gov. Rendell's “Prescription for Pennsylvania,” was unveiled Wednesday by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon).

The elements of Healthy Pennsylvania include sunsetting state health insurance mandates, promoting Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and weeding out bad health care professionals. The initiative would also give health care consumers more price information, establish tax deductions and credits for those who pay for their own health care, and increase competition among health insurers.

Sen. Folmer said a comprehensive approach is needed, noting that other reforms introduced by Senate colleagues – such as tort reform and allowing small employers to pool together to purchase health insurance – are also integral in lowering costs and improving quality and accessibility.

Sen. Folmer said: “We must lower the cost of health care while enhancing its quality and accessibility. Government fiat has been tried in Canada and Europe with disastrous results, so let us instead go down the proven road of empowering consumers with choice and personal autonomy.”

LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER and with non-profit corporations on recreation facilities and programs was approved Wednesday by the Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland).

The committee approved a three-bill package, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), that would allow boroughs and townships to partner with counties, cities, townships, boroughs, towns, school districts, on projects such as swimming pools and ballparks. The bills cover acquisition of property, creation and operation of facilities.

Senate Bills 1002, 1003, and 1004 were sent to the full Senate for further consideration.

SPECIAL SESSION SENATE BILL 1, THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INVESTMENT ACT would provide: $20 million annually for consumer/home energy efficiency programs, $20 million annually in tax credits for investments in alternative energy production projects, and $20 million annually to finance a $250 million bond for alternative and renewable energy development, clean energy and energy conservation, and pollution control technology.

Consumers would be eligible for grants, rebates and reimbursements for purchasing energy-efficient heating and cooling units and appliances, and residential energy conservation projects. Tax credits would be available to facilities that produce or distribute renewable energy by using biofuel, biomass, solar power, wind energy, clean coal technologies, waste coal or other alternative energy sources.

Facilities that manufacture or produce products that provide renewable energy, or are used for the research and development of technology to provide alternative or renewable energy sources would also be eligible for tax credits.

SPECIAL SESSION SB 1: $250 MILLION BOND PROCEEDS

Allocated in the amount of $50 million per year over a five-year period for:
- Development of alternative and renewable energy technologies and venture capital.
- Pollution control technology projects to assist existing electric generating units meet enhanced state and federal pollution emission reduction requirements.
- Clean energy and energy conservation projects.