Frenzied days at Capitol
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
State lawmakers are tripping over themselves these days holding press conferences, moving bills and floating tax-and-spend proposals as the June 30 budget deadline draws near. It's quite a contrast to last month when lawmakers spent a lot of time in recess.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have a long-standing habit of saving the heavy lifting for a few frenzied weeks in June. None of the reform proposals of recent years have offered an effective antidote. Eleventh-hour activity happens in Legislatures everywhere.
Two hundred years ago, Pennsylvania Sen. William Maclay wrote disparagingly about the rush of business at the very end of the first session of the U.S. Congress.
Even though the current session of the General Assembly started in January, it was only last week that a second piece of legislation made it to Gov. Ed Rendell for signing. This measure would allow employees of small businesses to obtain COBRA health benefits if they lose coverage.
There's action on bills by Northeast Pennsylvania lawmakers.
The House approved a key bill addressing the issues of neglect raised in the Peggy Rogers case. Rogers, an Alzheimer's patient, died of undiagnosed breast cancer while in a nursing home in Simpson. The measure by Rep. Jim Wansacz, D-114, Old Forge, would make it a felony crime in cases where neglect results in the death of a dependent in that situation.
A measure to crack down on game poaching by Rep. Ed Staback, D-115, Archbald, cleared the House Game and Fisheries Committee which he chairs. Staback's measure would upgrade penalties for such activities as violating bag limits and hunting off-season in order to deter poachers. He hopes the legislation will reduce the nearly 1,000 poaching violations in Pennsylvania annually.
Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-22, Peckville, and colleagues unveiled a proposal aimed at state business taxes. The plan calls for reducing the state corporate net income tax rate from 9.99 percent to 7.99 percent by 2013, while closing the so-called "Delaware" loophole that allows multi-state corporations to avoid paying the CNI tax here.
Rebates extension
Rendell has extended the deadline for senior citizens and disabled adults to apply for the lottery-funded property tax and rent rebate program from June 30 to Dec. 31.
Senior citizens aged 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older and people with disabilities over 18 are eligible for the rebates if they earn less than $35,000 annually.
Official firearm
Sen. Pat Browne, R-16, Allentown, has sponsored a bill designating the Pennsylvania Rifle as the official firearm of the state. Every time you think lawmakers have drawn the well dry on these designations, a new one comes along.
"The Pennsylvania Rifle was the first truly American firearm and, due to its exceptional accuracy and range, was considered the greatest achievement in the development of firearms during the 18th century," according to the bill.
(Swift is Harrisburg bureau chief for Times-Shamrock Communications newspapers. E-mail: rswift@timesshamrock.com.)
Police continue search for suspect in armed robbery
Be the first to comment on this article!