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July 18, 2008
The state Senate
Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing in Philadelphia to discuss
improving Pennsylvania's foster care system. Don Rooney has more with Sen.
LeAnna Washington, Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Aging and Youth
Committee.
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July 17, 2008
With drug and alcohol
abuse causing devastating problems on our university campuses and in our
college towns, a Chester County lawmaker says schools in Pennsylvania need
to do a better job of notifying parents when their kids get into trouble.
Howard Ondick has more with Senator Andy Dinniman, a member of the Senate
Education Committee.
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July 16, 2008
The
final step in Pennsylvania's phased-in minimum wage has kicked in. As
of July 1st, the minimum wage is $7.15 an hour. And, as Don Rooney
reports, Senator Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia and other Senate Democrats
are pushing legislation that would tie the minimum wage to the Consumer
Price Index and guarantee an increase every year.
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July 15, 2008
Voters
are going to decide whether or not Pennsylvania makes a big investment in
drinking water supply and sewage treatment systems across the Commonwealth.
Sid Michaels has more with Senator Ray Musto of Luzerne County, a member of
the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and sponsor of
Senate Bill 1341.
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July 14, 2008
Governor
Rendell has signed an executive order reviving the Pennsylvania Health Care
Cost Containment Council through November 30, 2008. But the agency
that has been collecting health care data since 1986 will need help to
survive past that date. Sid Michaels has more with Senator Wayne Fontana of
Allegheny County, who has sponsored legislation to extend the life of the
agency.
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July 11, 2008
The Governor has signed legislation providing for a first-ever state income
tax credit for Pennsylvania's active volunteer firefighters and volunteer
ambulance and rescue company personnel. Don Rooney has more with Senator
Mike O'Pake of Berks County, Democratic Whip in the Senate, who first
introduced such legislation nearly five years ago.
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July 10, 2008
Gov.
Rendell has signed into law a bill that, among other things, mandates
insurance coverage for autism. Don Rooney has more with Senators Mike Stack
of Philadelphia, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance
Committee, and Anthony Williams of Philadelphia.
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July 9, 2008
Legislation that's aimed at protecting homeowners from unscrupulous mortgage
lenders has been signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell. Howard Ondick has
more with Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia who says the new laws will help
keep the American dream of home ownership from becoming a nightmare.
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July 8, 2008
Coal
miners in Pennsylvania got some good news this week. For the first
time in 47 years, the state's coal mine safety law has been updated and that
should give miners and their families some peace of mind. Howard
Ondick has more with Senator Richard Kasunic of Fayette County, sponsor of
the new law.
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July 3, 2008
Senator Vince Fumo and state Representative Dwight Evans hold State Capitol
news conference Thursday to announce that they're launching an effort to
find new locations for Philadelphia's two slots casinos. Senator Fumo
says the proposed Delaware River Waterfront sites for both the Sugarhouse
Casino and the Foxwood Casino are too close to local residents and both casinos
should look elsewhere. Both are enlisting the help of Gov. Rendell and
Mayor Michael Nutter to help change the minds of the casino operators.
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July 3, 2008
Governor Rendell has signed into law a bill that requires reviews and
reports on child fatalities and near fatalities resulting from child abuse.
Don Rooney gets details from the bill's sponsor, Senator LeAnna Washington
of Philadelphia.
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July 2, 2008
Bell ringing announced
our independence in 1776 -- and on July 4th bell ringing will again be heard
around Pennsylvania to celebrate our independence and freedom. Howard
Ondick has more with Senator Connie Williams of Montgomery County, sponsor
of a Senate Resolution observing July 4th as Let Freedom Ring Day.
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July 1, 2008
Blaming utility companies for being more concerned with profits than their
customers, state Senate Democrats are planning to introduce legislation to
head off huge rate increases that will hit ratepayers in less than two
years. Sid Michaels has more with Senators Vince Fumo of Philadelphia and
Lisa Boscola of Northampton County.
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July 1, 2008
Budget negotiations have produced an agreement for the 2008-09 Pennsylvania
state budget. Once all the legislation is written up and legislators have
had a chance to vote, it's believed the budget will be in place by late
Thursday or early Friday. Don Rooney gets details from one of the
negotiators, Senator Vince Fumo of Philadelphia.
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June 30, 2008
For
the first time in 47 years, it appears the state's Bituminous Coal Mine
Safety Law is going to be updated in an effort to better protect
Pennsylvania's 5,000 coal miners. Howard Ondick has more with Senator
Richard Kasunic of Fayette County, whose bill was approved by the state
Senate on Monday.
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June 29, 2008
The state Senate has
unanimously approved legislation Sunday that would help local agencies and
communities better protect children from neglect and abuse. Don Rooney has
more with the bill's sponsor, Senator LeAnna Washington of Philadelphia.
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June 28, 2008
A Lehigh Valley lawmaker
says a real energy crisis is about to hit Pennsylvania consumers in the
pocketbook unless the state legislature takes action to stop electric rates
from skyrocketing once the rate caps come off next year and in 2010.
Howard Ondick has more with Senator Lisa Boscola of Northampton County,
Democratic Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
Committee.
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June 27, 2008
Budget negotiators for the Senate, House and Governor's office will continue
talking over the weekend, hoping to come to an agreement on the state budget
by the Monday deadline. Don Rooney has the latest with Senator Mike O'Pake
of Berks County, Democratic Whip in the Senate.
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June 27, 2008
The Pennsylvania Senate
has approved a bill that would allow public transportation systems to
partner with private companies as a method of raising revenue to help
finance operations and improvements. Howard Ondick has more with
Senator Barry Stout of Washington County, the ranking Democrat on the Senate
Transportation Committee, and a co-sponsor of the bill.
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June 26, 2008
The Senate has passed
and sent to the House a bill that reimburses developers of brownfield sites
for some of the costs of cleaning up those sites. Don Rooney gets details
from Senator Jay Costa of Allegheny County, co-sponsor of the bill.
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June 25, 2008
It appears another summer
will go by -- and the state Senate will again fail to take action to help
those working Pennsylvanians who can't afford to purchase their own health
care insurance. Here's more with Senator Vincent Hughes of
Philadelphia, who took to the Senate Floor Wednesday, to criticize the
Republican-controlled Senate for its inaction.
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June 24, 2008
The State
Senate has unanimously approved legislation that would allow municipalities
in Pennsylvania to deal with water and wastewater improvement projects.
Sid Michaels has more with Senator Ray Musto of Luzerne County, the sponsor
of that legislation.
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June 23, 2008
Reaching a verdict for a jury is difficult in any trial, but especially in
this state, says Senator Mike O'Pake of Berks County. That’s why he has
introduced a law making things less difficult for a panel when it begins to
deliberate. Sid Michaels has more with the Democratic Whip in the
Pennsylvania Senate.
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June 20, 2008
The
state Senate passed Senate Bill 1389 this week, but that bill won't actually
wind up being the state budget. The budget will be crafted out of that bill
by the four legislative caucuses and the Governor. Don Rooney has a progress
report on the budget with Senator Vince Fumo of Philadelphia, one of the
Senate negotiators.
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June 19, 2008
On
Thursday rallies for health care reform were held in five cities across
Pennsylvania, protesting not only the high cost of health care, but also the
business practices of health insurers. Don Rooney has more with Senator Jim
Ferlo of Allegheny County, who spoke on the floor of the Senate in support
of the rallies.
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