PREFERRED APPROPRIATION BILL, HB 2579, PN3871: The legislation is the General Appropriations Act for the 2004-2005 Fiscal Year.  The bill is fundamentally based on the budget as proposed in the Governor’s budget address and will be used as a vehicle for the final 2004-2005 Appropriations Act.  A 50-0 vote was recorded.

SB 1059, PN1473: The legislation amends Act 210 of 1889, which established a board of wardens for the Port of Philadelphia and regulated pilots and pilotage, to increase the pilotage rates for river pilots on the Delaware River.  The bill increases the current pilotage rate of $9.58 per unit to guide vessels the 80 miles into and out of the Port of Philadelphia from between Cape May, New Jersey and Cape Henlopen, Delaware on the Delaware River to $10.06 in 2005, to $10.46 in 2006, and to $10.88 in 2007.  Additionally, the bill raises the cap on the maximum amount of units that may be charged.  A 50-0 vote was recorded.

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS: The following nominees were confirmed by the Senate.  A 50-0 vote was recorded for each.

Jonathan W. McCullough, Jr., D.C., State Chiropractic Board
Robert D. Cima, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority
Arthur Makadon, Esq., Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority
Charles E. Meacci, State Board of Physical Therapy
Hon. J. William Lincoln, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Paula M. Aigner, Esq., Blair County District Justice