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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2008
Contact: Tracy Polovick
Coordinator of Communications and Outreach
(717) 787-8524
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Action-Filled 2007 a Prelude to Productive 2008, Vance Says
The past year saw a flurry of activity in the Pennsylvania Senate with government and legislative reforms leading the way.
The Senate acted on the first day of session to implement some much-needed reforms. Session is now limited to the hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. to prevent middle-of-the-night votes. The Senate is required to wait at least six hours before voting on an amended bill or a conference committee report, and amendments are posted to the Internet before being offered on the Senate floor. All roll call votes are posted on the Internet no later than 24 hours after a vote, and committee votes on are posted within 48 hours of the vote.
The Senate also approved a resolution prohibiting the use of public funds to pay for automated telephone calls, or robo-calls. Another resolution requires publishing of the Senate's Legislative Journal – which includes the full text of all floor debates – on the Internet upon Senate approval or within 45 days, whichever is earlier. Finally, as part of its effort to make state government more transparent, the Senate now requires the placement of Pennsylvania's consolidated statutes on the Internet. The information is available at www.legis.state.pa.us.
Next, we were able to hold the line on taxes in the 2007-08 budget. All seven of Governor Rendell's proposed tax increases were blocked. Implementation of his tax increases would have hurt Pennsylvania's economy.
Also, in 2007 the Senate reauthorized the $25 million grant program for volunteer fire companies and EMS units; improved health care by establishing the role of healthcare facilities and state government in reducing the incidence of infections and providing a financial incentive for individuals to buy long-term care insurance; and assisted veterans by better coordinating veterans outreach assistance and support programs.
In addition, I was pleased to have two pieces of legislation become law. Act 51 of 2007 addressed the needs of Pennsylvanians without access to routine, preventive dental care. The other new law I authored, Act 56 of 2007, defines assisted living residences and the services that may be offered thus allowing seniors to age in place with increased consumer choice.
As 2008 begins a few issues top the Legislature's agenda. Work is expected to strengthen the Open Records Law; examine the transportation funding issues resulting from the problems in tolling Interstate 80; and address the shortage of health care professionals, especially nurses. As the new budget is debated, we will continue to work to control spending and hold the line on taxes. It doesn't take talent to spend money. It takes talent to save money.
On a more personal front, I hope to see action on a few pieces of legislation I have authored. These bills include full authorization of low-cost prescription programs by retailers; background checks for long-term care and hospital employees; reduction of diesel truck idling; and procedures for reporting suspected abuse of adults with cognitive or physical disabilities. In addition, I am working on legislation that seeks to alleviate mandates on sewage treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These mandates have the potential to significantly increase sewer fees in the region.
More needs to be done to promote open, accountable and efficient government,
and I will continue to work towards those goals in 2008. As always, my office
welcomes input from residents of the 31st Senatorial District.
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