Session Weekly Wrap-Up

Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of May 6, 2012

The Senate voted 39 to 8 in favor of Senate Bill 1466, a $27.6 billion 2012-13 state budget bill that would make numerous funding restorations while holding the line on taxes. Under the bipartisan legislation, the Senate restored approximately $500 million in funds...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of April 29, 2012

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 157, which would create a 15-member “Task Force on Homeless Children’s Education” charged with examining the educational needs and status of homeless children Pennsylvania and recommending a statewide proposal to provide a...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of April 1, 2012

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1167, which allows a service member to petition the court to modify a custody agreement. The modification will grant custody rights to one or more biological relatives. It will include a proposed custody schedule with the...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of March 25, 2012

On a party-line vote of 29-19, the Senate passed a joint resolution that would amend the state Constitution to prohibit Pennsylvanians from being required to obtain health insurance coverage or from being penalized for not doing so.  Senate Bill 10 would amend the...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of March 11, 2012

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 623, which would require the Department of General Services to set an annual contracting goal of not less than 5 percent for contracts of small businesses owned by veterans. Currently, these targets exist for businesses owned...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of March 4, 2012

By a narrow 26-23 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 934, the controversial Voter ID bill that will require voters to present photo identification each time they vote.  Democrats railed against the Republican pushed initiative, calling it a “solution in search of a...

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Senate Democratic Wrapup for the Week of October 31, 2011

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 444, which would increase the prize limits for Local Option Small Games of Chance and tighten regulations on small games licensees. Changes in prize limits would include: Single chance from $500 to $1,000; Weekly limit for an...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of June 19, 2011

  By a 45-5 vote, the Senate passed legislation expanding the provision of the so-called “Castle Doctrine” that protects the right of homeowners to use deadly force against intruders in their home and property. Under previous law, homeowners were able to use deadly...

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Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of June 26, 2011

In a 30-20 party line vote, the Senate passed a controversial fiscal 2011-12 spending plan that imposes massive cuts on schools, health care services, job creations programs and critical services for many of the state’s most vulnerable citizens. The state’s $27.15...

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