Podcasts

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12/16/08 - Senator Ted Erickson (R-26) discusses his efforts to streamline the permitting process of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

12/5/08 - State Senator Jake Corman (R-34) talks about his role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the tough decisions on state spending that must be made.

11/21/08 - State Senator Don White (R-41) comments on a Senate Banking & Insurance Committee recommendation that the Blues insurance merger be rejected.

11/7/08 - Senator John Rafferty (R-44) discusses municipal electric procurement and an upcoming Senate Local Government Committee public hearing on the issue.

10/30/08 - State Senator Pat Vance (R-31) comments on her efforts to reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.

10/16/08 - Senator Ted Erickson (R-26) discusses Senate Republican efforts to reach an agreement on a viable health care reform plan.

10/7/08 - State Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) comments on the implementation of Pennsylvania’s new Open Records Law, which goes into effect January 1st.

9/26/08 - Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24) discusses Senate passage of his bill intended to protect online auctions from government red tape.

9/19/08 - State Senator Jane Earll (R-49) discusses a Senate Judiciary Committee public hearing on her bills that would change the way Pennsylvania’s judges are selected.

8/28/08 - Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) discusses a recent Senate Finance Committee public hearing on his legislation that would address the cost of health care.

7/25/08 -State Senator Jane Orie (R-40) discusses gaming in Pennsylvania and the status of a casino project in Pittsburgh.

7/16/08 - State Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) discusses his call for a special legislative session on government reform and ethical reform.

7/1/08 - Senator Pat Browne (R-16) comments on his legislation, now before the Governor, that would protect consumers from questionable mortgage lending practices.

6/26/08 - Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) discusses his legislation intended to establish a timeline for future state budgets.

6/12/08 - Senator Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) discusses HealthNET PA, the Clean Indoor Air Act, H20 PA and other important issues.

5/28/08 - State Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24) discusses the merits of SB 1273, his legislation to divest Pennsylvania’s state stores.

5/19/08 - State Senator Jane Earll (R-49) discusses her plan to modernize Pennsylvania’s water and sewer infrastructure without raising taxes.

5/9/08 - State Senator Jane Earll (R-49) explains how the Task Force on Gaming Committee is working to enhance and refine the process by which gaming licenses are granted in Pennsylvania.

5/5/08 - State Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) discusses legislation to address rising health care costs and a recent Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing on the issue.

4/28/08 - State Senator Pat Browne (R-16) comments on his legislation that would help taxpayers monitor state government spending via the Internet.

4/18/08 - State Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) discusses issues raised by constituents at a recent series of town meetings.

4/9/08 - State Senator Pat Vance (R-31) recaps a Senate Aging & Youth Committee public hearing on providing balanced funding for Pennsylvania’s long term care needs.

4/3/08 - Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) discusses the recent theft of state-owned computers and his legislation that would require state agencies to promptly alert affected individuals of a data breach.

3/19/08 - State Senator John Eichelberger (R-30) discusses Senate Bill 1313, the Child Rapist and Sexual Predator Detection Act.

1/18/08 - Senator Pat Vance (R-31) discusses the financial impact of implementing the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.

1/11/08 - State Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) discusses House/Senate conference committee efforts to reach a compromise on statewide smoking ban legislation.

1/2/08 - State Senator Jane Earll, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development discusses recent public hearings on Pennsylvania's business expansion and workforce development programs.

12/20/07 - Senator Jane Orie (R-40) discusses her bill, now before the Senate, that would establish specialized "problem solving" courts in the Commonwealth.

12/13/07 - State Senator Mary Jo White (R-21) comments on Senate passage of legislation that would boost renewable energy development and reduce energy consumption without imposing new taxes.

12/5/07 - Senator Don White, chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee, responds to Governor Rendell’s plan to target Pennsylvania’s MCARE fund as a revenue source.

11/15/07 - State Senator Mike Folmer (R-48) discusses his legislation that would preclude Pennsylvania from complying with the federal Real I.D. Act.

10/26/07 - State Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36), chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, discusses the need to establish a stable workforce for Pennsylvania’s number one industry.

10/5/07 - State Senator Lisa Baker (R-20), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, discusses the implementation of a statewide communications system for the Commonwealth.

9/28/07 - Senator Mary Jo White, chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, comments on funding policy for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act program and a recent public hearing on the issue.

9/21/07 - Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati discusses fall legislative priorities and efforts to control expenses at state government.

9/11/07 - Senators Mike Waugh (R-28), Mike Folmer (R-48) & John Eichelberger (R-30) discuss the basic education funding formula and its impact on growing school districts following a Senate Republican Policy Committee public hearing on the issue.

8/24/07 - State Senator Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) discusses her legislation, intended to improve veterans’ outreach and assistance in Pennsylvania.

8/10/07 - State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) discusses his legislation that would prohibit illegal aliens in the Commonwealth from receiving public benefits.

7/25/07 - Following a Senate State Government Committee public hearing on a wide range of election issues, Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) discusses the status of the SURE system and efforts to move Pennsylvania’s presidential primary election date.

7/16/07 - State Senator Jake Corman (R-34) comments on Senate passage of a new state budget that holds the line on spending without raising taxes.

6/29/07 - State Senator Mike Brubaker, chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee discusses The Building a Vision for Rural PA listening sessions and the summary document that is now before committee members.

6/22/07 - State Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) discusses her legislation that would give Pennsylvania motorists access to consistent and reliable traveler information.

6/14/07 - Senator Edwin Erickson (R-26), chairman of the Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee discusses his legislation intended to reduce the incidence of infections in Pennsylvania’s health care facilities.

6/07/07 -Senator Edwin Erickson (R-26) and Senator Mary Jo White (R-21) examine ways to reduce hospital-acquired infections at a June 6th Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee public hearing on the issue.

6/01/07 - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Senator Gibson Armstrong (R-13) is interviewed by Senator Jake Corman (R-34) about the task of negotiating a new PA budget.

5/24/07 -Senator James Rhoades (R-29) testifies before the Senate State Government Committee on his legislation that would amend the state Constitution to give Pennsylvanians the options of initiative and referendum.

5/18/07 - State State Senator Bob Regola (R-39) discusses an upcoming Senate Majority Policy Committee public hearing on his legislation that would set fiscally responsible limits on state government spending.

5/10/07 - State Senator Bob Regola (R-39) and State Senator John Gordner (R-27) question Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Stephen Schmerin at the first in a series of public hearings to review Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code.

5/1/07 - Senator Roger Madigan (R-23), Senator Jake Corman (R-34), Senator Bob Regola (R-39) and Senator Gibson Armstrong (R-13) question State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak about initiatives included in Governor Rendell’s 2007-2008 education budget.

4/24/07 - Members of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee comment on the legality and practicality of Governor Rendell’s proposed tax on employers to support his universal health care plan.

4/18/07 - State Senator Gibson Armstrong (R-13), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, comments on the Governor’s proposal to raise the state sales tax and why it lacks support in the General Assembly.

4/10/07 - State Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36), chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee provides an update on the Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania listening sessions.

3/28/07 - State Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24) recaps a Senate Communications & Technology Committee public hearing on the implementation of two initiatives intended to promote broadband deployment throughout Pennsylvania.

3/9/07 -State Senator Mike Waugh (R-28) and State Senator Pat Vance (R-31) review two weeks of Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings and discuss the tough negotiations that lie ahead.

3/2/07 - State Senator Pat Browne (R-16) talks about his Senate passed measure that would make significant reforms to the Emergency Municipal Services Tax.

2/23/07 - Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) previews the upcoming Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings and calls for responsible state government spending.

2/14/07 - State Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) discusses upcoming Senate State Government Committee public hearings on legislation that would provide for the convening of a constitutional convention.

2/08/07 - State Senator Roger Madigan, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, discusses the challenges facing Pennsylvania's transportation system and the funding options outlined by the Governor in his budget address.

1/31/07 - State Senators Stewart Greenleaf, Lisa Baker and Rob Wonderling comment on Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee passage of SB246, Senator Greenleaf's legislation to ban smoking in the workplace.

1/25/07 - State Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36), the new chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, outlines several priorities he plans to pursue in the 2007-2008 legislative session.

1/19/07 - State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) talks about his new responsibilities as Senate President Pro Tempore and discusses the challenges facing the General Assembly in the 2007-2008 legislative session.

1/11/07 - State Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9) discusses his role as Senate Majority Leader and the legislative issues that could warrant consideration in the months to come.

1/4/07 - Senators Lisa Baker (R-20), Mike Brubaker (R-36), John Eichelberger (R-30), Mike Folmer (R-48) and Chuck McIlhinney (R-10) discuss their goals as newly sworn-in members of the General Assembly.