Breaking News Archives
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$50 Million in Grants for Sewer & Water Projects to be Awarded by PENNVEST The Legislature only provided $50 million to PENNVEST from the voter referendum for the $250 Million bond issue for sewer and water infrastructure.  These funds will be disbursed through a special funding program at  PENNVEST's March 2006 Board meeting. Aplications are being collected and retained by PENNVEST until March when all of these applications are to be considered and the $50 million in grant funds will be awarded.  See Press Release on this issue.
CLC Meeting Pittsburgh Construction Legislative Council (CLC) Meeting – Brenda Reigle, PUCA Executive Director, tells Rep. David Levdansky, House Minority Finance Committee Chair, about the imposition of sales tax on political subdivision’s construction projects.  Brenda commented, “this practice seems ridiculous considering the fact that most of the funding for sewer and water projects comes from state or federal dollars.  One hand gives while the other hand takes it back.  More projects could be funded if the sales tax is completely eliminated. click here to read the whole story	Rep. Levdansky speaks to the CLC.
PUCA, NUCA and PENNVEST discuss forming a national alliance to oppose the rescission of the current funding level for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF).  click here to read the whole story
DEP - New DBE Solicitation policy change causes costly delays on PENNVEST projects.  The PA Utility Contractors Assn (PUCA) has been working to simplify the DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Solicitation compliance process for the past two years.  We have taken our cause to PENNVEST meetings across the state, to the DEP in Harrisburg, and to the EPA in Washington, D.C.  PUCA is continuing to address this issue as DEP presses for costly solicitations. click here to read the whole story
No Reponse from the PA Department of Labor & Industry  to a PA One Call System letter on the use of powered equipment within the tolerance zone. click here to read the whole story
Legislators become involved in the City of Lebanon issue after PUCA member sought  intervention.  The City of Lebanon passes a resolution that strips the authority of power to contract new projects.  According to concerned PUCA members in the area, the Lebanon City Council is voting on the issue of whether to dissolve the Lebanon Authority in it’s entirety on Dec. 9th, 2005.  They have already placed some limitations on the Authority's ability to enter into contracts.  The Lebanon Authority has grown over the past 70 years to service many communities beyond Lebanon City.  Some are concerned that dissolving the Authority would allow the City to divert monies intended for water and sewer work. click here to read the whole story
PA One Call bill to move in Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee next Tuesday, March 14.  The Senate introduced NEW language in Senate Bill 1104, Printer's Number 1526.  The bill is expected to be amended in Committee at that time.  Watch for amendments to be posted here this Friday.
NUCA EXPO '06 Photo Gallery - See photos of great Events, Expo and Education that took place March 1-3 in San Diego, CA
Suggested changes to the PA One Call Re-authorization Bill requires PUCA to respond in opposition An attorney for the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association sent a letter to the PA One Call System seeking changes to the proposed One Call legislation (HB2223) (Read letter here).  After careful consideration of the proposed changes, PUCA opposes the suggested language due to safety concerns for the public and construction field crews.  (Read PUCA's response letter here).  The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association's attorney responds to PUCA's concerns. (Read letter here).  A meeting is schedule for March 2 in Pittsburgh to further discuss our concerns.  Read Mr. Siana's third letter to PUCA with point- by- point response.
Workers' comp insurance costs to drop Workers’ compensation insurance rates will decrease by an average of 8.6 percent in April. Overall, the decrease will save employers about $100 million in 2006 premiums. This brings total rate savings to $200 million.  In a press conference today, the Governor attributed the decline to fewer workplace accidents. In 2004, there were more than 93,500 injuries, a 5.6 percent drop from the approximately 99,000 reported in 2003, according to the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Injury numbers for 2005 were not available. - Susan Gvozdas,  BUSINESS JOURNAL DAILY
Carlisle OKs bond issue for water, sewer upgrades Carlisle Borough Council approved a $5 million bond issue for general upgrades to the municipality’s water and sewer systems and other infrastructure improvements. Moody’s Investors Service, a Wall Street credit-rating and research firm, gave the borough an A1 bond rating before the action was approved. The credit rating means the borough’s accounting audits were exemplary and there are strong balances in all accounts. It also means lower borrowing costs for the borough. The borough’s latest bond brings the municipality’s total bond debt to $21.7 million. Carlisle’s bond rating is one of the highest of any municipality in the state, said Fred Bean, Carlisle borough manager. - Angela Doody, BUSINESS JOURNAL DAILY
New OHSA Assistant Secretary Named   The U.S. Senate has confirmed Edwin Foulke as the new Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Governor chooses wealthy personal injury attorneys over consumers, patients, hospitals and business    HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today said it was appalled by the governor’s veto of a critical lawsuit abuse reform measure he once supported.   “By vetoing Senate Bill 435, Governor Rendell has chosen personal injury lawyers over consumers, patients, hospitals, doctors, large and small businesses, and nonprofit organizations, just to name a few,” said Floyd Warner, president of the PA Chamber. “We are extremely disappointed in the governor’s actions and disgusted by his continued excuses for ignoring business leaders and the need to improve Pennsylvania’s business climate.”   On Friday, March 24th, the governor vetoed legislation that would have re-enacted the 2002 Fair Share Act, which was struck down by the courts last year on procedural, not substantive grounds. The law would have modified the unfair legal doctrine of joint and several liability, in which defendants held liable in personal injury lawsuits can be held responsible for 100 percent of the damages awarded, regardless of the percentage of fault.  The system enables trial lawyers to go after companies merely because they have “deep pockets.” The Fair Share Act would have corrected this inequity and held defendants who are found less than 60 percent liable only responsible for the relative amount of damages.   As Governor-elect, Rendell supported the same reform language he has now vetoed. And when the original Fair Share Act was struck down by the courts, the governor said he was in favor of a rollback of joint and several liability, and was “hopeful” for new legislation.  “As candidate for governor, Rendell said he supported the Fair Share Act,” Warner said. “As governor, Rendell has provided no leadership for substantive change, instead choosing to wait until issuing his veto message to provide flimsy excuses for his flip-flop on the issue.” Warner said ensuring the enactment of this key legal reform measure would have sent a much-needed positive message to Pennsylvania’s job creators.   “Inequities in our legal system are just another burden facing job creators; one more factor that has the potential to send job opportunities elsewhere,” he said, noting that the state’s tort laws were cited as one factor that led to the Commonwealth’s dismal 45th ranking in Forbes magazine’s recent Economic Freedom survey.   “The governor’s veto is counter to the will of a bipartisan group of lawmakers, who in two separate legislative sessions, have voted to modify a legal doctrine that 44 other states have already modified.”   In the larger picture, Warner said the governor’s latest actions make it clear he has no interest in supporting a true pro-jobs agenda, and has no interest in cultivating a relationship with any business organization for the purpose of fixing structural problems to the business climate that continue to hinder the Commonwealth’s competitiveness.   “How can private sector job creators expect to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the governor when he takes every opportunity to quash meaningful reforms to our economic structure?” Warner asked.   Reprint of the PA Chamber Press Release                    The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state’s largest broad-based business association, with thousands of members statewide representing more than 50 percent of the private workforce. More information is available on the Chamber’s website at www.pachamber.org
Tribute to the Late Speaker K. LeRoy Irvis March 16 - Speaker of the House John M. Perzel today issued the following statement upon learning of the March 16 death of former Speaker of the House K. Leroy Irvis: “Statesman, scholar, orator, artist and gentleman, Leroy Irvis was a true Renaissance man who was beloved by all who knew him.  “He made history on a regular basis.  He was the first African American to be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives in any of the United States.  He also was the first Speaker in Pennsylvania history to create well-received sculptures and publish highly-acclaimed books of poetry.  “Speaker Irvis, a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, did his teaching, his creating, his legislating and his leading with remarkable compassion and concern for others.  He was a leader to believe in – a man with a grand vision of lawmaking and the dignity, strength, grace and courage to carry out that vision. “My wife Sheryl and I send our deepest sympathies to his widow, Kathy, and the rest of the Irvis family.”  Perzel also directed that a book be placed in the Capitol Rotunda for the next 30 days so that colleagues and friends of Speaker Irvis from government and the central Pennsylvania region can express sympathies to the Irvis family.  The book will be forwarded to Mrs. Kathy Irvis.  Read more on the life of K. Leroy Irvis.
Fair Share bill goes to Rendell The Pennsylvania House of Representatives  passed a measure limiting liability in civil suits involving multiple defendants by a vote of 118-81. The bill was previously passed by the Senate and now goes to Gov. Ed Rendell. It curbs the ability of plaintiffs to recover damages from a single defendant in excess of that defendant’s share of responsibility. Business advocates have been pressing for the so-called “Fair Share” legislation, which would replace a 2002 law that Commonwealth Court ruled unconstitutional because of the procedures used to pass it. - David Dagan Central Penn Business Journal
PA One Call Bill (HB2223) is expected to move in the Senate Consumer Affairs Committee The Senate is expected to take up consideration of the PA One Call bill sometime in February.  This means that the bill is moving through the legislative process rather quickly.  Keep coming back to the PUCA home page for updates on the legislation that affects every excavator in the state.  PUCA will continue to fight for every safety measure that protects your employees.  Read House Final Version of HB2223 latest Printer's Number as passed the House on Dec. 13.