“Sexual abuse and sexual violence, especially against children, is often veiled in silence, but the Jerry Sandusky case has brought this heinous crime to everyone’s attention,” said Boscola (D-Lehigh/Monroe/Northampton). “This is an important time for all of us to take a look at our current laws and see how we can improve them so that we can prevent these offenses. In particular, my legislation puts up a strong barrier around our schools and bus stops.”

Her legislation, Senate Bill 1378, would ban “Megan’s Law” sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center, recreation center or playground — and a minimum of 500 feet from school bus stops. The bill would also require school directors to consult the Megan’s Law registry when they review and choose school bus routes.

“Although sex offenders are required to register and provide their residence address, there are no current restrictions on where they can reside,” Boscola said. “It is not enough to notify a school district if a known predator lives within a mile of a school. There must be stricter guidelines to protect our children.”  

Nineteen other states currently have residency limitations on sexual registrants but Pennsylvania would become the first state in the nation to extend this protective zone to bus stops if this bill became law.

“Many children who are sexual abuse victims are afraid to tell anyone and, sadly, live with this abuse for years. We as a society must be advocates for all of our children,” Boscola said. “This legislation takes preventative steps to ensure that our children are going to school safely and learning in a safe environment.”

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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HARRISBURG, Feb. 6, 2012 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola today spoke on the Senate Floor urging the Senate to reform the redistricting process. She also called on Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks/Montgomery), chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, to bring up her reform proposal (Senate Bill 650) for a committee vote.

Following are the texts of Boscola’s (D-Northampton/Lehigh/Monroe) floor speech and letter to Sen. McIlhinney:

Floor Speech:

“Mr. President, this year’s redistricting process proved to be a disgrace and debacle.

If you want proof, just look at the majority opinion issued by the Supreme Court that said a normal citizen, using her own home computer, was able to draw better legislative boundaries than the Legislative Reapportionment Commission with all of its experts, support staff, advocates and legal advisors.

One good woman, one concerned citizen named Amanda Holt -from Lehigh County — succeeded where the commission failed because she was more interested in being fair and logical than constructing weirdly shaped political fiefdoms.

Guided by constitutional dictates and common sense, she drew her map in a sensible way that ignored the many pitfalls that have corrupted the redistricting process over the years.

Amanda didn’t have state and congressional incumbents wheeling and dealing in back rooms, carving up communities and regions to suit their political ends.

Amanda didn’t have to worry about drawing squiggly lines to pack more Democrats or Republicans into some incumbent’s district.

She didn’t have to contort her maps to district-out potential rivals.

To Amanda, looking out for number one was looking out for ordinary citizens who deserve the best possible representation in Harrisburg and Washington.

Mr. President, I also want to publicly commend the majority Supreme Court members who largely said, “Enough is enough.”

They were tired of the gerrymandering….the game playing….the wheeling and dealing…the jaded reasoning and blatant disregard for what our Constitution demands.

Mr. President, if this sorry chapter in Pennsylvania history proves anything, it proves that the less politicians have to do with drawing these maps, the better.

This is why I hope my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle are finally poised to get this embarrassing chapter behind us and consider a more equitable, independent and rational means of re-drawing legislative districts.

For nearly a decade, I have promoted a bipartisan resolution that prevents politicians from controlling redistricting. Instead, my bill would allow an independent body of citizens to draw the maps in a more fair and rational way.

Mr. President, Senate Bill 650 is patterned off a proven system used in Iowa. Under my proposal, a state Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Bureau would be established and comprised of members who do not hold political or party offices….aren’t related to those who hold office….or don’t work for those who hold office.

This structure would help take partisanship and politics out of the reapportionment and redistricting process altogether.

And let me warn all of you, if we are not prepared to reform this process now, we will be right back here in 10 years, red faced over how political insiders with secretive ambitions and axes to grind were able to misuse the process — leaving communities and regions such as the Lehigh Valley needlessly split and mutilated to suit their political ends.

Mr. President, the Supreme Court did the right thing. It’s time for us to follow suit.

The people deserve better.

Thank you Mr. President.”

Boscola letter to Sen. McIlhinney:

Dear Senator McIlhinney:

I am contacting you to request that Senate Bill 650 be brought up for a vote before the Senate State Government Committee. SB 650 establishes a Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Bureau and is modeled after the Iowa redistricting plan. I have introduced this legislation in previous sessions, but given the recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on the redistricting challenges, it is time that we examine Pennsylvania’s current redistricting method and perhaps consider an alternative process.

Under SB 650, both Congressional and Legislative redistricting would be done by this Bureau and districts would be drawn considering the following factors:

-Ideal population

-Municipal boundaries

-Contiguous territory

-Compactness

-Communities of interest

Additionally, SB 650 creates a Redistricting Advisory Commission to direct the Bureau in cases where the Bureau is confronted by a question in which no clear applicable guideline is available in law. These Commission members would be appointed by the four Caucus leaders and the respective appointees would select the fifth commission member. The appointees must be an eligible elector in the Commonwealth, may not hold a partisan public or political party office and may not be a relative of any member of the General Assembly or member of Congress or be employed by the General Assembly or Congress.

The legislation would remove much of the controversy and public perception that political considerations and motives are driving the reapportionment process. The recent embarrassing spectacle of the Supreme Court throwing out the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s plan underscores the public’s dissatisfaction over how the redistricting process has become distorted and tainted. If we are serious about public pledges for openness, conforming to the spirit and letter of our Constitution and improving the way the state legislature does business, supporting this balanced proposal is a step in that direction.

It is imperative that we instill public confidence back into our redistricting process and eliminate the perceived partisanship and politics. I strongly believe that my bill has the power to accomplish these goals and fix the aspects of our redistricting methodology that are clearly broken.

Sincerely, Lisa M. Boscola

# # #

The hearing was held in Philadelphia at the request of state Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.), who has co-sponsored legislation (Senate Bill 1260) that would limit the influence of special interests and wealthy donors in campaigns.

Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh/Monroe), who chairs the committee, said that campaign finance reform laws “must be strengthened to preserve the integrity of elections and give all candidates a ‘fighter’s chance’ in campaigns.

“I had very little financial support in my first run for office; but was able to overcome the odds by working hard, traveling to events throughout my Senate district and going door to door connecting with voters. We cannot allow huge campaign donors to drown out the chances of underdog candidates.”

Senator Farnese cautioned about the political influence that large donations carry and again renewed his call for limits on donations.

“January was the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, which opened the floodgates and allowed unlimited corporate spending and election influence across the nation,” said State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.).  “In the Commonwealth, we as elected officials must ensure that we do not allow the draw of significant dollars to diminish the public’s trust in government.”

Senate Bill 1260, sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), would impose campaign contribution limits on all political party committees, individuals, political action committees (PAC) and candidate’s political committees.  Farnese testified in favor of the bill at a previous hearing in Pittsburgh.

Participating in today’s hearing, Costa added, “The longer we go without reforming this broken system of campaign finance, the longer special interests and wealthy stakeholders will have strong influence over some of the most critical decisions made in Harrisburg.”

“The dominance of big contributions from special interests, and their consequences for democratic society, is the most serious shortcoming of the present, largely unregulated system,” David Ross of Common Cause/PA said. “While many solid efforts at campaign finance reform have been launched in the General Assembly over the past 30-plus years, Senate Bill 1260 is among the very best and most comprehensive to have been placed before our lawmakers.”

The measure would set $100,000 contribution caps per election on all state political party committees for candidates to the General Assembly, Court of Common Pleas, and county or local offices; $250,000 for statewide candidates; and $1 million for candidates running for governor. The bill would also set $500 aggregate limits on contributions per individual to any candidate for the General Assembly, Court of Common Pleas, county or local office; $2,500 per individual to any statewide candidate; and $5,000 per PAC or candidate’s committee to any candidate for all offices.  The aggregate limits per calendar year would be $10,000 per individual, candidate’s committee or a PAC to a single political party committee; $25,000 per individual to all candidates and committees; and $100,000 per PAC to candidates and committees.

“By placing limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, tightening and expanding disclosure and requiring political accountability by corporations, Senate Bill 1260 would significantly mitigate the potentially corrosive effects of the Citizens United decision,” Lora Lavin, representing the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, said. “Senate Bill 1260 merits bipartisan support and we urge action by the legislature and the governor.”

Other participants in this morning’s hearing included Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz, and Ellen Mattleman Kaplan and Michael Schwartz representing the Committee of Seventy.

# # #

“I am pleased to help obtain state dollars to help fund worthy local projects,” Boscola said. “I will continue to seek state support for local efforts.”

The projects include:

• Monroe County Industrial Development Authority was awarded $1.2 million for the Route 611 Corridor Gas Line project;

• Delaware Water Gap Borough was awarded $165,634 to construct an addition to an existing well house and make associated site improvements to house new filtration equipment for manganese removal;

• Stroud Township was awarded $100,000 for the construction of a pedestrian bridge that will span the Pocono Creek into Stroudsburg Borough;

• Northampton County was awarded $500,000 to renovate the Bangor Trust Building in Bangor Borough to include residential and additional commercial space. The funds will be a grant-to-loan to Lake Creek Construction;

• Bangor Borough was awarded $100,000 for the construction of a new storm water drainage channel and storm water culvert on Capital Avenue; and

• Easton Redevelopment Authority was awarded $300,000 for the renovation of two commercial buildings and a vacant lot on Northampton Street into two commercial spaces, 23 residential units and on-premise parking.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) board approved the funding at its meeting in Harrisburg today. The CFA was established as an independent state agency to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth.

# # #

The measure would also require school administrators to consult the “Megan’s Law” offenders registry annually when deciding where to locate bus stops.

“In weighing the safety and security of our children against the rights of convicted sex offenders, I’ll choose the safety of our kids every time,” Boscola said. “My proposal is a measured and reasonable step aimed at protecting our kids.”

Under Boscola’s legislation, registered sex offenders could not establish residency within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center, recreation center or playground; and within 500 feet of a school bus stop.

In annually consulting the Megan’s law offenders list, if school administrators learn that an offender already lives within 500 feet of a bus stop, they would be required to notify police and the parents whose children use that bus stop.

Boscola said the legislation was prompted by a local school district that located a bus stop close to a sex offender’s residence.

The legislation is part of a Democratic legislative package aimed at strengthening laws, developing new initiatives and refining policies that protect children in the wake of Penn State sex abuse allegations.

# # #

“If you are a senior, related to or friends with a senior, please remind them to make sure they get their application in by the deadline,” Boscola said. “In these tough economic times, a rebate check can help a great deal.”

Boscola said qualifying seniors can receive up to $975 from the program. She added that applications and free filing assistance are available at her local district offices, Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and senior centers.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and information are also available online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling 1-888-222-9190, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Boscola said seniors should keep in mind that only half of Social Security income is counted in determining eligibility.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can increase rebates to $975.

Boscola said the state is providing $776.2 million in property tax relief this year, including expanded rebates from the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program and general property tax relief for all homeowners distributed through school districts last summer. As a result, she said school property tax bills were completely eliminated for about 120,000 residents statewide this year.

# # #

The plan (Senate Bill 1249), introduced by majority Republicans with little public review or input, passed the Senate in a largely party line vote late tonight, 26 to 24.

“There are no valid reasons to split the Lehigh Valley between two Congressmen,” Boscola said. “This is a purely partisan political power play by the Republican Party, particularly U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, to protect Republican members.  The Lehigh Valley is best served when it has one member of Congress whose sole attention is on our region.  I question why Rep. Dent has allowed this to occur, knowing that his party has controlled this entire process.  He is protecting his own incumbent interests, not those of the Lehigh Valley.”

Under the bill, the Congressional Redistricting Act of 2011, the 15^th Congressional District, which had served every municipality in the Lehigh Valley with small areas of Montgomery and Berks County included, will lose all or part of 23 Northampton County municipalities to the 17^th District.

The 15^th District will also now include a much larger part of Berks County and significant amounts of Lebanon and Dauphin counties — counties west of the Lehigh Valley.

According to 2010 census data, Northampton and Lehigh counties would comprise almost 92 percent of a single congressional district.  Boscola said this more than warrants the Lehigh Valley having its own member of Congress.

“Instead of keeping the Lehigh Valley whole – and maintaining the clout it deserves in Washington, this plan dilutes our power,” Boscola said. “As a result, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce urged me to vote against this bill and refuse to allow partisan politics to silence the voices of nearly half of all Northampton County residents.”

Boscola said the Lehigh Valley has made tremendous strides in the last two decades promoting itself as a region. She said there is “no doubt that creating the Lehigh Valley brand has been helped tremendously by having one member of Congress whose job in Washington is to look out for the concerns of our residents, our businesses and our non-profits.

Boscola said there were numerous problems with the redistricting plan and “how it butchers the Lehigh Valley.” Among them, she said no redistricting plan should ever split the City of Bethlehem from Bethlehem Township. She noted that splitting Bethlehem and Easton was an error made in state Senate redistricting in 2001 and now in 2011 the General Assembly is making the same mistake with congressional redistricting.

“This plan is a simple attempt by the GOP to protect its own,” Boscola said. “The 15^th Congressional District, which is known nationally as an important swing district, will now have a significant number of more Republicans.  In swing districts, that makes a huge difference.  It is so disappointing that the Republicans have acted in this fashion for their own political gain…..all at the expense of our communities.”

Senate Bill 1249 now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

LISTEN to Sen. Boscola discuss her objections to the redistricting plan:

# # #

“Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices serving in some of the most remote and dangerous places on earth. Now, they are coming home to a hero’s welcome, and then sent right to the unemployment line,” said state Sen. Lisa Boscola, the committee’s Democratic chair. “If we’re going to talk about spurring our economy, we must include job training opportunities and incentives for businesses to hire veterans. It is the very least we can do in thanks for their service to this country.”

State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Phila./Delaware) hosted the panel discussion, which was held at the 103^rd Engineers Battalion Armory at Drexel University.

Williams has authored legislation that would give businesses tax incentives to hire veterans. Senate Bill 1293 would amend the Tax Reform Code to create a tax credit for businesses that hire a person who has served in the armed forces, including reserve components and National Guard, and was honorably discharged.

“Veterans are extremely bright, disciplined and highly trainable. They are model candidates for this nation’s workforce and job training programs, yet they are struggling to find their place in civilian life,” Williams said.  “The truth is, we as a nation can’t afford to let these talented and dedicated individuals fall through the cracks of unemployment. This panel discussion is just the beginning of our efforts to take action and help our veterans who are seeking employment. They served for us. It’s now our turn to serve their needs.”

The unemployment rate is disproportionately high for young veterans, according to the latest unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Post-Sept. 11 veterans have a national unemployment rate of 12.1 percent, well above the national jobless rate of 9 percent.

Specifically, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) have an unemployment rate of 16.6 percent.

The outlook is even worse for the youngest age group of veterans: Nearly one in three veterans ages 18 to 24 — or 30.4 percent — is unemployed, compared to a 15 percent unemployment rate for non-veterans in that same age group.

The panel discussion focused on employment, job training and workforce development for returning service men and women.

Various local representatives of veterans organizations participated, including William E. Blackman, Family Assistance Center specialist from the Pennsylvania National Guard; Mike Graber, director of veterans services at Impact Services Corporation; Anselm Sauter, public policy manager at the Greater Philadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce; Laura Reddick, associate director for Adult and Veterans Recruitment at Temple University; Kenneth Vennera, board chairman at Operation HomeFront; Raymond Bates, veterans employment representative for PA CareerLink at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; Jerry Pendergrass, veterans service officer with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and Sgt. Barry Antos, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

Prior to the panel discussion, Williams held a brief ceremony to honor Antos, who served two tours of duty in Iraq; Master Sgt. Alfred DeSerio of Darby, the oldest living Marine veteran who served in World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam; and Julius Jackson of Yeadon, an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II who is one of the few surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen and the only surviving member from the Philadelphia area.

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Prior to the panel discussion, Sen. Anthony H. Williams will hold a brief ceremony to honor Master Sgt. Alfred DeSerio of Darby, a 105-year-old Marine veteran who served in World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and Julius Jackson of Yeadon, an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II who served as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Photo ID is required in order to enter the Armory building.

Media coverage is welcomed.

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“My bill embraces the old adage ‘a penny saved is a penny earned’ by removing old and unnecessary contracting costs,” Boscola said. “My legislation would allow the schools to avoid duplicative costs and streamline various management and contracting processes.

Boscola’s legislation would give the state’s 14 State System of Higher Education (SSHE) universities more flexibility to achieve greater efficiencies in project management costs associated with procurement, construction, and renovation.  Savings can occur as a result of streamlining the multiple levels of legal reviews, leading to more timely decision making processes regarding procurement and contract approvals, as well as more efficient local management of construction and renovation projects.

She said the state’s Open Records Law already provides for the kind of public disclosure that the current “Commonwealth Attorneys Act” imposes in the form of lengthy and often duplicative contracting steps.

“The cost of a college education is slowly becoming out of reach for too many bright and promising people,” Boscola said. “As government funding dwindles, our State System schools are searching for every opportunity to control costs and keep tuition manageable.

“While this isn’t a complete solution to college funding problems, it would help reduce unnecessary costs and help schools save money.

Despite her opposition, Boscola said the Legislature last summer cut state funding to SSHE schools by a total of 18 percent ($90.6 million) for the 2011-12 budget year.

Senate Bill 1239 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

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