Court Denies Appeal for Congressional Maps
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Legislature’s application for an emergency stay of the congressional map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. I voted against the congressional maps in question in 2011, and did not believe they represented the Legislature’s best effort to draw congressional districts.
I am disappointed in this decision, and firmly believe the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its bounds by drawing its own map. The creation of congressional districts is a legislative process which is described in our state constitution. This occurrence of judicial activism has led to confusion for the voters.
The court’s proposed map is now law, with Carbon County included in the 9th Congressional District.
Working to Assist Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
This week, I attended the Carbon County Reentry Coalition meeting and addressed the resource education work group regarding legislative initiatives on the topic of grandparents raising their grandchildren.
An estimated 82,000 grandparents are the sole caregivers for the nearly 89,000 grandchildren in Pennsylvania. That number is increasing due to the devastating opioid crisis across the Commonwealth.
The House Children and Youth Committee is considering three bills to assist grandparents faced with the challenge of raising their grandchildren:
• House Bill 2133, which would establish the Kinship Caregiver Navigator Program – an informational resource for these grandparents, both as a website and a toll-free hotline. The website would offer information on support and services available, and a specially trained navigator would be able to provide support and guidance to kinship caregiver, and serve as a mediator to establish relationships between kinship caregivers and relevant federal, state and local agency staff.
• House Bill 1539, which would grant temporary guardianship to grandparents when the parents of the grandchildren are unable to care for them primarily due to substance abuse issues. The temporary guardianship would allow grandparents the right to make vital basic decisions for their grandchildren, such as the ability to take a child to the doctor or enroll the child in school.
• House Resolution 390, which would direct the Joint State Government Commission to study the trend of grandfamilies in Pennsylvania and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.
New License Plate Honors PA National Guard
New license plates are now available to members of the Pennsylvania National Guard to honor their service.
The new plates feature the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors of blue, white and yellow, along with a National Guard-approved emblem. This plate may only be used on passenger vehicles and trucks with a registered, maximum gross weight of 14,000 pounds.
Members of the National Guard interested in applying for one of these plates must complete Form MV-150AD, “Application for Members of U.S. Military Registration Plate.” The form requires the service member to certify his/her status as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
The addition of a registration plate recognizing members of the PA National Guard completes an assortment of plates available to Pennsylvania residents with ties to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additional information and images of a variety of military license plates are available at www.dmv.pa.gov. The fee for the plate is $21.
Grab a Fishing Reel and Mentor a Youth
To help pass on the sport of fishing for future generations, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will host two Mentored Youth Trout Days, scheduled for Saturday, March 24, in the southeast and southcentral parts of the state, and Saturday, April 7, for remaining counties.
Now in its fifth year, the popular program provides adult mentors with an opportunity to take kids fishing before the traditional rush of the regional and statewide opening days of trout season. Last year, more than 30,000 participants joined in.
Beginning at 8 a.m. on these two days, participants can fish in any PFBC stocked trout water. Kids can keep two trout, which must measure at least seven inches. Mentors must have a fishing license and trout stamp. Because the program is focused on kids, adult mentors are encouraged to fish with the children and provide encouragement and tips, but they must release their catch to the water unharmed.
The March 24 Mentored Youth Trout Day takes place in 18 southeastern counties, including Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York. The following weekend – March 31 – kicks off the Regional Opening Day of Trout Season in the same 18 southeastern counties. A second Mentored Youth Trout Day will be held on April 7, the Saturday before the April 14 statewide opening day of trout season.
To participate, adult anglers (16 years or older) must have a valid fishing license and trout/salmon permit and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit, or a voluntary $1 youth fishing license. Both are available at www.GoneFishingPA.com or at any of the more than 900 licensing agents across the state.
Remember to Steer Clear for Emergency Vehicles
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Whether it’s a police stop, a tow truck picking up a disabled vehicle, or some other type of roadside emergency response, the Steer Clear Law requires motorists to ease off the gas pedal and move over to give emergency responders room to safely work.
When approaching or passing an emergency response area, a person, unless otherwise directed by an emergency service responder, shall:
(1) Pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency response area, if possible; or
(2) If passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible, illegal or unsafe, pass the emergency response area at a careful and prudent reduced speed reasonable for safely passing the emergency response area.
The penalty for violation is a flat fine of no more than $250 for the first offense, and the fine doubles for a second offense. Fines are quadrupled to $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
Additionally, a motorist’s driving privileges would be suspended if the violation results in serious bodily injury to or death of another person or if it is a driver’s third or subsequent offense.
Please remember when you are traveling to move over or “steer clear” of emergency vehicles on the side of the road.
Around Our Community
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Thank you to all those who attended our 2018 Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Expo held at Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Co. No.1 last Saturday.
I’m pictured with members of the Weatherly Girl Scout Troop at their “thank you” pizza party. The troop helped decorate our Christmas tree last December. Thank you!
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