Last session, I attended a Capitol news conference on paycheck protection legislation, which would reinforce state laws prohibiting the use of taxpayer resources for campaign purposes. I co-sponsored the bill because it would end a practice whereby union dues are automatically deducted from public employee paychecks and remitted to labor unions. A new paycheck protection bill has been introduced in the Senate this session. I explain the problem in the audio clip here.

Several laws contained in Pennsylvania’s new child protection package are now taking effect, including Act 153, which I sponsored, to expand the scope of background checks for individuals whose jobs and volunteer activities involve children. I attended a news conference at which the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) unveiled an electronic case management system that permits real-time sharing of data collected by state and county child welfare agencies, eliminating information gaps that have enabled child abuse cases to fall through the cracks. DHS has launched a website to help answer questions. Visit www.KeepKidsSafe.pa.gov.