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Please visit
www.RepQuinn.net and click on the “Area Road Work Updates” link to read the latest news on area highway and bridge projects, straight from PennDOT.
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Erwinna Covered Bridge Update
PennDOT recently reported it has received the necessary permits and historic clearance from the Department of Environmental Protection to begin repair work on the Erwinna covered bridge. As you might recall, the historic Erwinna covered bridge in Tinicum Township suffered significant damage when a box truck struck the bridge last month.
I will keep you updated with any other information I receive regarding repairs to this bridge. Visit www.RepQuinn.net for the latest news.
October 2012 Economic Brief Now Available
 Revenue numbers for the Commonwealth for the month of September were calculated at $2.43 billion, which is higher than Department of Revenue expectations for the month by $43.9 million. Overall, that means that total year-to-date General Fund collections are $10.7 million or 0.2 percent above estimates from the Department of Revenue.
You can read this month’s Economic Brief by clicking here.
General Election Reminders
 Last week, the Commonwealth Court ruled to delay the implementation of Act 18, the Voter Identification Act. The court’s ruling extends the soft rollout of the law that took place during the primary election this spring. For more information on Act 18, visit www.RepQuinn.net.
If you won’t be in the district on election day, you can still vote via a civilian absentee ballot.
To vote by absentee ballot:
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Apply for an absentee ballot with the Bucks County Board of Elections by Tuesday, Oct. 30. |
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Complete the absentee ballot and mail it back to the Bucks County Board of Elections by Friday, Nov. 2. |
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You can also apply for an absentee ballot online at: www.votespa.com |
For additional questions on this process, you can contact the Bucks County Board of Elections at 215-348-6154.
The Pennsylvania Department of State set up a site with frequently asked voting-related questions, www.votespa.com. On this site you can download voter registration forms, absentee ballots and confirm your registration.
Measure to Track Purchases of Non-Prescription Pseudoephedrine Passes House
In an effort to prevent the manufacturing of methamphetamines and other illegal drugs, I introduced legislation that would enable real-time tracking of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine purchases in Pennsylvania. Last week, the House passed House Bill 2480, my proposal that would amend the state’s Controlled Substance, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and allow technology to track potentially illegal purchases. Ingredients in many over-the-counter products that are commonly used to treat cold and allergy symptoms are key for the production of methamphetamines and other illegal drugs.
State and federal laws presently limit the amount of over-the-counter pseudoephedrine (PSE) consumers can purchase, but unfortunately, the system we’re using is antiquated and doesn’t allow for the most accurate tracking. With my legislation, Pennsylvania will have an effective way to enforce those limits statewide and across state borders to eliminate “smurfing,” a practice in which individuals make purchases at multiple stores to acquire illegal quantities of PSE.
The real-time tracking will be administered through the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) program, a multi-state electronic sales tracking and blocking system funded by the manufacturers of medicines containing PSE. This system allows law enforcement, as well as retailers that sell medicines containing PSEs, to track purchases made in Pennsylvania and in all participating states so that meth cooks can’t skirt the system by crossing the border to another state to make their purchase.
To date, 23 states are linked to this program, and House Bill 2480 adds Pennsylvania to the list of participating states. NPLEx is available to any state that mandates real-time, statewide electronic blocking of illegal PSE sales, and there is no cost to the Commonwealth for participating in the system.
This bill was sent to the Senate for its consideration.
House Approves Bill to Raise Awareness of Lyme Disease
Did you know that Pennsylvania ranks No. 1 in the nation for reported cases of Lyme disease? The total number of reported cases in Pennsylvania increased from 5,722 in 2009 to 7,484 in 2010. The House recently approved a bill intended to raise awareness of, and encourage better treatment for, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 272 would require health insurers to cover treatment of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses if the diagnosis and a treatment plan are documented.
Additionally, the bill would require the creation of a task force to work with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Department of Health to create a statewide education effort on Lyme disease and related maladies. House Bill 272 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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