Attorney General, the Commonwealth is sued several hundred times; currently, more than 1,300 tort cases are pending against the State. The majority of these cases involve the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation, where an uninsured, or under-insured, driver caused death or bodily injury. The plaintiffs are just looking for someone to pay, regardless of fault. The current system of joint and several liability has a direct impact on Pennsylvania taxpayers who are left paying the share of others who are at fault.
The Fair Share Act uses the same compromise language as Act 57 of 2002 which was signed into law by Gov. Mark Schweiker. It was challenged in court by House Democrat leaders on procedural, not substantive, grounds. They wanted to stop it – and succeeded. The Fair Share Act was again passed in 2006, but it was vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell, though he had previously promised support. Pennsylvania is one of only nine states to have not modified or abolished the system of joint liability.
Keller Rallies With Unions To Protect Worker Rights State Rep. Bill Keller (D-S. Phila.) rallied with hundreds of union workers at the State Capitol yesterday against legislation that would weaken collective bargaining and threaten the rights of all workers across the state. Participants rallied to debunk “Right to Work” legislation authored by State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler). Keller said the legislation that would end mandatory union membership and dues for workers in union shops is an attempt to bust unions that fight for fair wages and safe working conditions for Pennsylvania workers across the state. “Unions are the conscience of America,” Keller said. “Unions built the middle class and the American economy as they fought for fair wages, safe working
conditions, sick days, vacation time to spend with family and affordable health care. “Today, and with Gov. Tom Corbett at the helm, the rights of Pennsylvania workers are systematically being challenged with uninformed rhetoric from those who care more for corporate profits and corporate donors than the workers who keep America moving,” he said. Keller is Democratic chairman of the House Labor & Industry Committee, the panel charged with reviewing the Republican-sponsored anti-worker bills (HBs 50-53). He also is a sponsor of a House resolution (HR 134) that would recognize the rights of union workers to organize and would call for an end to the new war on workers.
Tartaglione Praises Committee Approval Of Firefighter Cancer Bill The State Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure that will ensure firefighters they and their families will be protected financially if they contract cancer on the job, State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione announced. “We’ve made terrific progress in recognizing the risk for firefighters and acknowledging the responsibilities of their communities,” Tartaglione said. “I’m gratified we 12 APRIL, 2011
were able to bring everyone together to get this far.” Last year, Tartaglione ushered HB 1231 through the Senate but it was vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell after municipalities expressed concerns about the cost. A new bill, SB 654, passed the Appropriations Committee yesterday with some minor changes to accommodate local concerns. It cleared the Senate Labor & IndusTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
try Committee last week. The bill specifically adds cancer to the Workers’ Compensation Act as a work-related illness if no other obvious cause for the disease is present and amends the law to include cancer suffered by firefighters and caused a group of known carcinogens recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The measure covers professional |
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