State Sen.

Mary Jo White, R-21st, on Wednesday announced legislation to help restore service to low-income families who have their utility service shut off due to inability to pay.White's bill would amend a law enacted at the end of last year that made it easier for utilities to shut off service. Her bill would cap reconnection fees and give customers more time to pay their outstanding balances."The current law is too harsh, and the sharp rise in home heating costs has brought us to the verge of a crisis," White said. "This legislation doesn't shield customers from the need to pay their bills. It just sets a more realistic time frame and allows them to heat their home while they're making payments."The legislation would ease the burden on families with a household income of 250 percent or less of the federal poverty level, which is $23,925 annually for an individual, $32,075 for a family of two, $40,225 for family of three, and $48,375 for a family of four.Under Act 201 of 2004, which White voted against, utility companies can require a customer who has had service suspended to pay their entire outstanding balance before service is restored. Under White's bill, households with incomes between 250 and 300 percent of poverty level could pay their balance over 12 months.Current law also allows utilities to charge a reconnection fee and security deposit to have service restored. The senator's bill caps reconnection fees at $50 and security deposits at $100 for low-income households.Legislation sponsored by state Sen.

Bob Robbins, R-50th, that would enhance the status of the Center for Local Government Services — the state's one-stop shop for local governments — was approved last week by the Senate Community and Economic Development Committee.The Center for Local Government Services in the Department of Community and Economic Affairs provides a range of assistance to all levels of local government.The center was created to serve as the principal advocate for local governments; provide programs, services and training to local officials and municipal employees; and cut through red tape."With over 2,566 cities, townships, and boroughs in Pennsylvania, it is imperative that they have a direct and formidable link with state government," said Robbins. "(My bill) would ensure that the center maintains a lead role in providing assistance to local officials — now and in the future."The measure now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.U.S. Rep.

Melissa Hart, R-4th, recently urged the House Agriculture Committee to investigate what actions Congress could take to ensure that Americans are not subjected to unwarranted price gouging in the natural gas market.In a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and committee ranking member Collin Peterson, Hart said Congress should act quickly to give the Commodities Future Trading Commission the authority to investigate substantial price fluctuations in the natural gas market.District Judge

Joseph O'Donnell of Butler Township has been recertified as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System following completion of his 2005 continuing legal education work.The weeklong instruction program in Chambersburg is required for all district judges.U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, along with a bipartisan group of 67 congressional colleagues, this week urged House conferees to accept the Senate position to appropriate $16 million for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program."As we have seen first hand in Pennsylvania and throughout the country, the TAA for Firms program is a critical tool for employers in the manufacturing industry impacted by international trade," said English, co-chair of the Congressional TAA Coalition."Adequately funded, this program has a proven track record to help create a level playing field for U.S. employers in the global marketplace."TAA provides technical assistance to help trade-impacted firms remain competitive in the global market.Since 1999, the program has helped to retain or create more than 48,000 jobs and increased sales at participating companies by at least $900 million, English noted.The state Senate on Wednesday approved a measure introduced bySen.

Don White, R-41st, which would extend the time that full-time students who are called to active military duty could be covered under their parents medical insurance plans.The measure now heads to the House of Representatives.White, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said this legislation is intended to help young people who put aside their classroom studies to answer the call of duty.Currently, most health insurance policies allow parents to include coverage for their children until age 23 as long as they are full-time students. However, some members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Air Guard are being called out of the classroom and on to active duty for assignments that can last a year or longer.That active duty time means that many of those young people will be unable to complete their studies before reaching age 23."My legislation would require insurance companies to allow these families to let the coverage lapse while the young person is on active duty and have it start back up when the student returns to school with an extension in coverage equal to that of the term of duty," White said.