The state Senate this week approved a measure that would extend Pennsylvania’s prohibition on using public funding for elective abortions to the proposed new insurance system created by the federal health care law, said Sen.

Don White, R-41st, the bill’s prime sponsor.The legislation seeks to ban health insurers participating in the taxpayer-subsidized state health insurance exchanges — an insurance system created under the new federal health care law and currently slated to be operational by 2014 — from providing coverage for elective abortions.“This is not a new or radical step for Pennsylvania,” White said, “but rather an extension of the restrictions we already have in place for medical assistance and other taxpayer subsidized programs.”He said the restriction on taxpayer-funded coverage of elective abortions proposed in the measure is consistent with the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program and the Abortion Control Act.The exceptions allowing for coverage of the procedure in cases involving rape, incest or when the life of the woman is in danger are also included in the bill, White said.The senator cautioned that Pennsylvania must not wait until 2014, when the health care exchanges are to be operational, to act on the issue.“In reality, (the bill) cannot be placed on the books soon enough. If the federal law stands as is and Pennsylvania fails to enact its own exchange measure, we cede our authority to the federal government,” he said.“Pennsylvania taxpayers should be assured that state money will not be used in our commonwealth to support something that nearly 75 percent of the public opposes — the use of public funds to provide elective abortions.”———An amendment pushed by U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, that would improve veterans’ access to quality prosthetics recently was included in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill.Originally, Altmire said, the bill significantly cut funding for medical and prosthetic research at the Department of Veterans Affairs.That funding cut was proposed even after veterans testified before Congress that the transition from prosthetic care at the Department of Defense to their local VA is often sluggish and inconsistent.Altmire’s amendment, which was endorsed by the American Legion, will help the VA improve its prosthetics by restoring much of its research funding at no new cost to taxpayers.The full House of Representatives later this month is expected to vote on the overall bill.———The state House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution authored by Rep.

Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, that recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.He also introduced a bill that would expand OSHA protections to protect all private and public employees.“Thanks to OSHA, 130 million American workers are safer and healthier on the job,” Gibbons said. “The number of people killed on the job has dropped by 65 percent because of the tougher standards and safety training created by OSHA. ”Currently, Gibbons noted, OSHA protections only apply to federal and private employees. He said his legislation would create a state program similar to OSHA for state and local government employees.The Department of Labor and Industry would oversee the program.