Sponsored by the House State Government Committee Majority chairman, state Rep.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, the Pennsylvania Voter Identification Protection Act was advanced Monday by the committee to the floor of the House of Representatives for consideration.“Countless American patriots have and continue to put their lives on the line around the world to preserve our freedoms, including the freedom to privately and confidentially cast a vote at the ballot box,” Metcalfe said.Metcalfe’s legislation would amend the state election code to require all voters to present valid photo ID before voting.Current Pennsylvania law requires photo ID for voters who appear to vote in an election district for the first time.Expert testimony presented to the House State Government Committee earlier this spring, Metcalfe noted, confirmed that requiring valid photo ID at the polls can prevent the four most widely documented types of voter fraud — impersonation at the polls, fictitious registrations, double-voting and voting by illegal aliens.———State House Majority Leader

Mike Turzai, R-28th, expressed shock by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s attack on the lawsuit abuse reform legislation known as the Fair Share Act.“The Fair Share Act is simple, reasonable and responsible legislation to help end lawsuit abuse and stop deep pocket frivolous lawsuits,” Turzai said.The Republican-backed Fair Share Act, if approved, would alter the state’s “joint and several” liability rules so that, in most cases, defendants who are deemed responsible for a percentage of a judgment would pay no more than that percentage.The changes are widely supported by the business community and opposed by the state’s trial lawyers.