State Senate Republican leaders on Wednesday announced their sponsorship of a resolution outlining core principles the Senate will follow when determining how federal stimulus money will be spent in Pennsylvania.

Resolution sponsors are Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson; Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware; Majority Whip Jane Orie, R-40th; and Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre.

Orie said: “We can’t use the money frivolously, expand programs and benefits, or create new programs that will only cost taxpayers more in future years.”

They said funding should be distributed based on the following principles:

• Maximize the use of the funds to address current deficits and revenue shortfalls.

• Avoid the permanent expansion of current programs and the creation of new programs and ensure funds are appropriated to programs that will most efficiently use the money to stimulate the economy and protect taxpayers.

• Avoid the acceptance of federal stimulus funds that require the permanent expansion of benefits.

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The state Senate this week approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White, R-21st, that she said would transfer much-needed revenue into the state’s General Fund budget, helping to close a budget deficit without increasing taxes.

White’s bill seeks to send $174 million from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the General Fund to help with the state’s $2.3 billion budget deficit.

“The governor’s plan for balancing the budget is predicated on transferring $174 million to the General Fund. This legislation accomplishes that,” said White, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

“It does so while leaving more than enough money to fund Pennsylvania’s environmental programs.”

White’s measure heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

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U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire, D-4th and Tim Murphy, R-Allegheny, this week introduced federal legislation they said would improve patients’ access to life-saving diagnostic tests.

The Patient Access to Critical Lab Tests Act, the congressmen said, seeks to eliminate burdensome Medicare billing regulations that often discourage hospitals from ordering lab tests that can clarify diagnoses and identify uniquely methods of treatment.

“In recent years, life-saving diagnostic lab tests have been developed that can help doctors clarify inconclusive diagnoses and tailor treatments according to individual patient’s DNA and the specific makeup of their disease,” Altmire said.

“Unfortunately, today’s arcane Medicare billing regulations often discourage hospitals from ordering these potentially life-saving tests for their patients. This legislation will cut through the red tape to ensure that doctors can utilize all the tools at their disposal to provide patients with the best possible care.”

The Patient Access to Critical Lab Tests Act would allow independent laboratories to directly bill Medicare for the specialized tests they do.

Hospitals now are responsible for paying independent laboratories for tests done within 14 days of a patient’s discharge and then billing Medicare, even though these tests may have nothing to do with the hospital’s service.

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The state Senate Local Government Committee this week approved a bill introduced by Sen. Bob Robbins, R-50th, that would give municipal governments the option of posting legal advertisements on the Internet.

Robbins said his measure seeks to better inform citizens and save taxpayers dollars.

The senator’s “Public Notice Modernization Act,” would give municipalities, school districts and local authorities the option to electronically publish legal notices on the Internet in lieu of newspaper advertisement as is currently required by law.

The Senate Local Government Committee this week also approved another Robbins measure that would raise the amount some third-class cities could spend without going through the time consuming and expensive formal bidding process.

Currently, when a municipality plans to buy an item or service costing $10,000 or more, it must go through the bidding process. Robbins’ bill seeks to raise the amount from $10,000 to $25,000.