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December 2006 - Click
here
This month's program features The Caring Place – a center
for thousands of mid-state children and their families who
are dealing with the grief and loss of a loved one. The
Caring Place is the third facility of its kind in the state
serving Central Pennsylvania. The show includes a tour of
the facility and interviews with its child grief specialists
and a local family who has benefited from the valuable
services offered by The Caring Place.
November 2006 - Click
here
October marked a significant milestone for Pennsylvania as the Commonwealth
celebrated the 100th birthday of the State Capitol Building. To celebrate the
building's extensive history, the Capitol Centennial Commission organized a
multitude of events leading up to the anniversary of the Capitol's dedication.
This month's show is a special Capitol Centennial tribute featuring the
centennial days' celebrations including the parade, re-dedication ceremony, and
centennial gala. In honor of the festivities, Piccola also receives a personal
tour of the Capitol dome from Ruthann Hubbert-Kemper, Director of the Capitol
Preservation Committee.
October 2006 - Click
here
Two years ago, the Pennsylvania Legislature adopted a gaming
law, legalizing the use of slot machines at various
locations around the state. Since the legislation was
approved, efforts have been taken to strengthen and improve
the law to ensure the best oversight and most regulated
gaming industry. This month’s show features an important
component of the state’s law – the new Gaming Enforcement
Division within the Pennsylvania State Police. Joining
Piccola to discuss the agency’s responsibilities relating to
criminal investigation and enforcement and background
investigations are Lt. Colonel Ralph Periandi, Deputy
Commissioner of Operations for the State Police, and Captain
Timothy Allue, Director of Gaming Enforcement.
September 2006 - Click
here
This month's show features a special historical glimpse at
Pennsylvania's State Capitol over the last 100 years. The
celebration of century has been in the works for years and
will incorporate a multitude of events including a parade,
treasure hunt, rededication ceremony, and fireworks. Details
on the events and special exhibits in the days leading up to
the centennial celebration at the end of the month
(September 30 – October 4) are highlighted in the program,
as well as interviews with the co-directors of the Capitol
Centennial Commission.
July/August 2006 - Click
here
This month's show pays tribute to the state's veterans by highlighting the
Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial located in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and
traveling to Washington, D.C. to showcase the veteran memorials. A private tour
is featured in the program that includes the World War II, Korea, and Vietnam
memorials. Additionally, a report is provided on legislation recently approved
by the General Assembly which makes some significant upgrades for veteran
benefits and funding approved for the purchase of new vans to be used for
transporting disabled vets to VA medical centers.
June 2006 - Click
here
This month's show examines two significant economic
development projects that promise to ignite growth to the
region. The first major redevelopment project involves an
expansion of Harrisburg Area Community College’s existing
midtown campus operations. The cornerstone of this
revitalization effort will take place in the former
Evangelical Press Building. A second pro-jobs initiative
highlighted in the show includes the Hershey Center for
Applied Research, an 80-thousand square foot medical
research facility that will provide state-of-the-art and
first-of-its-kind resources for the area. The official
groundbreaking ceremonies and a preview for both projects
are featured during the program.
May 2006 - Click
here
This month's show features the General Assembly's recent
adoption of legislation sponsored by Piccola and designed to
protect the rights of property owners in Pennsylvania from
condemnation for private development. The legislation is in
reaction to last year's Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City
of New London, which ruled that governments can seize
property to make room for development projects that promise
to boost the local economy. During the show, Piccola
interviews Representative Glen Grell, a sponsor of important
provisions to the legislation, and Matt Brouillette,
President of the Commonwealth Foundation. The show also
includes footage from Piccola’s press conference where he
initially unveiled the "Property Rights Protection Act" and
his remarks on the Senate floor during the bill's final
passage.
April 2006 - Click
here
In recent weeks, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett
unveiled the formation of a Public Corruption Unit to
primarily combat corruption through the prosecution of
elected officials and government employees who are found to
violate the public’s trust. Comprised of seasoned
prosecutors from the agency, the unit will also handle
gaming investigations, which often involve public
corruption, and allegations of election law violations.
During the program, the Attorney General joins Piccola to
talk about how his new unit plans to closely prosecute cases
in the most efficient and effective way.
March 2006 - Click
here
This month's show takes a close look at Governor Rendell’s
$25.4 billion dollar spending plan for the 2006-07 fiscal
year. Piccola discusses the budget with the new Chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Noah Wenger.
During the interview, Piccola and Wenger share some of their
concerns with the new budget such as the proposed increases
in spending and debt service. The program also includes
reaction to the Governor's budget address from other members
of the Senate Republican Caucus.
February 2006 - Click
here
This month’s show provides a unique glimpse of Piccola’s
annual Student Government Seminar featuring a mock General
Assembly and allowing students from area high schools to
serve as legislators for a day. For the first time,
Piccola’s 2005 seminar was held at the State Capitol
Building where students were divided into committees to
discuss legislation and draft laws that were later debated
and voted upon by the entire student body. The seminar also
featured participants from a variety of professions to
assist and facilitate the public policy process.
January 2006 - Click
here
As the General Assembly reaches its halfway point for the
2005-2006 Legislative Session, this month's program reflects
on the Senate's accomplishments of the past year. The annual
legislative review focuses on key measures approved by the
Senate such as the Taxpayer Fairness Act, price gouging,
military benefits, Health Savings Accounts, and farmland
preservation provisions. Other accomplishments highlighted
in the program include landmark legislation sponsored by
Piccola to reform Pennsylvania's eminent domain laws and to
reenact Joint and Several Liability.
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August 3, 2006 - Senator Piccola today joined 8 of
his colleagues in unveiling
a comprehensive plan to make major structural reforms
to the two-year-old gambling law.
 
June 12, 2006 - Piccola & Conti Unveil
School Property Tax Plan to Break the Logjam
April 25, 2006 - Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-15) on the
Senate's approval of legislation to protect the rights of
Pennsylvania homeowners, small businesses, farms, and
churches from condemnation for private development.
April 19, 2006 - Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15) speaks
at the groundbreaking of the Applied Research Center at the
Hershey Medical Center.
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