Posted by Mark Koenig on Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Scott Detrow of WHYY News wrote:
The Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee has approved a ban on texting and talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.
Advocates of the measure say they’re hoping the ban can become law before June.
The committee Tuesday voted 9-4 to move the measure to the full Senate. The cell phone ban passed the House with broad bipartisan support in January.
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The House bill makes talking or texting while driving a primary offense, which means motorists could be pulled over and issued tickets, even if they’re obeying every other law.
Democratic Representative Josh Shapiro, who helped author the measure, says keeping the language is critical, since that could help police officers prevent accidents before they happen.
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Posted by Josh Shapiro on Thursday, March 18, 2010
Last week I submitted my petitions to the Commonwealth to run for re-election. With the help of our great volunteers, I am proud to let you know that Team Shapiro collected over 1,400 signatures–more than four-times the required amount to get on the ballot! This outstanding effort from our volunteers demonstrates our strength as we head into our re-election campaign.
I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished during my time in office but there is so much still to be done and I am more energized than ever before to continue that work.
Our success will depend in large measure on our group of dedicated volunteers, so help us by spreading the word. Sign up for our email list or volunteer using the links to the right. If you have already done that, encourage your friends and family to join Team Shapiro.
Our team effort during the petition period really energized me. Please keep that momentum going by spreading the word today. Thanks!
All the best,
Posted by Mark Koenig on Monday, March 15, 2010
Rich Pietras of The Intelligencer writes:
State Rep. Josh Shapiro has called on PennDOT to make all accident information available to school districts when hiring bus drivers.
Should school bus drivers be held to higher standards than other drivers when it comes to their driving records?
In the wake of two fatal accidents involving one area school bus driver, state Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) said they should.
In a letter last week to PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, Shapiro called on the agency to make all accident information available to school districts prior to hiring school bus drivers.
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“It is my belief that all available information related to a school bus driver applicant’s driver history ought to be made available to the school district prior to their assessment of his or her application,” Shapiro said.
Specifically, Shapiro is asking PennDOT to provide a mechanism that would give more details about traffic citations issued to potential bus drivers.
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Monday, March 15, 2010
Brad Segall of KYW writes:
State lawmakers are taking a closer look at the licensing requirements for school bus drivers in Pennsylvania following a deadly crash in Montgomery County last month involving a bus driver who was involved in another fatal crash more than a decade ago.
The House Transportation Committee was holding a hearing on Monday to get more information about how Frederick Poust III got his license. His motor vehicle record revealed a 1999 crash which resulted in two violations, but it didn’t provide details.
Poust was dialing a cell phone when he ran a stop sign, struck a car and killed a two-year-old girl in Bucks County. State Rep. Josh Shapiro fired off a letter late last week to Penndot secretary Allen Biehler:
“We need to have Penndot review its regulations, make changes to its regulations, and if need be make changes to the law to ensure that school districts have total access to all the information related to a school bus driver applicant’s drivers history.”
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Posted by Mark Koenig on Monday, March 15, 2010
Kaitlyn Foti of Montgomery News writes:
Switchville Crossing signifies more than a name for the new Glenside development that was once upon a time known as the Williard property.
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For more than three years, the developers met with members of the Greater Glenside Civic Association to negotiate a design and a group of tenants that would be both profitable and beneficial to the community.
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“I understood the vision of the developer and the concerns of the neighborhood, so I tried to be a bridge bewteen both sides,” [Josh] Shapiro said. “We had meetings in my district office where we hammered out our differences, and I think we came up with something great for the community.”
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