Pennsylvania State Representative James Casorio, Jr.
Casorio's Column
Casorio honors fallen Pittsburgh police officers
HARRISBURG, April 8 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, released the following statement today on the deaths of Pittsburgh City Police Officers Eric Kelly, Paul Sciullo II and Stephen Mayhle, who were shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call in the Stanton Heights section of Pittsburgh Saturday morning:"I am deeply saddened by the deaths of Officers Kelly, Sciullo and Mayhle. Their deaths remind us not only of the very real danger that law enforcement officers face every day on the job, but also of the willingness of every police officer in this state – in communities large and small -- to put their lives on the line every time they answer a call."That kind of commitment to service and community involves a tremendous amount of courage, as well as a tremendous amount of sacrifice on the part of law enforcement officers and their families."My condolences go out to the families of Officers Kelly, Sciullo and Mayhle, and the entire Pittsburgh Police Department. They and their families deserve our respect, our support and whatever assistance we can provide to them, not just in times of tragedy such as this, but every day they are serving on our behalf."Casorio, who represents North Huntingdon Township, Jeannette, Penn Township, Irwin, North Irwin and Penn borough, is a member of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 39.
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State Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
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Casorio votes to advance police 'Taser' billHARRISBURG, April 29 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, this week voted to advance a bill to the full House of Representatives that he said would give police in Pennsylvania the ability to use the latest Tasers and other electronic incapacitation devices.Casorio, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which approved the bill unanimously on Tuesday, said the legislation would also help to ensure that Tasers are used appropriately in Pennsylvania.The legislation (H.B. 412) would adjust Pennsylvania's current wiretapping law to permit police officers in the state to use the newest versions of Tasers and other electronic incapacitation devices. These new versions are often equipped with sound and video recording equipment. While state law currently allows police officers to use Tasers, Pennsylvania's wiretapping statutes prevent the use of models that record audio or video."Dashboard video and audio devices in patrol cars have made traffic stops much safer for police and the public," Casorio said. "The introduction of video and audio recording Tasers would do the same in cases where these devices are used."The legislation would permit police officers to record, without prior court approval, audio or video in connection with the use of a Taser. The audio or video recording equipment could either be part of the Taser or a separate unit.
Bills would remove campaign restrictions from off-duty police, firefighters
HARRISBURG, April 28 – The state House Local Government Committee today approved three bills sponsored by Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. that would permit paid police officers and firefighters in several types of Pennsylvania municipalities to take part in political campaign activities when they are not in uniform and not on the job.Casorio said current state law prohibits police officers and professional firefighters in incorporated towns, boroughs and first-class townships from engaging in any political activity other than voting. Police officers and firefighters in these municipalities can be suspended, reduced in rank or even removed for doing so."There are no such restrictions for police and paid firefighters in Pennsylvania cities and smaller townships," Casorio said. "These laws are a holdover from an earlier era. Pennsylvania's police departments and municipal fire departments are thoroughly professionalized now; there is no reason to restrict this narrow class of public employees the right to express their political views when they are off-duty."The three bills (H.B.s 1287, 1288 and 1289) would remove the political activity restriction from off-duty and non-uniformed police officers and paid firefighters in Pennsylvania's incorporated towns, boroughs and first-class townships, respectively.The bills now go to the full House for consideration.Pennsylvania has one incorporated town – Bloomsburg in Columbia County. There are 961 boroughs in Pennsylvania and 91 first-class townships, which are generally more urban townships that feature a board of commissioners system of government rather than township supervisors.
Casorio introduces hepatitis C workers' comp legislation
HARRISBURG, April 6 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, has introduced legislation in the state House of Representatives that would cover several additional categories of state enforcement officials under a 2001 law that defines hepatitis C as an occupational disease for many law enforcement personnel and first responders in Pennsylvania.The law makes it easier for these employees to collect workers' compensation benefits when they contract hepatitis C on the job. Casorio’s bill would add state Fish and Boat and Game Commission officers, rangers with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and port authority officers to the list of employees already covered by the law."Anyone who encounters the risk of coming in contact with infected blood as part of their job should be covered under this law," Casorio said. "The state employees included in my legislation are often involved in accident and disaster response or law enforcement situations where that risk is elevated."Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is transmitted through contact with infected blood. Firefighters, police officers, emergency responders and corrections employees face the possibility of exposure to hepatitis C routinely in their jobs. A law passed in 2001 made hepatitis C an occupational disease for all of these workers; previously many of them had to spend years proving they contracted hepatitis C in the performance of their duties before they were able to collect workers’ compensation.Casorio's bill (H.B. 1181) and similar bills that have been considered by the legislature would add additional categories of workers who are at an increased risk of exposure to hepatitis C to that law."When someone contracts such a life-threatening disease as part of their service to the residents of Pennsylvania, they should not have to spend years fighting to collect their workers' compensation benefits," Casorio said.
Casorio's legislation was passed by the House in 2007, but not considered by the Senate.
HELP
OUR TROOPS CALL HOME
Like
you, the House Democrats have been deeply touched by the stories of heartache
and hardship our courageous service personnel and their families have
experienced during their long separation. And we are pleased to relay to you a
new program to lets you help our soldiers serving abroad stay in touch with
their families.
The
program – known as “Help Our Troops Call Home” – allows the public to
buy pre-paid calling cards for either a specified soldier at a deployed address
or randomly for any deployed or hospitalized soldier wishing to call home.
Authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by the Armed Services
Exchanges, the telephone call centers serve soldiers deployed in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pennsylvanians who want to donate a pre-paid calling card to a member of our armed forces may do so online by accessing the “Help Our Troops Call Home” links at any of the following Armed Services Exchange Web sites:
(
“Help
Our Troops Call Home,” Military Exchange Prepaid Calling Cards
https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx
(
The
Army and Air Force Exchange Service
http://www.aafes.com/
(
The
Navy Exchange Service Command
http://www.navy-nex.com/
(
The
Marine Corps Exchange
http://www.usmc-mccs.org/
Because
of our soldiers, we remain free and able to show others the promise of democracy. Together, we
can unite our soldiers with their families and loved ones. Together, we can show
our soldiers we appreciate the enormous amount of service and sacrifice they
continue to make.
On
Monday -- and throughout the year -- please take time to remember and honor our
nation’s men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure
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you or anyone you know would like to receive the Weekly Message, please visit www.pahouse.com
and sign up for the House Democrats’ e-mail alerts.
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