State Rep.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, was honored by

President Bush at a White House reception last week for demonstrating leadership in maintaining statewide support to make the president's 2003 federal tax cuts permanent.The meeting, the highlight of a one-day event held in Washington D.C., brought together 50 state legislators from across the country who have consistently supported the Bush administration on such issues as the war on terrorism, tax reform and Social Security."Daryl Metcalfe has been a champion for taxpayers in Pennsylvania and President Bush knows it," said Grover Norquist, president of the Americans for Tax Reform. "Representative Metcalfe's leadership has helped to advance freedom and common-sense values at home, and made America safer in the world."Norquist's group organizes the annual White House reception to give a select group of state lawmakers an opportunity to compare notes with each other and participate in a brief meeting with the president, members of his administration and other national leaders.In May, the House of Representatives, following an extended and at times heated debate, approved by a 120-74 vote a resolution sponsored by Metcalfe calling for Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to work to make Bush's federal tax cuts permanent."Since President Bush's tax cuts were enacted last year, the economy is growing at the fastest rate in more than 20 years," Metcalfe said. "Contrary to claims by opponents of tax cuts, the Bush plan holds benefits for all taxpayers."Permanently extending this relief felt by millions of Pennsylvanians will only lead to further economic growth and stability, which made sponsoring (legislation) a no-brainer."State Sen.

Jane Orie, R-40th, this week announced she is again introducing legislation to improve Pennsylvania's planning for large-scale health emergencies.Orie cited a report issued this month by the Trust for America's Health in which Pennsylvania scored low among states' readiness in response to bio-terrorist attacks."While there are always ongoing public health concerns about infectious, contagious and chronic diseases, the 9/11 terrorist attacks shed light on the need to prepare for manmade disasters," she said."Congress has provided states with funds for bio-terrorism preparedness and for public health infrastructure. The report clearly indicates Pennsylvania has yet to take adequate action. I want to change that before it's too late."Orie's bill would create a Public Health Emergency Planning Commission to develop a plan to respond to public health emergencies.The measure also sets standards and procedures for declaring a state of public health emergency so plans could be activated and necessary resources deployed. It also provides for the dissemination of information to citizens on how to protect themselves.Congress recently approved legislation by U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, that clarifies the YMCA's tax status and protects the retirement funds of more than 80,000 YMCA retirees from being wrongly taxed by the Internal Revenue Service."Northwestern Pennsylvania is home to many YMCAs that offer a number of services," said English, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax legislation. "The Internal Revenue Service's continuous audits of the organization's tax status, which burdens the YMCA with heavy legal costs, requires clarifying the tax status now."The measure, expected to be signed into law by

President Bush, would ensure that the YMCA's tax status remained that of a church organization, which receives different tax treatment for retirement funds than other nonprofits.English noted the YMCA is strongly connected to the Protestant church as evidenced by its relationships with many Christian organizations throughout the country and the world."With the passing of this legislation, YMCA benefits will be able to continue as they have for decades, and give people a sense of security that at the end of their working years that they will have something to live on in retirement," said Larry Garvin, Butler YMCA president and chief executive officer.