Democratic chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development committee, state Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, wants to change the state's laws governing bingo and small games of chance.LaGrotta has joined with the committee's other chairman, state Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery, to introduce legislation to do that.According to LaGrotta's news release, one bill would transfer licensing authority from county treasurers to an independent entity set up by the state. Prizes and jackpots also could be increased under the legislation.A second version of the bill would permit organizations that offer small games of chance to have more than one drawing per day, and would increase the weekly prize limit. Small games of chance include daily drawings, punchboards, pull tabs and raffles."We need better oversight of bingo games in Pennsylvania," he said in the news release, "and this legislation would help the state more effectively regulate these activities that are so popular among our citizens, while allowing larger prizes for those who participate."As a co-author of welfare reform reauthorization, U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, last week introduced an amendment to the Personal Responsibility, Work and Family Promotion Act of 2005 requiring recipients suspected of drug use to undergo drug testing.The amendment was adopted by the Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee and would help identify drug users and ensures they enroll in treatment.English, a member of the subcommittee, said in a news release, "If we are to empower those on welfare to get jobs and move to self-sufficiency for themselves and their families, we need to insist states identify welfare recipients who are addicted to drugs so appropriate treatment can be prescribed."English's amendment would require an individual who has applied for, or is a recipient of, assistance from a state welfare program to undergo a drug test if the state has reason to believe the person has used such a substance recently.The individual must undergo additional drug checkup tests every 30 to 60 days, as the state deems appropriate. Until the individual fulfills a clean drug test, they will receive no cash benefits.State Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, last week announced his district will get funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to curtail the spread of the West Nile virus by mosquitoes.DEP announced Butler County is slated to receive $49,939; Beaver County will get $58,070 and Lawrence County will be granted $56,614.The grant money will fund a mosquito monitoring and a virus surveillance program to determine if West Nile is present and to alert residents of the dangers if the disease becomes a problem.In 2000, West Nile virus appeared for the first time in Pennsylvania. It was found in birds, mosquitoes and a horse.U.S. Reps.

Phil English, R-3rd, and John Tanner, D-Tenn., recently introduced legislation to link the amount of Medicare reimbursements to nursing homes with measurable quality standards.The congressmen, both members of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, said the measure would promote better quality long-term care provided by nursing homes.English said in a news release, "We are introducing legislation to build on the success of related incentive programs to promote improved quality in long-term care facilities by paying more for exceptional performance."The Nursing Home Pay for Performance Act would phase in over two years the reimbursement incentive mechanism and give a one percent bonus above the market basket increase to nursing home facilities that perform in the top 10 percent in the first year.In the second year, facilities performing in the top 20 percent will receive a 1 percent bonus, with those in the top 10 percent receiving a total of a 2 percent bonus.After two years, facilities performing at the bottom percentiles would receive a one percent cut in total payments."This legislation would spur new initiatives and boost current efforts to improve care and service in skilled nursing facilities and help raise the bar throughout the healthcare system," English said.