Two voter fraud protection amendments to the state election code sponsored by state Rep.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, passed the House of Representatives last week.Metcalfe's amendments would require:Voters to present a valid form of photograph identification at the polling places such as a driver's license, employee ID, state or federal government employee ID, U.S. passport, student ID or United States Armed Forces ID.The State Department of Transportation to issue identification cards at no cost to voters who sign affidavits certifying they are unable to afford the required fee for an identification card.Voters to sign his or her voter certificate in blue, black or blue-black ink rather than pencil.Metcalfe's amendment provides an exemption for Amish and others with religious objections to being photographed. Such individuals would be required to sign an affidavit stating their religious objections.In accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act, this amendment would also allow voters who are unable to present a photograph ID on Election Day to cast a provisional ballot."We must carefully craft our election laws to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised and, at the same time, to ensure that cheating and fraud do not thwart the will of the electorate," Metcalfe said.The legislation is in the state Senate.State Sen.

Don White, R-41st, is drafting legislation to dedicate $25 million annually for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service operations.White said his measure is in response to a recent state Supreme Court decision striking a funding provision for volunteer emergency responders from the state gaming law.He said his bill calls for the annual transfer of $25 million from the State Gaming Fund to support the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act."This allocation for our volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps was one of the provisions of the gaming law that received strong support during legislative deliberations over the bill," said White, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee"I am extremely disappointed that it did not stand up to the Supreme Court's standards. My legislation will address that by setting the funding up on its own merits."State Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, announced he is joining the Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee to introduce legislation that would in most cases prohibit junior drivers from having more than one passenger younger than 18 in a vehicle they are driving.LaGrotta said. "It would limit dangerous distractions for inexperienced drivers and protect young passengers from unsafe situations."According to LaGrotta, the bill would allow for an exception: if the additional passenger or passengers younger than 18 are siblings or relatives who live with the junior driver and if the driver's parents give their consent for more than one underage passenger."By limiting the number of young passengers they have in the car with them, we can limit their distractions and limit the number of casualties in accidents that do involve junior drivers," he said.Legislation aimed at reducing the corporate net income tax rate to 6.99 percent by 2010 was recently passed by the state House of Representatives."This legislation is just one more bill now added to the several others already passed by the House as part of the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative that is aimed at making Pennsylvania more business friendly," said Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th, who backed the measure.The lawmaker said the bill reduces taxes on employers, which will help to keep businesses from wanting to relocate and appeal to those out-of-state employers looking at Pennsylvania as a possible place to conduct their business.The legislation, if signed into law, would gradually decrease the CNI rate, which is levied against a corporation's taxable income, from the current 9.99 percent to 6.99 percent in January 2010."With this bill and the others supported by the Legislature and various business organizations, it is my hope that Pennsylvania can overcome this stigma and become a more desirable place to run a business and work," Ellis said in a news release.The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.The state House of Representatives recently passed legislation sponsored by Rep.

Mike Turzai, R-28th, that would double civil penalties for workers' compensation fraud.The measure would increase the civil penalties for workers' compensation fraud and raise fines from $5,000 to $10,000 for a first offense, from $10,000 to $20,000 for a second offense, and from $15,000 to $30,000 for a third offense."We have to weed out abuses in the workers' compensation system," Turzai said. "Workers' comp fraud adds to the overhead costs for employers. The money spent on fighting abuses or paying for unfair claims is money that an employer would be paying to its honest employees or invested in the company's infrastructure."There are 12 separate offenses that constitute workers' compensation fraud under the Workers' Compensation Act of 1915, and these offenses include both fraud committed by employers and employees.Turzai's bill moved to the state Senate for consideration.U.S. Reps.

Melissa Hart, R-4th, and

Phil English, R-3rd, recently voted to prevent a scheduled pay raise for members of Congress."At a time when the Congress is working toward balancing the budget, and many people are having their own personal budgets stretched, I do not believe that members of Congress should be awarded increases in pay," Hart said.English also questioned Congress' judgment in considering the pay hike."Rising health care, fuel, home heating and tuition costs have many working families in a vice," he said. "While we are trying to balance the budget by restraining spending on so many important programs, people have to question Congress' priorities if they allow a pay raise for themselves to go forward."State Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th, is seeking information about World War II veterans in his legislative district so he can honor them for their service to our country."It is important that we never forget the sacrifices the veterans of this 'Greatest Generation' have made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we do today," Ellis said. "Our desire is to see that every single WWII veteran in the 11th District is honored"The lawmaker said he wishes to honor them with medals and certificates on Sept. 2, which marks the 60th anniversary of the war's end in 1945.Ellis' legislative district includes the city of Butler; Buffalo, Butler, Clearfield, Connoquenessing, Donegal, Oakland, Summit and Winfield townships; and Chicora and East Butler boroughs.Ellis' office, at 200 Chesapeake Place, Lyndora, can be reached by calling 724-283-5852.