State Sens.

Mary Jo White, R-21st, and

Raphael Musto, D-Luzerne, on Tuesday introduced legislation to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.Under the bill, Pennsylvania coal-fired power plants would have to reduce mercury emissions by 86 percent no later than 2018.White noted that in March 2005, the United States became the first nation to regulate mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. States have until November 2006 to indicate to the federal government how they intend to implement the mercury emission reduction rule."This legislation shows the strong, bipartisan support in the General Assembly for reducing mercury pollution and protecting the health and welfare of our citizens," said White, chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.Companion legislation was introduced in the state House of Representatives last week with 120 co-sponsors.The Senate legislation would:n Require mercury emission reductions of 86 percent over 1999 emission rates, and 94 percent as measured from the coal contentn Maximize the co-benefits to be achieved under the Clean Air Interstate Rulen Utilize an emission allowance cap and trade program, providing incentives for power plants to comply earlier and achieve greater emission reductions.———State Sen.

Jane Orie, R-40th, is sponsoring legislation to establish a voluntary Administrative Medical Liability Demonstration Project in Pennsylvania that would promote better health care practices, reduce medical malpractice costs and prevent costly lawsuits.The measure calls for creation of a pilot program that would offer grants to hospitals and health care agencies to implement a "no-fault medical liability system,"Orie said.The purpose, she said, is to find solutions to the state's medical malpractice crisis.Orie noted that the system would use "avoidability of error"instead of "negligence"as a basis for determining patient compensation and set up a schedule of damages to limit excessive payments."The goal is to encourage health care providers to disclose medical errors that result in harm to patients and to offer appropriate compensation for injuries without the need for a lawsuit," she said.———The Beaver Valley Business and Professional Women recently voted to endorse Democratic candidate

Georgia Berner for Congress in the 4th District, which includes southern Butler County."Georgia Berner is a successful and respected businesswoman who has fought adversity and built a tremendous manufacturing business in Western Pennsylvania," said Michele Morris-Donner, the group's legislative chairman, of the endorsement."Georgia understands the importance of advocating for polices that protect and support working women. She has put her values into action by creating good jobs and providing health insurance for her employees."The Beaver Valley Business and Professional Women is the local chapter of the Business and Professional Women of USA. BPW/USA is the leading advocate for millions of working women on work-life balance and workplace equity issues.