State Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th. recently joined with the Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee to introduce legislation that would protect consumers who buy service contracts for large appliances and machinery.Introduced with Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, LaGrotta's bill would provide a regulatory framework for the sale of service contracts in Pennsylvania. These contracts include services such as appliance repair and maintenance or lawn care."This is just one more step we can take to protect consumers from falling prey to service providers who might take their money without performing the services consumers paid for and expect," LaGrotta said.He said the legislation would add "significant" consumer protections such as maintaining a minimum of financial security to ensure services promised are delivered, and giving consumers a 20-day free look to decide if they want the contract or not.In addition, the measure would require service providers to register with the state Insurance Department and provide required disclosures to consumers.———

<B>Steven Porter</B>, the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, called on the Republican leadership of both the U.S. House and Senate to pass House Resolution 550, also known as the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act.The measure amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified, permanent paper record or hard copy on all touch-screen voting machines."(The measure) is an amendment that would not only provide voters with a verifiable paper trail, but would make sure the programming of computerized voting machines and the accuracy of their tallies achieve a far greater degree of transparency,"Porter said.———

<B>Pat Stirling</B> and <B>Sherry Maudie </B>were recently named Butler County's co-chairwomen of Republican U.S. Sen. <B>Rick Santorum's</B> re-election campaign.Stirling, of Lancaster Township, served as the county co-chairwoman during the 2004 election cycle and county coordinator for Santorum 2000.She has been a member of the Republican State Committee since 2000. She is the Lancaster Township Committeewoman and is president of the Republican Women of Butler County.Maudie, of Cranberry Township, worked for the <B>Bush/Cheney </B>campaign in 2000 and 2004. She has also volunteered for U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-4th, and state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, during their runs for office. She is a member of the county Republican Committee and county Republican Women.———

State Rep. <B>Daryl Metcalfe</B>, R-12th, will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building, 2525 Rochester Road.Anyone interested in attending the town meeting should contact Metcalfe's district office at 724-772-3110 for information or to make reservations.———

District Judge <B>Pete Shaffer </B>of Butler was recently recertified as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System following completion of his 2006 continuing legal education work.The weeklong instruction program in Chambersburg is required for all district judges.