PA Primary Voters Face Deadline

Today is the last day to register to vote in the May 18th Pennsylvania Primary. In order to qualify to vote a person must be a resident of the United States and have lived in the voting district for at least 30 days prior to the election and be at least 18 years old on the day of the election. Today is also the deadline to change party affiliations. Pennsylvania holds what is known as a “closed primary” which means a voter can only vote in the primary of the party to which they are registered. Party changes and new registrations can be made at the county elections office and forms can be downloaded from the Pennsylvania Department of State web site. Forms post marked with today’s date will be accepted.
There are a few general elections being held on the same day as the primary this year. Most notably in Western Pennsylvania is the race to fill the unexpired term of US Congressman John Murtha. Murtha died while in office February 8th. Voters in the 12th congressional district will cast votes in that general election as well as in a primary for a candidate to run in the November election for a full term. State Representative District 20 is also holding a special election May 118th. Don Walko retired from tHat seat to become a judge. Voters with no party affiliation and those affiliated with so-called “third parties” can vote in the general election races but will not be allowed to vote in any primary races in those districts.

Veterans' Court

In an effort to improve prison efficiency and give veterans more personalized attention, a state representative is asking for more funding for veterans' courts. Representative Don Walko of Allegheny County says having a court geared for veterans makes sense because their challenges will be better understood. Unlike a problem-solving court that primarily deals with mental illness and drug addiction, the veterans' court will have people who are knowledgable in ways to treat veterans.

Walko says funding for this cause from the Commonwealth, even in these tough economic times, would remedy several problems of the court and prison systems. Allegheny County officials plan to have a veterans' court up and running by June.

Bounty Hunter Regulations Proposed

Bounty hunters in Pennsylvnia need greater oversight. That's the gist of a new bill being proposed by state representative Don Walko of Allegheny County. He says the industry is unregulated even though bounty hunters have the power to arrest and maintain custody of fugitives. Walko introduced similar legislation after a bounty hunter killed an unarmed fugitive on Pittsburgh's North Side in 2004.

The new legislation, House Bill 65, would require bounty hunters to meet the same lethal weapons training requirements that already apply to security professionals and private investigators in Pennsylvania. The bill would also move licensing for security professionals and private investigators from the county level to the state level, which Walko says would keep problem licensees from slipping through the cracks. He says the bill enjoys bipartisan support and even has the backing of many bounty hunters, security workers and private investigators, who believe regulation would help legitimize their line of work.

Walko to Pursue Problem-Solving Courts through Re-appointment

State Representative Don Walko (D-Allegheny) has been re-appointed by Speaker Keith McCall as chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts. Walko plans to utilize his position to push for more "problem-solving courts." These special courts are designed to treat and rehabilitate non-violent offenders without incarceration. Defendants receive services to help them turn their lives around. Walko says problem-solving courts such as drug court, veteran's court, and mental illness court have had great success and save counties money. Walko intends to offer legislation creating more funding for counties to develop problem-solving courts of their own.

Audio Taping on School Buses Debated

Under current Pennsylvania wire tap laws you are able to videotape individuals but are not able to audio tape them without their consent. Exceptions have been made for police stops. The law says the prohibition on taping does not extend to locations where people do not have an expectation of privacy. There has been a debate for the last decade over weather that extends to school buses. District attorneys across the state have been weighing in on their level of willingness to file criminal complaints. Some say they will prosecute and others say they will not. However that does not speak to any civil suits that could be filed. State Rep Don Walko has introduced legislation in the house that would place a stipulation in the law that would allow for the use of audiotape along with videotape in school buses. However before it can be installed the school board must first give its approval, notify parents and students and post clear warnings on the bus. One operator testifying asked that his “hands be untied.” The state police say such a unifying law would also help their enforcement efforts. Walko says he has spoken to the ACLU and heard no objections.