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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Summer is a good time to focus on roadway safety Over the two weeks surrounding Memorial Day, Pennsylvania State Police participated in a statewide "Click It or Ticket" campaign. It is important to continue to practice this safety habit, though, particularly during the busy summer driving period. According to State Police, Pennsylvania's seat belt use rate is rising, although one in ten occupants of a car in Pennsylvania still is not properly restrained while traveling. Under Pennsylvania law, all front seat passengers must be buckled up, and all children ages 8 to 18 must be in a seat belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle. In addition, children ages 4 to 8 must use an appropriate booster seat and children under 4 an approved child safety seat no matter in which seat they are riding. State Police are also reminding motorists to practice other safe driving practices, including avoiding aggressive behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, and changing lanes in an unsafe manner. Aggressive driving is the leading factor for highway fatalities, and we can all play a role in reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities, and in protecting everyone on our roads. State budget process continues With the Constitutional deadline to approve the state's budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year looming at the end of June, my colleagues and I will be working very hard to ensure that we are keeping our Commonwealth moving forward without overburdening families and businesses. Each year, the legislation enacting the budget originates in the state House of Representatives, since our Constitution states that "all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." In late May, the House considered this legislation, House Bill 1286, and approved it on May 23, sending it to the Senate for our consideration. However, House Bill 1286 is likely to be amended before a final vote is taken, and both the House and Senate, along with the Governor's office, will continue discussions over the next month so that we can iron out a spending plan that invests in the programs that provide clear benefits to Pennsylvania while at the same time is prudent with taxpayer dollars. Community spotlight Last month, I had the privilege to see the 2006 Warwick girls soccer team receive its seventh consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award, honoring teams that maintain a grade point average of at least 3.25. The Warwick girls have improved their team average steadily over the past few years, and in 2006 maintained a team average of 3.72. In addition, the NSCAA, which sponsors the award, has said that to its knowledge, no other high school soccer team in the country has received this many consecutive awards. I would also like to commend Cocalico High School, which has the distinction of both its boys and girls soccer teams receiving a NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2005-2006 academic year, the boys with a team GPA of 3.37 and the girls with a team GPA of 3.56. Girls teams from the 36th District who received the award include Conestoga Valley (team GPA of 3.63), Ephrata (team GPA of 3.32), and Hempfield and Manheim Central with very impressive averages of 4.0 and 4.08, respectively. My congratulations to all of these teams for their success in the classroom and on the soccer field.
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