PA Bill Number: SB1198
Title: In plants and plant products, providing for plant and pollinator protection; conferring powers and duties on the Department of Agriculture and ...
Description: In plants and plant products, providing for plant and pollinator protection; conferring powers and duties on the Department of Agriculture and .. ...
Last Action: Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Last Action Date: May 17, 2024
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey talks [Gun Control] to Reading Eagle :: 07/01/2015
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey says he's faced his share of frustrating moments, but he has his fingers crossed for good news on some of his legislation.
The Lehigh County Republican said during a Berks County visit Monday that he's optimistic about two of his big measures - aid for crime victims and school employee background checks.
Some other goals - such as background checks on gun purchases - remain elusive but he said he plans to keep trying.
Toomey spoke with the Reading Eagle after a private tour of the R.M. Palmer chocolate plant in Wyomissing. He's been visiting Pennsylvania candy makers since inheriting the responsibility of stocking senators' candy supply, a job that comes with the desk closest to the chamber's most-used entrance.
Here are a few takeaways from the conversation.
. . . . .
Background checks on guns
Toomey's less optimistic about his separate effort to expand background checks in another area: commercial gun purchases.
His bill last session failed to gain support within the GOP. And while he's planning to try again this session, Toomey said he's being told as he works behind the scenes that the votes just aren't there.
"I still think it's the right thing to do," he said.
Toomey said he's going to keep working to make the case to Republican colleagues that lawmakers can fight for gun rights and still support background checks. He said the plan's about making sure guns stay out of the wrong hands, not gun control.
Toomey has worked with U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, on background checks for guns. They have also worked on the legislation to expand background checks for school employees.
http://readingeagle.com/news/article/us-sen-pat-toomey-talks-to-reading-eagle-five-takeaways
