Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:
Federal
The Senate rejected a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, voted yes. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, voted no.
The House was out of session during the week.
State
The House passed a measure establishing a minimum penalty of five years in jail for any previously convicted felon found illegally in possession of a firearm or engaged in other prohibited firearm activity, whether or not the felon was committing another crime in addition to illegal firearm possession or activity. Voting yes were state Reps. Garth Everett, R-Muncy; Rick Mirabito, D-Williamsport, and Matthew E. Baker, R-Wellsboro.
County
County Commissioners Tony Mussare and Ernie Larson voted yes on a $1.4 million water line contract for the county landfill with Sikora Brothers Inc. Commissioner Jeff Wheeland was absent.
Municipal
Loyalsock Township supervisors voted 4-0 to join a local municipal consortium that will broadcast government and community information on Comcast channel 75. The township does not have any direct costs for participation. Voting in favor were Virginia Eaton, Marc Sortman, John Bower and Rick Wheeland.
Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority has agreed to review a $39,000 per quarter sewer and water bill at the Diamond Drinks plant on Railway Street. Approving the measure 10-0 were Thomas A. Frazier, William E. Nichols, Eiderson A. Dean, William Ertel, Dean P. Muller, Thomas Marnon, Johnny R. Meyer, Dr. Marshall D. Welch, Matthew Rebeck and Gregory Zeitler.
School district
South Williamsport Area School Board voted unanimously to pass the preliminary final budget with no tax increase for the 2012-13 school year. Expenditures are $122,302 more than revenue.
The board also passed the first reading of a policy change to require non-district employee chaperones to submit to background checks. Chris Branton, Don Lowe, Greg Anthony, Gregg Balawajder, Jerry Broskey, John Engel, Mary Ann Cowden and Sue Davenport voted yes. Sam Burch voted no.
