(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each Monday, the Sun-Gazette summarizes major votes of the past week and, more specifically, how our locally elected and appointed officials voted on each matter. Watch for it each Monday in the Sun-Gazette.)
Locally elected and appointed officials voted on the following matters in the past week:
Federal
The Senate and House voted to pass the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012. The legislation, crafted to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," permanently extends the 2001 and 2003 income tax rates for taxable income up to $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples. Among other provisions, the measure also permanently extends the estate tax exemption amount at current levels but allows the maximum rate to increase, and prevents millions of Americans from having to pay higher taxes by indexing the Alternative Minimum Tax for inflation. Voting in favor were U.S. Reps. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, and Thomas Marino, R-Cogan Station, and U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville.
State
The Senate and House were out of session.
County
Lycoming County commissioners approved a $262,900 consulting contract with Delta Development Group, of Mechanicsburg, that aims to secure grant funding for county projects. Commissioners also approved tax collection for Montgomery Borough by the county's tax claim bureau. Voting in favor of both measures were Jeff Wheeland, Ernie Larson and Tony Mussare.
Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority board members authorized a $500,000 line of credit increase for projects. Voting in favor were Mary Bennardi, Jan Ransdorf, Donald Konkle Jr., Paul Wentzler, Richard Haas, James Carpenter, Charles Hall and Robert Hippenstiel.
