I’m back in Harrisburg today. We put through a few bills on the floor and I had a few meetings in my office and with another Senator. There was no news on the Veon Bonusgate trial today, other than the jury deliberating for a long time before stopping for the night. Something should break this week and no one knows what will happen. Again, it should be a slam dunk for the prosecution and apparently it isn’t. Another case that I lost track of is the vehicular homicide case of the man who’s car collided with Senator Jim Rhoades. Jim died the next day and his wife was severely injured. This case will be done soon, as well. Last week, the PA Builders Association lost an injunction to stop the coming building code requirement to install sprinkler systems in homes. There is legislation on this issue that may or may not get anywhere. Since the court case didn’t work, the building code will change to include this provision unless the legislature stops it. This is not a good way to do business, but that is the way the law was written. We’re off to a bad start to the legislative year and I see things getting much worse in many ways.

- John