Loophole

City Council voted unanimously yesterday to close a loophole in the city's police pension law that allowed civilian workers to collect generous police pensions even though they never worked a day in uniform. The vote came after the second reading of legislation sponsored by Councilman James F. Kenney, son of a retired firefighter. Kenney introduced the bill in October after an article in The Inquirer detailed how some nonuniformed city employees had exploited a loophole in pension rules to retire on police pensions as early as age 45, after serving as police recruits for only a few days or weeks.

A bill to close a loophole that allows civilian city workers to collect generous police pensions even though they never wore a badge or walked a beat was put on a fast track yesterday by City Council. After hearing testimony from Joseph J. Herkness, executive director of the city Board of Pensions and Retirement, and Linda L. Seyda, city director of personnel, Council agreed unanimously to expedite the legislative process so the bill could be passed as early as Feb. 8. Yesterday's hearing was a first reading of the bill sponsored by Councilman James F. Kenney, son of a retired firefighter.

Though Keith Scavo is charged in the fatal shooting of his ex-wife, her boyfriend and mother, a loophole in the state's protection from abuse law was an accomplice in the crime, State Rep. Mario J. Civera said yesterday. Civera introduced an amendment to the law Tuesday that would temporarily suspend the firearms license of anyone served with a protection from abuse order. Under current law, state police impound the guns of those cited in protection orders but have no right to take away their firearms licenses.

More than two dozen exiting members of the House of Representatives are expected to leave with pockets full of surplus campaign money, thanks to an election law loophole. The sums range from about $800,000 for Rep. Matthew J. Rinaldo (R., N.J.) to $34,000-and-dwindling for Rep. Andy Ireland (R., Fla.). Ten members could leave with more than $400,000 in addition to their pensions. The loophole permits House members, elected before 1980, who lose or quit this year to take some surplus campaign money with them.

IMAGINE HAVING YOUR driver's license revoked in Pennsylvania but then being able to get one in Florida - through the mail - that must then be honored here. Now imagine it happens with guns. Because it does. Pennsylvania residents who are denied a license to carry a concealed weapon, or have theirs revoked, have found a loophole that allows them to get a license from another state that must be honored here. "They could be disapproved here and they could apply in Florida and we are not notified," said Philadelphia Police Lt. Lisa King, commander of the Gun Permit Unit.

LESS THAN a month ago, Marqus Hill was arrested in the slaying of Irving Santana, allegedly shooting him 13 times. Hill's Philadelphia gun permit had been revoked five years ago, but he easily got a permit from Florida, thanks to a frightening loophole that Pennsylvania lawmakers just had the chance to close, but failed. The so-called Florida loophole - which allows someone whose application has been rejected in Pennsylvania to go online and apply for a permit from a state with fewer restrictions - puts the fate of the city's citizens at the mercy of the Florida Department of Agriculture, which issues the permits, instead of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Some people judge the U.S. income tax proposal by how it affects them personally. Their deductions are eminently justified, but the other person's deduction is a sinister loophole. What is most important is what is best for most Americans, which is lower tax rates and elimination of deductions that lead to nonproductive activity and cheating. Dave B. Olim Ambler.

The Federal Communication Commission smacked Comcast Corp. yesterday by closing the "terrestrial loophole" that has kept Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies games off DirecTV and the Dish Network. The FCC voted, 4-1, to close the loophole, which had its biggest national impact in Philadelphia. Experts warned that changes could be months away and that Comcast could sue to block the rule change. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement, "Consumers who want to switch video providers shouldn't have to give up their favorite team.

I'M GRATEFUL to letter-writer Joe "Jake" Dunphy of Philadelphia for his kind words of thanks to Aberdeen Asset Management for our contribution to retaining the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. Mr. Dunphy's letter and the many other expressions of support have been a great source of inspiration to us. I would just like to say through these pages what an honor it is for us, as a global company, to have the opportunity to sponsor such a prestigious and world-class event here in our U.S. home city of Philadelphia.

Three out of four state House members this week turned their backs on Pennsylvanians whose safety is threatened by the Florida gun loophole. Worse still, the bipartisan majority instead expanded gun owners' rights to blast away at anyone if they feel threatened outside their home or even in their car. The House changes to the so-called castle doctrine mean that armed individuals will have an absolute right to defend themselves beyond their home....