'Distracted Driver' Bill Loses Steam in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG (CBS) - It appears that efforts to pass "distracted driver" legislation will fall short once again in yet another session of the Pennsylvania legislature.

The House wants stronger language than the Senate to address texting and talking on hand-held cell phones for all drivers, and to address other issues specific to junior drivers. But both sides say they were nearing a compromise. And both sides now disagree on who derailed the process in the final days.

Montgomery County House Democrat Joshua Shapiro spoke with reporters Wednesday afternoon:

"We were informed just yesterday by the House Democratic leader that in a final meeting with his Senate cohort that the Senate decided not to take this issue up."

But a spokesman for the majority leader of the Republican-controlled Senate disputes that account, saying the Senate would have considered a compromise bill if the House had passed it this week, although he said a Senate vote was not guaranteed.

The Senate's is to hold its final days of the current session next week, the House is gone until after the election.

Reported By Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio