December 17, 2007
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One Year in the State Senate
By Senator Mike Folmer

As I reach my 1st anniversary as State Senator representing the 48th District, I remain committed to the "Promise to Pennsylvania," which calls for legislative and political reform, tax and spending reform, and legal and labor law reform.

One thing has surprised me during my short tenure in the General Assembly:  the constant demands for state money – from both individuals and organized groups.  Even the media gets into the act; over the past year, one mid-state newspaper's editorials have called upon government to fund a myriad of programs and initiatives, including:  roads, bridges, mass transit, pre-Kindergarten, medical school loan forgiveness, hazardous sites cleanups libraries, laptops for students, commuter rail and freight rail, parks, leaking fuel tanks, and more state police.  How can you reduce taxes if you keep spending?  You can't!

In my many town meetings, advisory committee meetings and other outreach efforts, people have praised my "Taxpayer Protection Act" (Senate Bill 707), which would limit any annual increase in spending to the combined rates of inflation and population growth.  They say, "You're on the right track, we need to get state spending under control."  However, many times afterwards, someone will come up to me and ask for my support for a grant program, or increased spending, or some other type of funding request.  It's a mixed message. 

At the same time, I'm constantly asked the question:  "Is reform dead in Harrisburg?"  I don't believe that reform is dead.  However, we must define how we measure success.  Our Founding Fathers knew that the legislature is the most deliberative part of our system of government.  With 253 different elected officials in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, it can take time to reach consensus on an issue – any issue.

We've been faced with a number of different challenges in my first year in Harrisburg, including, but not limited to:  applying new rules to make the Senate more open and accessible, rejecting the Governor's call for new taxes, vetting Cabinet Secretaries for the confirmation process, updating the Open Records law, dealing with the health care and energy issues, funding hazardous waste site cleanups, and trying to pass the Taxpayer Protection Act and otherwise ensuring that we are squeezing every penny out of very tax dollar.

True and complete reform is possible only if those both inside and outside government stay focused on what needs to be done.  Real change is not about replacing people; it's about moving a reform agenda.  I look forward to continuing to advance the "Promise to Pennsylvania" aggressively in the weeks and months ahead.