Mike's Memo

Welcome to "Mike's Memo," an update on what's happening in the 48th Legislative District, the State Capitol, and the progress on my "Promise to Pennsylvania," a pledge to advance government reforms, enact meaningful lawsuit abuse reform, eliminate wasteful state spending, and cut taxes. If you haven't done so already, please take a few moments to visit my website at www.senatorfolmer.com to learn more about issues that may affect you and your family.

Bill Signed Into Law
The Governor signed House Bill 1041 into law as Act 29 of 2010. This measure authorizes pharmacists to perform drug therapy management. Also signed into law (as Act 31 of 2010) was Senate Bill 828, the "Pie Bill," which exempts home-baked goods for nonprofit organizations from Department of Agriculture enforcement.

Senate Session
The full Senate remains in Session until the 2010 – 2011 state budget is passed, hopefully, by June 30. Session dates include:

Revenue Shortfalls Continue
State tax revenues continue to fall short of projections, complicating a balanced state budget. Collections for May stood at $124.9 million, 6.5 percent lower than expected. This brings the total year-to-date shortfall to $1.2 billion, 4.8 percent off of estimates. The Personal Income Tax (PIT), corporate tax revenues, and unrelated non-tax revenues are all lagging behind estimates for the year.

State Economic Competitiveness Index
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a nonpartisan association of state legislators, recently released a report, "Rich States, Poor States," which ranks the economic outlook and the economic performance (1998 – 2008) of the 50 states. Here are Pennsylvania’s rankings:

Category	Ranking
2010 economic outlook	46
2009 economic outlook	42
2008 economic outlook	36
Personal income per capita growth (1998 – 2008)	34
Domestic migration (1998 -2008)	41 (PA lost 81,976 people)
Non-farm employment (1998 -2008)	37
Corporate Net Income Tax rate	35
Property tax burden	30 ($32.55 per $1,000 of personal income)

Pennsylvania ranked at the top in one category - 2008 investment losses for the state employees’ retirement system (SERS), a loss of 28.7 percent.

Communications and Technology - Wednesday, June 9, 10 a.m., Room 8E-B, East Wing. Committee will again consider House Bill 1175, which would prohibit the chipping of people.

In the Community
My June "Community Report" television show is now available online. Join me on my tour of Wenger's Feeds, an agricultural feed, ingredient and service company, that provides eggs, poultry, dairy, and pork food products to more than 25 percent of the U.S. population. The mill is located in Rheems, Lancaster County.

For more information on these issues or other legislative and state topics, or if you are unable to open the bill links, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly website at www.legis.state.pa.us.

Please feel free to contact me at any time on state-related issues that are of concern to you. I may be reached through e-mail at mfolmer@pasen.gov, my website, or any one of my offices.

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