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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.
Week of July 5, 2010
Budget Details
As widely reported by the media, both the Senate (37–13)
and the House (117–84)
passed the state budget (House
Bill 2279) for 2010 – 2011. I was not able to support this measure as I do
not believe it represents a balanced budget as required by Pennsylvania's
Constitution – especially since next to no one thinks we will actually receive
any or all of $850 million in federal funding. The $28.04 billion budget
represents state spending of approximately $76 million per day, $3 million an
hour, $53,000 a minute, and $889 a second. To view a listing of line items
within the approved budget
click here.
The following measures were also passed in conjunction with
the budget, including:
-
Senate Bill 1042: provides budget implementation language and a number of
other provisions not directly related to the budget; passed the Senate
39 – 11
(I was not able to support this measure)
-
House Bill 254: changes to the Public Welfare Code authorizing moneys
appropriated for welfare under the General Fund budget
-
House Bill 2280: appropriations for the Small Business Advocate
-
House Bill 2281: appropriations for the licensure boards (Bureau
of
Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)
-
House Bill 2282: appropriations for the Office of Consumer Advocate
-
House Bill 2283: appropriations for the operations of the Public School
Employees' Retirement Board
-
House Bill 2284: appropriations for the operations of the State Employees'
Retirement Board
-
House Bill 2285: appropriations for gaming oversight (Gaming Board,
Department of Revenue, State Police, and Attorney General)
-
House Bill 2286: appropriations for the administration of the Workers'
Compensation system and the Office of Small Business Advocate
-
House Bill 2287: appropriations for the Public Utility Commission
-
House Bill 2289: the 2010 – 2011 Capital Budget (passed the Senate
38 – 12)
(I was not able to support this measure)
-
House Bill 2290: raises the Commonwealth's debt limit by another $600
Million (to $4,050,000,000 from $3,450,000,000, with concomitant debt services
over the next 20 years); passed the Senate
38 – 12 (I was not able to support this measure)
-
House Bill 2292: appropriations for Penn State
University
-
House Bill 2293: appropriations for the University of Pittsburgh
-
House Bill 2294: appropriations for Temple University
-
House Bill 2295: appropriations for Lincoln University
-
House Bill 2296: appropriations
for University of Pennsylvania
Bills Signed Into Law
A number of other bills were also sent to the Governor for
action, including:
-
Senate Bill 174 (Act 41 of 2010): establishes the Pennsylvania Center for
Health Careers and the Health Careers Leadership Council of the Pennsylvania
Center for Health Careers in statute
-
Senate Bill 928 (Act 44): requires the divestiture of public retirement
system moneys from companies doing business in Iran and Sudan
-
Senate Bill 1074 (Act 45): prohibits the shackling of pregnant prisoners
-
House Bill 9 (Act 37): extends the sunset date for
the Pennsylvania
Conservation Corps by 10 years (from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2020)
-
House Bill 48 (Act 35 of 2010): makes a number of Liquor Code changes
A number of other bills were sent to the Governor and are
awaiting action, including:
-
Senate Bill 87: allows institutions of higher education to charge resident
tuition rates for active duty military personnel and their dependents
-
Senate Bill 260: amends the Crimes Code as it applies to the corruption of
minors and the sexual abuse of children
-
House Bill 1186: establishes a new Department of Drug
and Alcohol Programs
and makes changes to the PHEAA Board; passed
42 – 8 and
40 – 10 after additional amendments by the House (I was not able to support
this measure after the House amendments were added)
Other Actions
The full Senate unanimously passed a number of measures to
the House for additional consideration, including:
-
Senate Bill 460: provides for the regulation of indoor tanning facilities
-
Senate Bill 699: protections for abused, neglected, exploited, or abandoned
adults
-
Senate Bill 900: creates the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation
and
Revitalization Act
-
Senate Bill 1305: raises the weight limit exemptions for the regulation of
farm vehicles from 17,000 to 26,000 pounds as allowed by federal law
-
Senate Bill 1334: exempts service contracts from insurance regulations
-
House Bill 1251: attempts to bring Pennsylvania's insurance laws into
conformity with model law of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
(NAIC)
-
House Bill 1800: makes a number of changes to the Vehicle Code (passed
49 – 1, Senator Ferlo)
-
House Bill 1859: various changes to the Game Code
-
House Bill 1890: authorizes land transfers adjacent to the Rockville prison
facility (including a long-sought transfer to Penn State University, which was
also part of
House Bill 2275: involving a number of other land transfers)
-
House Bill 2493: various changes to the Municipal Retirement Law relating
to DROPs (Deferred Retirement Option Plans)
The Senate also unanimously confirmed:
- Austin Burke as
Secretary of Community & Economic Development
- Robert Freedberg as
Judge, Superior Court
- William Lieberman as a
member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The Senate also adopted a number of Resolutions, including:
-
Senate Resolution 348: calls for a performance audit of Pennsylvania's
methadone treatment programs and the medical assistance transportation program (adopted
33 – 17).
-
Senate Resolution 229: urges the United States Preventive Services Task
Force to reexamine its recommendations on mammograms for women over 40.
-
Senate Resolution 323: directs the Local Government Commission to study the
number and types of mandates placed upon local governments
The Senate recessed until Monday, September 20th (unless
recalled sooner by the Senate President Pro Tempore).
Committee Actions
- I was pleased the Senate
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee unanimously reported out my
Senate Bill 906, establishing penalties
for trespassing in agricultural
biosecurity areas
- The Senate Labor and Industry
Committee unanimously reported out
Senate Bill 1409, codifying the Department of Labor & Industry's Industry
Partnership Program
- The Senate Policy Committee
held a public hearing on
Senate Bill 1304, calling for term limits of House and Senate members. To
review the hearing,
click here.
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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Offices
170 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5708
Fax: 717-787-3455
TTY: 800-364-1581
101 Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-274-6735
Fax: 717-274-7702
Toll Free: 1-877-222-1897 509 W. Penn Avenue
Suite 10
Robesonia, PA 19551
Phone: 610-693-3200
Fax: 610-693-3212 Email:
mfolmer@pasen.gov
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