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 12, 2010

New Staff (sort of)
I'm pleased to announce the birth of Caroline Lynn Williams, second daughter of Lynn and Beth Williams (my director of communications):  July 7th @ 2:04 p.m., 7 lbs., 19 ½".

Bills Signed Into Law
With passage of the 2010 – 2011 state budget, a number of measures were signed into law, including:

• House Bill 687 (Act 39 of 2010):  allows government entities to enter into guaranteed energy saving contracts
• Senate Bill 174 (Act 41):  amends the Workforce Development Act to establish the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers and the Health Careers Leadership Council within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
• 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 incarcerates
• Senate Bill 1042 (Act 46):  Fiscal Code changes which provide budget implementation language
• House Bill 2279 (Act 1A):  2010 – 2011 budget appropriations ($28.04 Billion)
• House Bill 2280 (Act 2A):  appropriations for the Small Business Advocate
• House Bill 2281 (Act 3A):  appropriations for the licensure boards (Bureau and Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)
• House Bill 2282 (Act 4A):  appropriations for the Office of Consumer Advocate
• House Bill 2283 (Act 5A):  appropriations for the operations of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board (PSERS)
• House Bill 2284 (Act 6A):  appropriations for the operations of the State Employees' Retirement Board (SERS)
• House Bill 2285 (Act 7A):  appropriations for gaming oversight (Gaming Board, Department of Revenue, State Police, and Attorney General)
• House Bill 2286 (Act 8A):  appropriations for the administration of the Workers' Compensation system and the Office of Small Business Advocate
• House Bill 2287 (Act 9A):  appropriations for the Public Utility Commission
• House Bill 2292 (Act 10A): appropriations for Penn State University
• House Bill 2293 (Act 11A): appropriations for the University of Pittsburgh
• House Bill 2294 (Act 12A): appropriations for Temple University
• House Bill 2295 (Act 13A): appropriations for Lincoln University
• House Bill 2296 (Act 14A): appropriations to the University of Pennsylvania

Reform Measures
Here's the status of a number of my proposed reform measures:

• Senate Bill 7 ("Taxpayer Protection Act"):  Senate Finance Committee
• Senate Bill 104 (Accountability in the use of state vehicles):  unanimously passed Senate; in House State Government Committee
• Senate Bill 109 ("Taxpayer Funded Advertising Transparency Act"):  unanimously passed Senate; in House State Government Committee
• Senate Bill 252 ("Voters' Choice Act"):  Senate State Government Committee
• Senate Bill 340: ("Citizens' Constitutional Convention"):  Senate State Government Committee
• Senate Bill 394 ("Tax Me More Fund"):  Senate Finance Committee
• Senate Resolution 51 (State Sovereignty):  Senate tabled bill calendar

Other Measures
Here's the status of a number of my other legislative initiatives:

• Senate Bill 211 (Small Games of Chance):  Senate tabled bill calendar
• Senate Bill 382 (Cord Blood Bank):  Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee
• Senate Bill 384 (Police powers at military installations):  unanimously reported from Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee; re-referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
• Senate Bill 507 (State High Risk Pool):  passed Senate 49 – 1; referred to House Insurance Committee
• Senate Bill 621 (RealID):  unanimously passed Senate; referred to House Transportation Committee
• Senate Bill 906 (Trespassing in agricultural biosecurity areas):  unanimously reported from Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee; Senate tabled bill calendar

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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