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 August 2, 2010 

Senate Committee Meetings
While the Senate is not in Session until Monday, September 20, Senate Committees continue to meet, including:

• Transportation:  Wednesday, August 4 (transportation funding/SEPTA) and Wednesday, August 18 (rails/ports)
• State Government:  campaign finance reform (Senate Bills 576 and 1269)

Click here for a complete and up-to-date list of Senate Committee meetings, times, dates, and locations.

High Risk Pools
A number of states have begun accepting applications for the new federally funded high-risk health insurance pools.  High Risk Pools are state-created, non-profit associations used by many other states to help fill gaps in insurance by providing coverage to those who are denied health insurance for medical reasons.  The Governor is seeking (without legislation) $160 Million in federal moneys to cover about 5,600 Pennsylvanians between now and 2014 when the new federal health care mandates go into effect.  I proposed an independent, self-sustaining, self-supporting High Risk Pool in Senate Bill 507.  Although passed by the full Senate (49 – 1, Senator Ferlo), the combination of federal requirements and amendments to SB 507 make it unlikely those who were promised coverage will ever see it.  It's just not possible to cover more people, expand benefits, and lower premiums at the same time.

Review of Proposed Regulations
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) is reviewing and taking public comments on a number of regulations proposed by various state agencies, including:

• Department of Agriculture:  dog law regulations for commercial kennels (withdrawn but anticipated to be resubmitted shortly)
• Department of Education:  "Common Core Standards"

Click here for a list of all regulations awaiting IRRC review.

Pennsylvania Competitiveness
NBC News recently ran a story ranking the top states for business competitiveness based upon the cost of business, workforce, quality of life, economy, transportation, technology and innovation, education, business friendliness, access to capital, and cost of living.  For 2010 Pennsylvania ranked 20th overall (up from #33 in 2009)

• #40:  cost of business (#41 in 2009)
• #42:  workforce (#43 in 2009)
• #25:  quality of life (#26)
• #15:  economy (37)
• #16: transportation (15)
• # 6:  technology and innovation (8)
• # 4:  education (6)
• #32:  business friendliness (36)
• #11:  access to capital (7)
• #30:  cost of living (27)

Click here to review additional details

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 listed below.

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