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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 August 23, 2010
2010 – 2011 State Budget (continued)
Senate Republican leaders recently sent
recommendations to the Governor on plans to close the remaining gap in
Pennsylvania’s 2010 – 2011 state budget. Senators Scarnati, Pileggi, and Corman
would like more attention devoted to Pennsylvania’s impending pension crises. I
share this concern, which is why I have scheduled a briefing on this important
issue for my Business and Local Government Advisory Committees: 7:30 a.m.,
Thursday, September 2 in the Met Ed Auditorium, 600 S. 5th Avenue, Lebanon.
This important briefing is being sponsored by the Lebanon Valley Chamber of
Commerce and the featured speakers will be Senator Pat Browne, Chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee and Rick Dreyfuss, Senior Fellow, Commonwealth
Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives.
No issue threatens the financial health of our Commonwealth
more than the unfunded liability of Pennsylvania’s pension systems: an
estimated $1.45 billion 2010 – 2011, $6 billion 2012 – 2013, and $7.4 billion
2015 – 2016. My goal is to inform key business leaders and local government
officials of the magnitude of these problems and provide some of the solutions
the General Assembly may need to consider to address these many problems. As
seating is limited, please contact Fallon Binner of my staff if you have an
interest in attending: fbinner@pasen.gov
or (717) 274-6735.
Transportation Caucus Meeting
While the Governor continues to push for legislative action to meet
Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure needs, he has not offered specifics
on how to meet these many problems. For this reason, House Speaker Keith McCall
has called for a bipartisan, bicameral Transportation Caucus meeting for today
(Monday, August 23): 11:30 a.m., 140 Main Capitol. This meeting will feature a
presentation from Allen Biehler, PA Secretary of Transportation, which will
include – for the first time – the administration’s specific proposals and
recommendations for the Commonwealth’s transportation crisis. I look forward to
learning of these specifics.
KINBER Hearing
As previously noted, I have had many questions on the proposed Pennsylvania
Research & Education Network (PennREN), which is receiving $99.7 million in
federal stimulus moneys and is to be administered by the Keystone Initiative for
Education & Research (KINBER). I attempted to obtain some answers to these
questions through a
June public hearing of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee and
I have scheduled a second hearing for: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 22
(Room 8E-B, East Wing). In the interim, I am pleased Senate Majority Caucus
Chairman
Mike Waugh is joining with me to secure answers to the questions that have
been asked.
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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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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