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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 30, 2010 Taxation With Representation "No taxation without representation" was a key principle of the American Revolution. How far have we come since that time? In 1765, Americans opposed the quartering of troops in their homes. In 2010, Americans are subject to the REAL ID Act, which seeks to create a national identification card and database (including biometric photos of people’s faces). Some would like to add RFID (radio frequency identification) chips to these ID cards so that personal information could be in one place and readily available and easily transmitted to others. In 1767, Americans opposed taxes on stamps, lead, paint, paper, glass, and tea. In 2010, Americans pay taxes on amusements, capital gains, cigarettes, corporations, earned income, services, estates, gas, liquor, sales, per capita, personal income, personal property, property, realty transfers, Social Security, telephone calls, utilities, and unemployment. In 1773, Americans questioned special licenses, such as the one giving the English East India Company a monopoly on the importation of tea. In 2010, Pennsylvania taxpayers are helping to foot the bill for the special Arlen Specter library and the Jack Murtha facility. In addition, Americans pay a host of license fees, including: building permits, dog licenses, fishing licenses, hunting licenses, marriage licenses, and vehicle and boat registration fees. You need either a license or a permit to do home repairs, open and operate a business, or do business in certain professions. In 1774, Americans opposed the "Intolerable Acts", which extended royal control over the colonies and their citizens. In 2010, Americans face a myriad of government regulations, such as zoning, state and local building codes, restrictions on the amount of water in toilets, and environmental requirements on gas and cars. In addition, Americans pay a variety of fines and other fees, including: parking meter fees, speeding tickets, traffic fines, and government late fees/penalties. The new federal health care law mandates people buy insurance and imposes additional penalties for failure to do so. In 1776, Americans declared independence, saying: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." In 2010, Americans may need to ask themselves if we have these inalienable rights. 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. Was this message forwarded to you? Visit my website if you would like to receive your own copy of "Mike's Memo." If you no longer wish to receive "Mike's Memo,"
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Offices 101 Municipal Building 509 W. Penn Avenue Email: mfolmer@pasen.gov
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