Mike's Memo

Tax Collection Changes Sent to Governor

After some changes by the House of Representatives, the full Senate again passed Senate Bill 1063, 40 – 10.  A key provision of Senate Bill 1063 is a reduction in the number of local tax collectors from 560 local tax collectors to 69 by 2012.  If signed into law by the Governor, I believe this bill will reform Pennsylvania’s system of local earned income tax collection.  Click here to see how other members of the Senate voted on this important bill, which I cosponsored. 

Advertising Transparency Act Approved by Senate

I am pleased that my Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act (Senate Bill 1015) unanimously passed the full Senate. This initiative would require every advertisement funded by your tax dollars to include the line “Paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars.”   The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for their consideration.  

Senate Passes Bill on Notification for Breach of Personal Information

Senate Bill 1266, which would require government agencies to report data breaches involving personal information within one week, was unanimously approved by the full Senate.  This measure would require people to be notified of data breaches "without unreasonable delay;" Senate Bill 1266 would require a one-week notification for breaches involving state or local government.  This bill was introduced after three thefts of state-owned computers containing personal information of nearly 400,000 people – who were not notified until several weeks later.  Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi introduced this bill and I was a cosponsor.  It now goes to the House for consideration.   

Senate Passes Two Health Care Initiatives

The full Senate passed two bills related to health care:  House Bill 1150, which would provide for autism coverage, colorectal cancer screening, and oversight of the proposed Highmark/Blue Cross of Northeast Pennsylvania merger, and Senate Bill 1372, which would both reauthorize the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and extend the MCARE abatement for physicians for two years.  House Bill 1150 passed with one negative vote (Senator Eichelberger) and Senate Bill 1372 was passed unanimously.   

Legislation to Bring Accountability to Use of State Vehicles On Senate Calendar

My proposal to increase accountability for the use of state vehicles by state employees (Senate Bill 1499) was unanimously reported out of both the Senate State Government Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration by the full Senate. This bill would establish a threshold to use a state vehicle, require monthly mileage logs and have them posted online, require reimbursement for personal use, and require “Official Use” license plates (except for undercover police operations).

The State Government Committee also reported out Senate Bill 858, which would prohibit public contracts for lobbying.  

Senate Communications and Technology Committee Holds Hearing on REAL ID Bill

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee recently held a hearing on my Senate Bill 1220, which would preclude Pennsylvania from having to comply with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.  During the course of the hearing, it was again pointed out that REAL ID Act is an unfunded mandate requiring states to convert their driver's licenses into a national identification card.  I also believe that it is an infringement on our constitutional rights, which was borne out by a number of other people who testified.  Others who testified included representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union, PennDOT, NCSL, and the National Veterans Committee on Constitutional Affairs.