Mike's Memo

Call for Special Session on Ethics Reform

I was pleased to join with a number of my Senate colleagues in calling for a Special Session of the General Assembly for the purpose of enacting government reforms and providing for the ethical conduct of state government.  This effort requires a majority of Senators (26) and House members (102) to sign a petition in accordance with Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution to require the Governor to convene such a session.   

Tax Changes

A number of tax changes were enacted in conjunction with the passage of the state budget.  These changes to House Bill 377, which will save Pennsylvania taxpayers about $5.2 million, include:

• Changing how refunds for breast and cervical cancer research are handled.  While the check off on the Personal Income Tax (PIT) tax forms will continue, these contributions will now go to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition rather than to the Pennsylvania Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board within the Department of Health;

• Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study which types of PIT forgiveness are most beneficial to low-income Pennsylvanians;

• Exempting nonprofit car-sharing organizations from the 2 percent vehicle rental tax and excluding their vehicles from paying a $2 fee assessment; and

• Establishing a pilot program for active volunteer firefighters/emergency services workers to receive a $100 PIT tax credit.           

Where Tax Money Goes

With the adoption of the 2008 – 2009 State Budget, these are now the Commonwealth’s top ten expenditures: 

Fall Senate Session Schedule

The Senate is tentatively scheduled to be in Session September 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24, and October 1, 2, 6, and 7.