Mike's Memo

Welcome to a new year of "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 September 15, 2008

Senate Session Days

In keeping with its promise to not hold a “Lame Duck” Session after the November Election, the Senate has scheduled nine Session Days prior to November 4:

September 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24
October 6, 7, and 8

November 20 and 21 may be used for a formal closeout of 2008 Session, including possible confirmation votes, the constitutionally required election of the President Pro Tempore-for-the-Interim, and other housekeeping details.

Legislative Update

Listed below are the bills I’ve sponsored during the current legislative session. Many of them are part of my pledge to reform state government. If these bills are not acted upon by the end of November, they will ‘die’ in committee, and will need to be reintroduced next session, which begins in January 2009. I encourage you to contact members of the respective committees to get these bills moving.

Bill name and number	Status
Senate Bill 707, The Taxpayer Protection Act (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 709, Elimination of Elected Assessors in Townships of the First Class	House Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 805, Accountability for the Operation of the Educational Assistance Program	House Education Committee
Senate Bill 978, Increasing the Daily Limits of the Bingo Law	Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 1015, “Taxpayer Funded Advertising Transparency Act” (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	House State Government Committee
Senate Bill 1107, Military Child Custody Arrangements	House Judiciary Committee
Senate Bill 1181 to Senate Bill 1196, SB 1182 and SB 1189, Healthy Pennsylvania” health care package	Senate Finance Committee, various other Senate Committees
Senate Bill 1220, exempt Pennsylvania from the provisions of the federal REAL ID Act:	Senate Communications and Technology Committee
Senate Bill 1290, Citizen’s Constitutional Convention	Set to be considered by the Senate State Government Committee on September 17
Senate Bill 1292, "Tax Me More Fund" (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	Senate Finance Committee
Senate Bill 1499, Accountability for the use of State Vehicles	House State Government Committee
Voters’ Choice Act	awaiting assignment of bill number

For more information on these issues, and information on other legislative and state topics, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly website at www.legis.state.pa.us. If you are unable to open the bill links, please feel free to go directly to the Pennsylvania General Assembly website.

As always, please feel free to contact me on any state-related matter that may be of concern to you. I can be reached through e-mail, mfolmer@pasen.gov,or at any one of my district offices.

Harrisburg Office
170 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5708
Fax: 717-787-3455
TTY: 800-364-1581

District Offices
101 Municipal Building
400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-274-6735
Fax: 717-274-7702
Toll Free: 1-877-222-1897

18 East High Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 717-361-8623
Fax: 717-361-0385

509 W. Penn Avenue
Suite 10
Robesonia, PA 19551
Phone: 610-693-3200
Fax: 610-693-3212