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 November 2, 2009

The Growth of State Government

A number of you have commented on my recent opinion/editorial piece about the increase of government spending in comparison to inflation and population changes from 1970 to 2008.  A more in-depth look at this spending can be found on my website. It is important to note that these figures do not include federal dollars, borrowing, Motor License Fund revenues, or other state special funds.  If these expenditures were included, the cost of state spending would be even more dramatic than simply looking at General Fund expenditures. The data presented clearly shows government has been growing faster than the ability of taxpayers to pay.

For example:

• Change in Consumer Price Index 1970 – 2008 - 428.1 percent
• Percentage change in inflation 1970 – 2008 - 171.86 percent
• Growth in state's general fund 1970 – 2008 - 978.93 percent
• Percentage change in population 1970 – 2008 - 5.49 percent
• General fund expenditures/person 1970 – 2008 - 922.81 percent

I would like to thank Nathan Benefield of the Commonwealth Foundation for sharing this information with me.

Committee News

With the election of Bob Mensch to fill the unexpired term in the 24th Senatorial District, a number of Senate Committee rosters were changed, including the Senate Communications & Technology Committee, which I chair.

Senators Argall and Ward were replaced by Senators Mensch and Vance.

The committee's current membership is:

Lisa Baker, Vice Chair
John Wozniak, Minority Chair
Joe Scarnati, ex-officio

Andrew Dinniman (D)
John Eichelberger (R)
Edwin Erickson  (R)
Larry Farnese, Jr., (D)
Daylin Leach (D)
Bob Mensch (R)
Pat Vance  (R)

Committee to Hold Public Hearings on Procurement Procedures

One issue before the Communications and Technology Committee will be to look into Auditor General Jack Wagner's recent report on state procurement procedures and conflicts of interest, specifically in the area of information technology contracts.

The committee will hold a series of public hearings on the report, which found a lack of competition, transparency and accountability in the state's awarding of $592 million in contracts to a single information technology vendor.  Wagner's auditors found there was no competitive bidding on 34 of 59 contracts awarded by the Administration to the information technology vendor. It also found the original value of the contracts swelled by 55 percent because of administration-approved change orders, sole-source contracts and emergency contracts awarded to the vendor.

Specific dates and locations for the hearings will be announced soon.

Lobbying Registration Fees

Proposed regulations for lobbying disclosure registration fees have been submitted to the Senate State Government Committee for review and consideration.

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.