View on mobile device | View in browser
|
||
|
March 18, 2010 Hi Everyone! The last few weeks have been quite busy as the budget season has gotten underway, and both the Senate and the House have taken action on several pieces of my legislation. As you’ll read below, my bill establishing bank robbery as a second degree felony was signed into law by the Governor just this week. In addition, there are a number of upcoming events, meetings, and general topics that may be of interest to you, so this edition of the E-News Update is packed full of information. As always, if you have any questions about any of the items contained in this e-newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact me. MIKE BUDGET Senate Budget Hearings These hearings are also a time for members of the Committee to ask questions or express concerns regarding current state-funded programs under each department to determine if they are being administered efficiently and are meeting their intended goals. During the hearing with the
Department of Education, I asked Secretary Gerald Zahorchak to take a
serious look at the staffing decisions within Pennsylvania's schools. As I
expressed to him, it seems our school districts are getting top-heavy with
multiple administrative staff members, and I encouraged the Secretary to look
into this matter. Watch or listen to my questioning of the Education Secretary:
Full videos, as well as summaries, from each hearing are available by clicking here. Budget Bill Introduced in the House Since then, the House Appropriations Committee reported the bill out of committee on Monday, March 8th and after receiving the first of three required considerations by the full House, HB 2279 was referred back to the House Appropriations Committee. While this prompt action can be viewed as a welcome change of pace after last year's 101-day budget impasse, it is important to remember that at this early point in the process it is difficult to make fiscally responsible decisions due to the volatility of revenues. With continued losses each month, we have already exceeded the Governor’s projected shortfall for the year, which in December was $450 million. He increased this projection to $500 million in February. As you’ll see below in the February Revenue update, we are currently $475 million under original estimates for this fiscal year. As we progress through the spring months, we will be better able to determine the amount of money available for spending in fiscal year 2010-2011. In the meantime, budget discussions will continue in an effort to reach general compromises on funding levels for the many programs that receive appropriations through the state budget. February Revenue Numbers
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Governor Signs Waugh's Bank Robbery Bill Approved by the Senate in April 2009, Senate Bill 605 was unanimously supported by the House of Representatives on Monday, March 8th, and the Governor signed it into law on March 16th. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes currently contains only sections pertaining to "robbery" and "robbery of a motor vehicle." Therefore, bank robberies have simply been grouped with other "robberies" and if no bodily harm was done but property was taken, they have been classified as third degree felonies. Act 11 defines bank robberies as second degree felonies and includes language to ensure equal classification of all such robberies, regardless of how the demand for money is made. Often individuals have used notes and verbal threats to carry out bank robberies thinking their crime will be considered less severe without a weapon, but that is not the case under this new law, which takes effect 60 days after the Governor signed the Act.
House Judiciary Committee Advances Court Costs Legislation You may recall reading about this issue in last month's E-News Update after the Senate passed SB 1169 unanimously. While the issue was brought to my attention by York County Clerk of Courts Don O'Shell, it will have far-reaching effects for counties across Pennsylvania, so I am pleased that the General Assembly has recognized the importance of the bill and is advancing it through the legislative process. SB 1169 is now before the House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Kidney Awareness Month Resolution This resolution is an effort to bring awareness to Pennsylvanians of kidney disease, the importance of having early symptoms treated and of becoming an organ donor whenever possible to help those who need a kidney transplant. In the United States, 26 million people, or one in eight adults, are in one of the five stages of chronic kidney disease. Another 20 million Americans are at risk for developing chronic kidney disease. The two biggest causes of kidney failure in the United States are high blood pressure and diabetes; Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the nation. Throughout the entire country, over 83,000 people need a kidney transplant; in Pennsylvania alone, over 5,700 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Constitutional Convention Legislation Introduced Currently, Article XI (Amendments) of the Pennsylvania Constitution only provides a mechanism whereby constitutional amendments are proposed in the House or Senate and, upon passage in two consecutive sessions, are submitted to voters for their approval. Unlike more than 30 other state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution, the Pennsylvania Constitution is absent the express authority to convene a convention. Though conventions have been convened in the past, they were based solely on precedent and the opinion that they are allowed because the Constitution does not prohibit them. SB 1253 has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee for consideration.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST Area Code 717 Renumbering Meeting to be Held in York The 717 area code is expected to exhaust its supply of telephone numbers by the third quarter of 2012. New area codes are needed when existing area codes have utilized all combinations of numbers for what is termed the NXX code, the second set of three digits in a 10-digit telephone number. For example, my York office number is 717-846-2828. The "846" is the NXX code. In order to make a decision that is in the best interest of the people, the PUC is asking for your assistance, so be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 6 p.m. for the York hearing. PUC Administrative Law Judge Susan D. Colwell will preside. The meeting will be held at: Holiday Inn Express Committee Hearing on 911 Services Scheduled Current legislation proposing the extension of the existing wireless telephone 911 surcharge of $1 to "prepaid" wireless phone cards and devices will be part of the discussion at this hearing, but the committees will also look at other broader issues currently affecting local 911 systems. Watch a video of my questioning of
PEMA Director Robert French on the issue of the 911 fee on prepaid wireless
phones and cards:
Animal Disease Response Training Courses will focus on biosecurity, quarantine procedures, personal protective equipment and disease disposal, cleaning and disinfection. The training courses are recommended for agricultural producers, veterinarians, animal health care providers, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and others. Continuing education units are also available for veterinarians who take the course. For more information and to sign up for this FREE training in York, click here. Senate Cost Study Commission Wants to Hear from You The Commission will be accepting comments through June 30th. IRS Free File Program All taxpayers making less than $57,000 can visit www.IRS.gov and use software that provides step-by-step help for completing and filing federal tax returns online – at no cost. Those who use Free File with direct deposit may receive refunds in as little as 10 days. 2010 Census – Be Sure To Be Counted! If you have questions or need information, visit the Census Bureau's website at: www.2010.census.gov. About the E-News Update |
York District Office: Hanover District Office: Capitol: Website: Email:
| |
|
If you do not wish to receive this email, click
here
to unsubscribe.
|
||
