Responsible Lawmakers Push to Move Forward with the State Budget . . . Time is Ticking

Written by Roberta Biros

Some interesting things happened in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week, and it is a topic well worth discussing. While it won't be anything that you'll read in your local paper or see on the news, it is IMPORTANT STUFF . . . and like most IMPORTANT STUFF, it is often overlooked . . . but not by me.

Senate Bill 850 (the “2009/2010 State Budget”) passed the Pennsylvania State Senate on May 6, 2009. It was referred to the House Appropriations Committee on May 7, 2009. A month-and-a-half later, the status of SB850 has not changed. It is still under the control of the House Appropriations Committee, with no hope of seeing the light of day any time soon.

On May 4, 2009, Representative Dwight Evans (D) introduced House Bill 1416 (the “2009/2010 State Budget”). On that day, HB 1416 was also referred to the House Appropriations Committee. Again, a month-and-a-half later, the status of HB 1416 has not changed. It is also still under the control of the House Appropriations Committee, with no hope of seeing the light of day any time soon.

Our Legislators are SUPPOSED to be working to finalize the 2009-2010 budget in Harrisburg, but they have yet to get an opportunity to VOTE on a budget. Why? Because everything is currently being held up in the Appropriations Committee.

This week, responsible lawmakers in Harrisburg decided to do something about the problem. They implemented the use of House Rule 53, “Discharge of Committees”, by submitting two Discharge Resolutions (DR1 and DR2) on June 25, 2009. According to House Rule 53:

A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in writing to discharge a committee from the consideration of a bill or resolution which has been referred to it 15 legislative days prior thereto (but only one motion may be presented for each bill or resolution). The discharge resolution shall be placed in the custody of the Chief Clerk, who shall arrange some convenient place for the signature of the members. A signature may be withdrawn by a member in writing at any time before the discharge resolution is entered in the Journal. When 25 members of the House shall have signed the resolution, it shall be entered in the Journal and the title of the bill or resolution and the name of the committee to be discharged shall be printed on the calendar.

Any member who has signed a discharge resolution which has been on the calendar at least one legislative day prior thereto and seeks recognition, shall be recognized for the purpose of calling up the discharge resolution and the House shall proceed to its consideration without intervening motion except one motion to adjourn; however, no discharge resolution shall be considered during the last six legislative days of any session of the House. A majority vote of all the members elected to the House shall be required to agree to a resolution to discharge a committee. When any perfected discharge resolution has been acted upon by the House and defeated it shall not be in order to entertain during the same session of the House any other discharge resolution from that committee of said measure, or from any other committee of any other bill or resolution substantially the same, relating in substance to or dealing with the same subject matter.

The Discharge Resolutions have been added to the House Calendar and will allow the Members of the House to ultimately determine whether SB850 or HB1416 will finally be discharged from the Appropriations Committee. DR 1 and DR 2 will be voted on, and if either or both receive a majority vote from the House, they will eventually be discharged (and released) from the Appropriations Committee so that they can finally move to the House floor for a vote.

It is a shame that these sorts of rules are necessary, but a budget will never reach the floor of the House for a vote if we are simply left to wait for the Appropriations Committee to do it on their own (seeing that they've had both HB850 and HB1416 for over 6 weeks with no results).

Who are the legislators that have signed onto these Discharge Resolutions? Well, each Discharge Resolution required 25 signatures. The names for both resolutions were the same with the exception of the last name on each. The Representatives that signed were:

Representative Mario Civera
Representative Sam Smith
Representative Mike Turzai**
Representative Merle Phillips
Representative Sandra Major*
Representative Jerry Stern**
Representative Stan Saylor**
Representative Matt Gabler*
Representative Donna Oberlander*
Representative Thomas Creighton**
Representative Daryl Metcalfe**
Representative David Millard
Representative Dan Moul**
Representative Tina Pickett*
Representative Scott Hutchison**
Representative Martin Causer
Representative Carl Metzgar*
Representative Julie Harhart
Representative Douglas Reichley
Representative Michele Brooks**
Representative Timothy Hennessey*
Representative Sheryl Delozier
Representative Kathy Rapp**
Representative Curt Schroder**
Representative Robert Godshall (DR 1 only)
Representative William Adolf (DR 2 only)

Fiscal Conservative Legislators:

* indicates that this Representative is included in my “List of Fiscal Conservative Legislators” as they have demonstrated fiscal responsibility on select issues in the past.

"PA Gov Watch Honor Roll" Legislators:

** indicates that this Representative is included in my “PA Gov Watch Honor Roll” (which is a subset of the “List of Fiscal Conservative Legislators”). This list includes legislators that have voted consistently with issues of fiscal responsibility. The list currently only includes 10 fine Legislators as listed below:

Representative Mike Turzai (R-28)
Representative Jerry Stern (R-80)
Representative Stan Saylor (R-94)
Representative Thomas Creighton (R-37)
Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-12)
Representative Dan Moul (R-91)
Representative Scott Hutchison (R-64)
Representative Michele Brooks (R-17)
Representative Kathy Rapp (R-65)
Representative Curt Schroder (R-155)

Where is the Mercer County Connection?

Those in Mercer County will be glad to know that Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th-Mercer, Crawford, Lawrence) is included in this list of responsible legislators that signed on to both Discharge Resolutions. It should also be noted that Representative Brooks is one of the only 10 legislators that is included on the “PA Gov Watch Honor Roll” as she has been on the side of “good government” with each of the issues that we have tracked to date.

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Rep. Rob Kauffman Supports Online Database of State Expenditures and Contracts

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Cumberland/Franklin) today demonstrated his support for an online accountability and transparency database at a press conference outside the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in Harrisburg.

“Government should be open and accountable to the public so they can see how their tax dollars are being spent,” said Kauffman. “In this day and age, we have the Internet to help make access to government documents and information more convenient. That’s why this database is a logical next step in the new wave of state government reform.”

House Bill 1460 would create PennWATCH, the Pennsylvania Web Accountability, Transparency and Contract Hub, which would create a database where state budget expenditures and contract information can be posted online in one central location that is easily accessible by the public.

Similar legislation in the Senate, as well as another House bill soon to be introduced, also address the need for greater transparency. Senate Bill 105, authored by Rep. Pat Browne (R-16), would create the Taxpayer Transparency Act and Rep. Rick Mirabito (D-Lycoming) announced he will be introducing a bill called PennPortal.

House Bill 1460 has 102 co-sponsors and is currently before the House State Government Committee.

Rep. Rob Kauffman
89th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 705-2004
(717) 264-3943
Member Site: RepKauffman.com

Rep. Karen Boback Reminds Us That State Game Lands Maps are Available On-Line

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

State game land maps from the Pennsylvania Game Commission are available online.

The topographic maps depict contour lines, parking areas, trails, food plots and other useful features. The maps are readily viewed and printed on your home computer.

State game lands are listed on the Web site by county. Portions of a game land that are situated in more than one county will be listed with all involved counties. Visitors can select either a low or high-resolution map. The high-resolution maps offer better quality, although they take longer to download for certain users.

The online maps showcase most of the more than 300 state game lands. New maps will be added to the Web site as they are created or updated.

The Game Commission began buying state game lands in 1920 and has greatly expanded since then. Today, Pennsylvania’s combined game lands are greater in size than the state of Delaware.

Get more information or view a map of state game lands here.

Stay Informed

Sign up here to continue receiving the latest news about issues impacting Pennsylvania’s sportsmen and sportswomen.

Game Commission’s Deer Chronicle Now Available

If you are interested in learning more about deer management in Pennsylvania, visit my Web site at RepBoback.com to access the report.

Gov. Rendell Says We Can Afford a Tax Increase, but Let's Look at the Real Numbers

Written by Roberta Biros

While the budget battle continues in Harrisburg, we are being bombarded with misstatements from the Governor's office that are intended to muddy the waters even more for taxpayers. In an effort to pull the wool over our eyes, the Governor continues to throw out one fabrication of facts after another.

Nathan Benefield of the Commonwealth Foundation put together a great piece today that outlines one of the latest (and most infuriating) mistruths from the Governor's office . . .

Gov. Rendell argues we can “afford” a tax increase because Pennsylvania has the “2nd lowest” flat rate, or top rate, of states with income taxes.

In Nathan's article [read the full story HERE], the Commonwealth Foundation clearly and carefully debunks the Governor's suggestion that we can "afford" a tax increase by stating the facts as follows:

Once again, Rendell’s rhetoric distorts reality. Nine states have no income tax, or only assess it on interest and dividends (not coincidently, these states have the strongest economic growth). Most states have lower rates on the first few thousand dollars of income. Most have personal exemptions, marriage and child deductions, and other credits or deductions that lower their overall tax burden. And most states have no local tax income taxes, like Pennsylvania does.

In reality, Pennsylvania ranks 16th highest in state and local income taxes. More importantly, Pennsylvania’s overall tax burden is even higher, 11th highest in the country, to be precise. Rendell’s latest proposal would only further hinder our economic competitiveness.

The Governor historically twists numbers to suit his personal agenda. Luckily the taxpayers in Pennsylvania have become accustomed to the tactics and they are able to see through the smoke and mirrors. While our legislators in Harrisburg are arguing over whether to "cut costs or increase taxes", we as taxpayers (and their bosses) need to let our voices be heard. There are a few ways to do that . . .

1. Sign the petition StopPATaxHike.com and submit your video or comments. CLICK HERE to access the website.
2. Sign the petition PleaseNoMoreTaxes.org and submit your comments. CLICK HERE to access the petition.
3. Join in the on-going Pennsylvania Taxpayer Protest by being part of the "Post It Campaign" in order to remind your legislator that you DON'T support tax increases. CLICK HERE to read more.
4. Attend a local protest to show your support. CLICK HERE to read about the TEA Party that is scheduled in downtown Mercer on July 4th.

It is NOT TOO LATE to get involved. We still have time to convice our legislators that a TAX INCREASE is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Rep. Curt Schroder: Don't Expand State's Gaming Industry Without Fixing It First

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Acknowledging that Gov. Ed Rendell and House Democrat leaders are determined to expand gambling in the Commonwealth,Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester County), Republican chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, and his House Republican colleagues said gambling expansion should not be considered before gross deficiencies in the state’s current gaming laws are fixed.

Schroder, along with House Republican Whip Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), and Reps. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh), Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery), Rob Kauffman (R-Cumberland/Franklin) and Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), held a news conference at the state Capitol this morning to stress the need for strong gaming reform.

“The state’s gambling laws are weak and riddled with loopholes that allowed a convicted felon to receive a coveted slots license,” said Schroder. “Now that the state budget deficit has surpassed the $3 billion mark, the governor and Democrat leaders are looking to expand gaming to generate additional state revenue, but this cannot be considered before flaws in the current law are fixed.”

A bill now under consideration in the state Senate would bring much-needed reforms in the state’s gaming laws. However, the House Republican members said the bill doesn’t go far enough.

Senate Bill 711 would reinstate a ban on political contributions by gaming interests, establish rules for the appointment and removal of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) members and set conditions of their employment. It would tighten restrictions on those who do business with the PGCB, extend gaming license renewals from 1 year to 3 years, and place a lifetime ban on new principal/owner applicants with felony convictions; a 15-year ban for other license applicants. The legislation would also require license applicants to provide full disclosure of all arrests and criminal conviction records, regardless of the outcome.

“The gambling bill was flawed from the moment it was signed,” Turzai said. “Our hearings uncovered the need for changes and vetted solutions. Reforming the gaming law has been long overdue. It is vital that we fix the original law before we even look into expanding the industry. We can’t repeat the same mistake of five years ago, where we rammed flawed gaming legislation through the General Assembly. The people of Pennsylvania deserve better.”

“A dark cloud has lingered over Pennsylvania’s gaming licensing process, and we now have an opportunity to lift it and restore public trust and integrity in the state’s gaming industry,” Vereb said. “Newspapers, operators, gaming experts, legislators, law enforcement, the governor, the auditor general, the attorney general and residents have acknowledged the problems and, from what I can tell, agree with the proposals put forth by me and my colleagues to comprehensively fix the state’s gaming law. So far, only the House Democrats have stood alone blocking any comprehensive changes. Why?”

Following a Grand Jury investigation led by Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico, Marsico expressed to the governor as well as House and Senate leaders, problems and solutions which became apparent during the investigation. DA Marsico sent a letter with five specific suggestions to change the state’s Gaming Act. The Grand Jury’s recommendations include prohibiting convicted felons from holding a position in the state’s gaming industry, having the Pennsylvania State Police or Office of Attorney General conduct background investigations on applicants for gaming licenses, and having the governor appoint future members to the board with advice and consent of the Senate.

Gov. Ed Rendell acknowledged that the state’s gaming laws are flawed and said he agreed with the Marsico suggested changes.

“With the obvious flaws in the background investigation process, we feel the Senate bill just doesn’t go far enough,” Reichley said. “If expansion is a possibility, then we owe it to our constituents and the industry to clean up the gaming control legislation so that we have a responsible and respectful licensing and regulatory process.”

For the last three years, House Republicans, due to the refusal of the House Democrat majority, have held multiple hearings and meetings about Pennsylvania’s new gaming industry. The hearings have raised questions about the licensing and renewal process, as well as regulatory concerns.

The hearings led to an overall House Republican Gaming Reform Package introduced during the last (2007-08) legislative session. The bills were referred to the Democrat-controlled House Gaming Oversight Committee where they died at the end of last session.

Conversely, House Democrat leadership has not yet acknowledged, nor advocated for, any serious fixes or controls to the obvious problems with the Gaming Act. In fact, the House Democrat majority has not held a single substantive hearing allowing comprehensive input on gaming issues despite requests from both Republicans and Democrats. On Jan. 13, 2009, several House Republican members (Paul Clymer, [R-Bucks County]; Marsico, Reichley, and Vereb) sent a letter to Rep. Dante Santoni (D-Berks County), chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, specifically requesting quick hearings to fix the gaming law. No hearings about the current law have been scheduled or discussed. The committee has held numerous hearings regarding gaming expansion.

The Republicans noted concerns have been raised with four of the five Category 2, or stand-alone casino, licenses. Among the issues raised are:

*The two Philadelphia casinos have little local support for their proposed locations and needed court orders to move forward. Neither is open, or even built yet.

*A principle of one of the Philadelphia licenses, while having the record expunged, was in fact convicted of felony drug charges and served time in prison. Also, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News, the same principle, Michael Thomas, who also owns a Connecticut casino, is being sued in that state for alleged non-payment on $5.2 million loan.

*The Mount Airy casino license was approved after the investigatory background check was altered by direction of the PGCB Executive Director and General Counsel.

*The Pittsburgh casino license was originally issued to businessman Don Barden even though he had accumulated personal gambling debts of more than $11 million, had no significant personal stake in the project and his other casino operations in other states had encountered financial problems.

“Careful screening by a legitimate law enforcement body is just one way to weed out questionable individuals before they can be licensed,” Rep. Marsico said. “The governor, the attorney general, the district attorney and the public have said that these changes are necessary. It is imperative that we take action to fix what we can.”

The House Republican members said they plan to amend Senate Bill 711 to include the following:

Prohibiting convicted felons from holding any position in the state’s gaming industry.
Placing authority to enforce Pennsylvania’s gaming laws in the hands of the Pennsylvania State Police or Office of Attorney General.

*Establishing a more formal means of taking testimony from license applicants.

*Increasing transparency by opening the license application process to the public.

*Authorizing the governor to appoint PGCB members with Senate input and approval.

The Senate bill is expected to be considered in the House next week – after expected passage by the full Senate.

“We hope House Democrats will take gaming reform seriously now. It is certainly about time they do,” Kauffman said. “We owe it not only to our personal constituents, but to the entire Commonwealth.”

House Republican Gaming Act Reform Package of 2009

Rep. Curt Schroder
155th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 524-5595
(717) 783-2520
www.CurtSchroder.com

Representative Michele Brooks says "It's Not Too Late to Say NO to a Tax Hike"

Written by Roberta Biros with a LEGISLATOR
ANNOUNCEMENT from Representative Michele Brooks

As per a Legislator Announcement this afternoon, Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th, Mercer, Lawrence, and Crawford) reminds taxpayers that there is still time to let your voices be heard regarding the potential tax hike that is being batted around Harrisburg.

Our fiscal conservative legislators are doing everything that they can to protect our best interests in Harrisburg, but they need our help. It will only be through an OVERWHELMING public outcry that ALL of the legislators in Harrisburg will hear our message.

In her press release of this afternoon, Representative Brooks provides links to a website titled "StopPATaxHike.com". The site provides an on-line petition to show your support for NO TAXES, and you are also provided a way to post a video or written comment. I posted my comments, and I suggest you all do the same. When posting comments you are provided the ability to leave your first name and your town . . . there are plenty of other folks from our area that have already submitted comments. Don't be left out. It may be your last opportunity to let the lawmakers in Harrisburg know exactly what you are thinking.

As per Representative Brooks' press release of today, Wednesday, June 24, 2009:

Can your family afford a state income tax increase right now?

Hard-working families all across Pennsylvania are struggling to make ends meet, and they cannot afford to lose additional money from their paychecks. Unfortunately, some in government think that they can overspend and then turn to the taxpayers to pay the bill. That's not responsible government. We need to prioritize and control spending, and allow families to spend their money how they see fit.

You can register your opposition to a state income tax hike on our online petition. You can also leave a written comment or post your own video about how a 16.28 percent increase to your state income taxes would affect you and your family.

Here's How You Can Help to Say "NO" to a State Income Tax Hike

1) Sign the petition to say "no" to a state income tax hike.

2) Send in a brief YouTube video explaining how your family will be affected by a tax hike.

3) Not able to make and send a video? Make your views known by sending in a written comment.

How much more will come out of your pocket if the income tax is raised?

Not everyone can take off work to come to Harrisburg to rally against a tax hike...so making your views known online is the next best option. For us to stop this action, we need a simple way to show that Pennsylvanians don't want their state taxes to go up. I urge you to help us fight the proposed tax hike and make your views known at StopPATaxHike.com

Hard-working families are being hit in the wallet from all different directions, and state government should not be adding to that burden. To help reach a responsible budget, we're asking that government tighten its belt during these difficult financial times, just like families in the 17th District have been doing. We cannot ask these families to shoulder a larger burden.

State Representative Michele Brooks Contact Information

RepMicheleBrooks.com

Greenville District Office:
3 Greenville Plaza West
Hadley Road
Greenville, PA 16125
Phone: (724) 588-8911

Meadville District Office:
16678 McMath Avenue
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: (814) 337-8132

Sandy Lake Borough Building:
3271 South Main St.
Sandy Lake PA 16145
Phone: (724) 376-7465
Toll Free: (800) 457-2040

New Wilmington Borough Building:
134 High St.
New Wilmington, PA 16142
Phone: (800) 457-2040

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What Do the Budget Cut Threats Really Mean?

Written by Roberta Biros

We’ve been hearing it for months now . . . Pennsylvania Legislators have been trying to scare people into WANTING tax increases. It has been one threat after another. Today in The Herald there is a summary from Representative Joe Markosek that batches all of the threats in one easy to read paragraph:

“Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny, said public support for the senate Republican bill may shrink once people understand that nursing homes would close, state troopers’ ranks would be cut and property taxes would rise as local governments and school districts are forced to shoulder more of the load on their own.”

VERY SCARY . . . especially to seniors who think that their nursing homes will close . . . and residents in crime ridden areas that are fearful of fewer police. These are shameful scare tactics. Before you take these legislators at their word, we all need to sit back and parse out everything that is being said. What does it all really mean?

Closing of State Parks

When they talk about “closing State Parks”, simply ask yourself . . . “how exactly do you close a State Park?” How do they close Pymatuning? How do they close Goddard? Will Pymatuning not exist without the State? Will it disappear? Will it simply evaporate? What about Goddard? When you ask a legislator a straight forward question like “how do you close a State Park”, it is necessary for them to give specifics like “facilities within the parks would close”. Well, folks, have you taken a drive around Pymatuning lately? There are restroom facilities that are closed now, and everyone is getting by just fine. Do you know what people do when they find that a restroom is closed? They go and find one that is open.

If simple cut backs were made across the board in all State Parks, there would be no need to “close” any of them. State Parks would still have a $94Million budget available, and that SHOULD be plenty to go around. We are simply asking that they ALL tighten their belts a little.

Cut Backs on State Police

When they talk about State Troopers’ ranks being cut, I ask myself “does that mean that the troopers that are left will be forced to actually chase down ‘bad guys’ now? Maybe there would be fewer Troopers left sitting in a speed traps on I-79 or I-80, and instead they will be able to reschedule their time elsewhere. Hmmm. (I realize that i'm over simplifying here, so don't bother writing to tell me so . . . I'm just saying that maybe everyone can cut costs somewhere)

Property Taxes Will Increase

Lastly, when they say that “property taxes would rise as local governments and school districts are forced to shoulder more of the load”, I say “WONDERFUL”. Perhaps that is exactly as it should be!

Rather than trying to budget our county and school district expenses through Harrisburg, let’s control our LOCAL budgets LOCALLY. If spending cuts at the state level trickle down to the Counties (read more HERE), at least then WE have some control over how the money is spent (or not spent). Mercer County Commissioners are already planning ahead for the proposed cuts, and THEY are now responsible for finding a solution. WE in Mercer County can decided whether WE will pay more in taxes or whether WE will cut costs in this County. How? . . . by beating on the doors of our County Commissioners . . . by calling the Courthouse and demanding that our local elected officials do MORE to control spending (read more HERE).

IF (and that’s a BIG “IF”) it is decided that a tax increase is necessary, at least we will know that OUR TAXES are going to support expenses in OUR COUNTY. If the tax increases are made at the State level, I guarantee that OUR TAX MONEY will be going to bail out cash strapped cities like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. We will see very little of that money coming back to good ol’ Mercer County. I say "let's put the financial responsibilities close to home where we can keep a closer eye on things".

In Summary

When you sit down and think about it, everything that we hear from Harrisburg that is intended to SCARE us INTO a tax increase actually isn’t so bad.

Trimming of the budgets of the state parks wouldn’t be as bad as they make it seem . . . cut backs within the State Police might help them to re-prioritize . . . and Counties being responsible for their own budges would probably be the BEST solution in the long run.

Times are tough, and there isn’t a household in this Country that isn’t feeling the pinch right now. It is time for Government to understand that there comes a day when THEY need to feel the pinch too, and that day is today.

Make sure that YOUR legislator knows that YOU can’t afford higher taxes . . . PERIOD.

For those of you in Mercer County, the contact information for your legislators is posted below:

Hon. Robert D. Robbins
337 Capitol Building
Senate Box 203050
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3050
(717) 787-1322Email: rrobbins@pasen.gov

Hon. Michele Brooks
153B East Wing
PO Box 202017
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2017
(717) 783-5008
Fax: (717) 705-1948Email: mbrooks@pahousegop.com

Hon. Mark Longietti
103 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202007
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2007
(717) 772-4035
Fax: (717) 780-4785Email: MLongietti@pahouse.net

Hon. Richard R. Stevenson
155B East Wing
PO Box 202008
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2008
(717) 783-6438
Fax: (717) 705-1949
Email: rstevens@pahousegop.com

As always, just my opinion.
~Roberta Biros, Mercer County Conservatives

A Great Quote (and Government is the Alligator)

In a recent interview on CNN, Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) stated the following in reference to government run health care.

"I keep hearing the word competion.”

“The government competes with the private sector the way that an alligator competes with a duck”.

Hmmmm. "Food" for thought I suppose (pun intended).

You can view the full video (including the issues of Iran and health care) below (or HERE):



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Pennsylvania Taxpayer Protest -- Round Two

The following press release was distributed by the office of Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) today. Rep. Metcalfe was instrumental in the organization of the Taxpayer Protest that occurred on June 9 (read the full story HERE), and he now has suggestions about how we as taxpayers can follow-up with legislators during the final to the budget deadline. I especially like his "Post It Campaign". Read on to learn more:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2009

Metcalfe, Lawmakers Initiate Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers’ Protest Post-it Campaign

HARRISBURG—With approximately one week to go until the June 30 state budget deadline, State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and several House Republican lawmakers gathered together outside the Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor’s office to announce the next grassroots action step for the ongoing Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers’ Protest (StateCapitolProtest.com).

“Although both the governor and House Democrat Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans have come to the ‘inescapable conclusion’ that a 16 percent, $1.5 billion personal income tax hike combined with several other tax increases is the ‘easiest’ and ‘least painful way’ to close the $3.2 billion Rendell budget deficit, there is no time like the present for Pennsylvania taxpayers to begin phoning, e-mailing, faxing or personally visiting the district offices of their respective state Representatives and Senators to ask them for a commitment to pass a fiscally responsible budget, with absolutely no tax or fee increases,” said Metcalfe. “Tell them that it is ‘We The People’ who should be driving every fiscal decision that comes out of Harrisburg, rather than the governor’s fuzzy math, non-existent spending cuts, arm-twisting promises for state grant money or out of touch, made for media pity parties.”

On June 9, 47 Republican state legislators joined Representative Metcalfe for the Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers’ Protest to demonstrate their support for putting Taxpayers First during the 2009-10 state budget process. State taxpayers who want to know if their respective lawmaker(s) supports this effort please reference the frequently updated list at StateCapitolProtest.com.

Metcalfe especially encouraged any Pennsylvania taxpayer who is unable to contact their lawmakers during regular office hours to participate through the Post-it CAMPAIGN. Visit their office before or after work, on the weekends, whenever you have time and leave YOUR legislator a memorable, after-hours Post-it message stating precisely what you want, such as: “NO REPRESENTATION FOR INCREASED TAXATION.”

“Contrary to the annual smoke and mirrors facade put forth by the governor, Appropriations Chairman Evans and many other Harrisburg spend-a-holics, there is no shortage of options to deliver a balanced 2009-10 state budget that also does not involve any increased taxation whatsoever,” said Metcalfe. “Again, if you are among the scores of taxpaying Pennsylvanians who simply can no longer afford having any portion of your personal income redistributed to pay for someone else’s health care, bus fare or excessive public welfare, then I encourage you to keep logging on to StateCapitolProtest.com to learn more about what individual taxpayers can do to restore a state government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

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County Officials Can Do More to Cut Costs

Written by Roberta Biros

Today’s editorial in The Herald mirrors my sentiments and I think it is worth discussing.

In late May, I published a piece titled “Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Trickle Down to Counties”. In it, I explained how budget cuts at the State level will inevitably trickle down to already struggling counties like Mercer. County leaders need to take this into account when attempting to balance their own strained budgets. At the time, I made a specific recommendation that County leaders need to lead by example and take voluntary pay cuts (through a donation of a portion of their salary back to the County’s general fund). By making this good will gesture, they would make it clear that they are willing to take tough cuts to make ends meet. I specifically proposed the following:

If Mercer County Commissioners are really serious, they should lead by example. I propose that the elected officials in Mercer County should take an immediate and voluntary 10% pay cut. Just like many State Legislators voluntarily returned their pay raises to the State, County Officials should voluntarily return 10% of their salary to the County through a give-back to the County’s general fund. If it is necessary to implement layoffs or shutdowns in the courthouse, perhaps the Commissioners should suggest a Countywide four-day work week for County employees. The County Officials could again lead by example by refunding an additional 20% of their salaries too. I’m talking about all County Elected Officials here . . . Commissioners, Controller, Recorder of Deeds, Prothonotary, and . . . yes . . . Treasurer.

The financial problems of the state and counties are serious. Serious problems call for serious measures. County leaders shouldn’t just sit back and blame their problems on the State Legislature. Instead, they should control their own ‘houses’ by operating within their own budgets. There are no cuts that should be off the table, and every opportunity for saving should be considered. Cut backs in benefits and labor contracts should be ‘on the table’, but it is important for elected officials to suck it up too. Self imposed cuts from County leaders would serve as a good-will gesture to labor unions (not to mention to the taxpayers of Mercer County).

On Thursday of last week, The Herald reported that the negotiations between Mercer County Commissioners and the unions failed to bring about any cost savings. As per the story in The Herald:

Mercer County’s plan to scale back personnel costs during a rough-and-tumble budget year hit a snag Wednesday when workers said “no” to dropping one day from every two-week pay period. [click HERE to read the full story]

As a follow-up to Thursday’s story, The Herald published an opinion piece on Friday titled “Can county employees cut costs without losing pay?” In it, The Herald backs my opinion when they state:

We can’t help but wonder if the union votes would have been different if
commissioners and row officers had first made some personal sacrifices. [click HERE
to read the full story]

My Opinion?

The County Commissioners and other County Officials showed unreasonable arrogance by walking into negotiations with county-employee unions without first making drastic cutbacks and sacrifices of their own. Leadership should start at the TOP, and County leaders should set an example of their own. In this case, however, I think we have a situation of the "fish rotting from the head down" instead.

As always, just my opinion.
Roberta Biros, Mercer County Conservatives

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Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy Votes

Mark Levy of the AP has a hard hitting story of Pennsylvania lawmakers use of WAMs - i.e. "Walking Around Money" made available to us at the discretion of legislative leaders. Levy finds, not suprisingly, that $110 million in WAMs were doled out in such a way as to benefit the districts of legislative leaders. [read the full story HERE]

Senator Bob Robbins sends Email Update--the first in months (or longer)

Written by Roberta Biros

I honestly can't tell you the last time I received an automated email newsletter from the office of Senator Bob Robbins. It is a FREE medium, so Senator Robbins has no interest in it (although his latest pet legislation will force all Pennsylvanians to use on-line methods to research "legal notices").

I was pleasantly surprised to find one such newsletter in my inbox yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, Senator Robbins’ office still doesn’t get the idea of actually including important information in the text of the email message itself. Instead you are forced to click through to his website for details. A minor point but aggravating none-the-less.

Upon clicking through to the Senator’s website, I found the following statement from our fine Senator regarding the proposed increase in the Personal Income Tax. It read as follows:

Statement of Senator Bob RobbinsGovernor Rendell's Proposed PIT
Increase

"I have several very serious concerns about the Governor's proposed 16
percent increase in Pennsylvania's Personal Income Tax. Imposing a broad-based
tax increase to fund increased spending is not, in my opinion, the best strategy
for state government, especially considering the current economic climate in
Pennsylvania and particularly in the Northwestern Region.

"This 16.3% increase in the PIT would have a direct negative impact on a
majority of Pennsylvania's families and small businesses. Many are already
struggling to make ends meet and as we've seen in the past these types of tax
increases almost inevitably result in job losses and negatively impact the local
economy.

"The Governor and the Legislature must control state spending and keep it
in line with revenues. We simply cannot afford to increase programs and
discretionary spending during hard economic times."

I find it interesting that Senator Robbins failed to mention that he would completely support a tax increase if it meant a pay raise for him and his colleagues. I suppose he thinks that there is some sort of charge by the word for on-line announcements . . . so he decided to leave that extra sentence out of his comments. One can only speculate.

ONE INTERESTING SIDE NOTE:

I took an extra minute to peruse Senator Robbins’ website. As a public service, he provides copies of his press releases back through 2004. I did a quick check, and I found that in November of 2005 Senator Robbins published two press releases stressing that he voted to repeal the ‘infamous’ middle-of-the-night pay raise. I notice, however, that there was never one mention of the fact that he had originally VOTED FOR that same middle-of-the-night raise in July of that year.

PA House to Begin the Push for the 2009-2010 Budget

Written by Roberta Biros

I had an opportunity to talk with State Representative Mark Longietti (D-7th) at a recent event. Rep. Longietti was kind enough to take a few minutes to speak with me regarding matters in Harrisburg.

According to Representative Longietti, he will be heading out to Harrisburg on Sunday, June 21, 2009, for a MARATHON SESSION in the House. It is the intention for legislators to stay in Harrisburg until the 2009-2010 State Budget is finalized. As per Rep. Longietti,

“We will stay until it’s finished. We’ll be there on weekends too. I don’t know how long it will be, but I could be out there for a month if necessary.”

Representative Longietti commented that the process may be long and drawn out because both sides seem to have dug in for a long battle. Rep. Longietti and I agree that the final budget will probably end up somewhere in the middle of the two versions with some level of cost cutting paired with some sort of tax increase, but the final version is probably several weeks away.

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Rep. Curt Schroder: Put Blame for Budget Deficit Where it Belongs – Spending

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Raising taxes is not the answer!

Blaming a national recession and a growing state budget deficit, Gov. Ed Rendell announced plans to raise the Personal Income Tax of Pennsylvania taxpayers by 16 percent, or a half percentage point increase, which he claims will generate $1.5 billion in added state revenue.

Rep. Curt Schroder (R-East Brandywine) says raising taxes is not the answer to the state’s projected $3.2 billion budget shortfall.

“The Rendell administration is spending a lot of time selling the idea that we have a revenue crisis in this state and more money is needed,” said Schroder. “We don’t have a revenue crisis in Pennsylvania. We have a spending crisis and it’s time we acknowledge it and begin dealing with it responsibly.”

Schroder said the Senate’s budget bill, which was killed in the House last week, was widely criticized for the depth of cuts it proposed. While acknowledging that the bill was far from perfect, he said it reflected the economic realities facing lawmakers and Pennsylvania citizens.

“Now is the time to scale back state government, to cut non-essential services and discretionary grant programs, and hold the line on spending,” said Schroder. “The governor’s budget proposes $700 million in new state spending at a time when people are losing their jobs, and losing their homes to foreclosure. Now he proposes to take even more out of their paychecks. This is not a responsible solution. It’s time to cut spending now!”

Rep. Curt Schroder
155th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 524-5595
(717) 783-2520
www.CurtSchroder.com

Rep. Kathy Rapp: Governor's Plan is Irresponsible

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

In a YouTube interview, Representative Kathy Rapp explains why they Governor's solutions are irresponsible for Pennsylvania.




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Rep. Rob Kauffman says "The Governor Continues to Lie"

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

In a YouTube interview, Representative Rob Kauffman tells it like it is:




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Con. Dahlkemper is a Blue Dog Democrat: That Makes One More Fiscal Conservative Democrat in Northwest Pennsylvania

Written by Roberta Biros

As a fiscal conservative, I could not support Phil English in his bid for re-election in 2008. While I didn’t know much about his opponent, Kathy Dahlkemper, I knew that almost anyone would be more fiscally responsible than Mr. English. I was not disappointed to see Phil English go away.

I’ve not been completely clear on where Congresswoman Dahlkemper stood on many issues as I was receiving some mixed signals. As I’ve dug deeper I’ve found some statements from Mrs. Dahlkemper that made me think that she was a bit more fiscally conservative that I had originally thought. Most recently I found a statement regarding her opinion on the tolling of I-80 that made me warm up to Congresswoman Dahlkemper. According to her website:

As the issue of tolling Interstate 80 regains momentum, for Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, tolling Interstate 80 boils down to one very important factor: clear economic benefits.

“For me, tolling Interstate 80 does not benefit tourism or the residents who use the highway,” said Dahlkemper earlier this year during an interview with News Now Network.

Reiterating her position this week, Dahlkemper said, “Let me be clear, I will not support tolling Interstate 80 or leasing the Turnpike. In fact, I believe that tolling will drive commerce and tourism further away from Pennsylvania, as we already have the highest diesel tax and second highest gasoline tax in the country. “

“All that we do, must be focused on saving and creating jobs for the 3rd District and I believe that this action will result in the loss of Pennsylvania’s best jobs; and any hope that we have of attracting new businesses will disappear.”

As a fellow business owner, I figured that Congresswoman Dahlkemper probably supported fiscal responsibility, but this was the first clear statement that supported that belief. It was refreshing to see it in writing. It was also a uplifting to see that Congresswoman Dahlkemper was firmly against the tolling of I-80. I filed the information away until I learned more.

This morning I was delighted to see the following headline on GrassrootsPA.com:

Dahlkemper joins Blue Dog Coalition…

YES! Another Blue Dog Democrat!

According to the article (published at CQPolitics HERE), Congresswoman Dahlkemper was quoted as saying:

She was "very pleased" to join "a group that shares my strong belief in fiscal discipline and responsibility."

The Herald grabbed the story today too. In the article Matt Snyder wrote:

Mrs. Dahlkemper, who campaigned as a small businesswoman who understands the value of fiscal restraint, said she decided to join (the ‘Blue Dog Coalition’) after meeting with the coalition and learning more about their philosophy.

In the article, Matt Snyder made the following point:

“Some Democrats oppose the Blue Dog Coalition, but Mrs. Dahlkemper said she wasn’t expecting too much trouble, since the values of her district and the caucus mostly line up.”

Matt makes a good point, and I sincerely hope Mrs. Dahlkemper has a better reception as a “fiscal conservative Democrat” than I did.

In Closing, I’d like to welcome Congresswoman Dahlkemper to the ‘dark side’ . . . to our small (but growing) club of Blue Dog Democrats in Northwest Pennsylvania that are trying to make a difference.

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Rep. Craig Dally: Disgraced Judges Forfeit Pension Upon Entering

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT from Representative Craig Dally

In March, Rep. Craig Dally joined Rep. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) in sponsoring legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Law. They believed the legislation was needed because former Luzerne County Judges Mark A. Ciaverella. Jr. and Michael T. Conahan stood to receive state pension benefits even though they pled guilty to accepting kickbacks for helping two private juvenile detention centers secure $30 million in county contracts.

The law had been interpreted that pension rights can be taken away only after a conviction, which occurs at sentencing. Under the bill we introduced (House Bill 632), the amount of such forfeited benefits would be calculated from the time of arraignment.

In a true victory for taxpayers, Rep. Dally reports that the state Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) has, on the advice of outside counsel, determined that both Mr. Ciavarella and Mr. Conahan forfeited their pensions upon the entry of their respective guilty pleas.
As a consequence, Mr. Ciavarella will not be receiving monthly pension benefits nor will he be receiving interest on his contributions. Mr. Conahan, who retired prior to the filing of charges and who has been receiving a monthly benefit, will no longer receive that monthly benefit. SERS will seek to recover benefits paid to him since the entry of his guilty plea.

In addition, the state Department of Public Welfare has filed claims against the pension benefits of both disgraced judges asserting the Commonwealth is owed more than $4.3 million, jointly and severally, as a result of their admitted criminal actions.

As required by law, Mr. Ciavarella and Mr. Conahan have appeal rights that could result in a court ruling different from what SERS has concluded.

You may read the forfeiture letter from SERS at Rep. Dally's Web site, CraigDally.com.

Using Budget Negotiations to Push Through Legislation

Written by Roberta Biros

With the budget deadline of June 30th only two short weeks away, the negotiations should start getting very interesting, and I’m hopeful that ALL options will eventually make their way to the table. Perhaps this is the time for forward-thinking legislators to start pulling out the stops . . . bring out every cost saving measure now while they have a chance of receiving public attention. Use the budget crisis (and panic) to bring attention to legislation that has the capability of cutting costs in other ways. It is going to happen on both sides of the aisle, so EVERYONE should exploit this opportunity.

This morning I heard that the issue of expanding casino gambling in Pennsylvania into table games has been thrown out as a possible income generator (in lieu of tax increases). Another idea that is being tossed around nationally is the legalization of marijuana as a possible new tax revenue for States. These are just two of MANY ideas that will float around Harrisburg over the coming weeks. Perhaps fiscal conservatives need to take advantage of the dire situation to come up with a few solutions of their own.

One particular issue comes to mind for me . . . the elimination of COLAs for lawmakers. I know . . . I’ve been beating this ‘dead horse’ for months, but maybe now is the time that 'this horse’ gets up and starts running again. There are a number of House Bills floating around that outline the elimination of cost of living adjustments (COLAs), and I’ve written extensively about all of them HERE. House Bill 633 (my personal favorite), has been sitting in the House RULES Committee for months. This might be the perfect time to resurrect a cost cutting measure like the limitation of future raises for lawmakers in an effort to trim a little more spending from that bloated budget.

This might be the perfect time to pull out any issue that cuts costs . . . no matter how much. Why? Because EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP. Even minor cost cuts add up when they are combined together. I’ve heard numerous suggestions of ways that Legislators could cut costs within their own offices, and maybe now is a time to make all of those ideas public too. I always hear constant complaints that individual cost cutting ideas only account for some “minimal” amount of money, but if you implement enough of them you can make a significant impact across the board. Besides, it would be great to see some good will gestures coming from Harrisburg too.

I’ve said it before, and it doesn’t cost me anything to repeat it again . . . NOTHING SHOULD BE OFF THE TABLE during this budget negotiation. EVERYTHING should be up for discussion! Democrats and Republicans are going to use the budget to negotiate all of their pet projects, so I see no reason why fiscal conservatives shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon in an effort to push through some of their “pet projects” too.

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Representative Michele Brooks is Against Increased Taxes

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT
with commentary by Roberta Biros

In a press release this evening, Representative Michele Brooks (R-17-Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford) made her thoughts clear about the current 2009-2010 budget negotiations. In her official release, Representative Brooks states:

"I am strongly opposed to a plan announced this week by the administration that would raise the Personal Income Tax from the current rate of 3.07 percent to 3.57 percent to fill the state budget hole. "

"Hard-working families all across Pennsylvania are struggling to make ends meet, and they cannot afford to lose additional money from their paychecks. Unfortunately, some in government think that they can overspend and then turn to the taxpayers to pay the bill. That’s not responsible government. We need to prioritize and control spending, and allow families to spend their money how they see fit."

In addition to her clear stand on the proposed tax increase, Representative Brooks also offers the following explanation regarding other proposed budget issues:

Tax Increase = Lost Jobs

The Commonwealth Foundation and the National Federation of Independent Businesses has estimated that an increase in the Personal Income Tax will cost 24,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Hard-working families are being hit in the wallet from all different directions, and state government should not be adding to that burden.

State Parks Should Not Close

Also at issue during state budget negotiations has been the threat of closing state parks as leverage for the administration to gain support for its spending increases. State parks are a valuable resource to our residents and the local economy, and with a $94 million line item for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, there is no reason why they should be closed.

In closing, Representative Brooks explains her position on the budget through the use of a simple common-sense statement as follows:

"To help reach a responsible budget, we’re asking that government tighten its belt during these difficult financial times, just like families in the 17th District have been doing. We cannot ask these families to shoulder a larger burden. "

My Commentary:

Some might say that Representative Brooks' stand is not cutting-edge or particularly creative. I would agree. I would also point out that as a fiscal conservative, I'm not always looking for cutting-edge. Difficult situations often require simple and time-proven solutions. The current fiscal outlook for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not particularly bright and sunny. If lawmakers don't take fiscal responsibility seriously sometime soon, we will find ourselves in a hole that is too deep to escape.

Fiscal conservatives (like Rep. Brooks) need to stand firm on the basic fundamentals right now. In this case, her statements come straight from the "Fiscal Conservative Handbook" (of which I have two copies . . . one for each hand). It will only be by sticking close to our principles that we have a chance of getting out of this mess.

I'm counting on the lawmakers that are listed on my "Directory of Fiscal Conservative Pennsylvania State Legislators" to watch out for our best interests during the current budget talks in Harrisburg. I'm hopeful that Representative Brooks (and the others from the list) can talk some 'common sense' into their colleagues in the House in order to keep spending down and maintain a 'tight belt'.

As always, just my opinion.

~Roberta Biros, Mercer County Conservatives

REFERENCE: To view Representative Brooks press release, CLICK HERE. To access her website, CLICK HERE. To sign up for email updates, CLICK HERE.

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Rep. Brad Roae: Raising Taxes During a Recession Is Bad Policy

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT from Representative Brad Roae

He opposes an increase in the state’s income tax

Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) said today he opposes Gov. Ed Rendell’s call for an increase in the state’s Personal Income Tax.

On Tuesday, the governor called for an increase in the Personal Income Tax rate to 3.57 percent for the next three years, after which it would drop back to 3.07 percent.

“I will be fighting against this unjust tax increase,” Roae said. “People cannot afford to pay higher taxes during a recession.”

The governor’s proposal would result in an additional $250 a year through the personal income tax for a family making $50,000 a year.

“Most of the General Fund tax revenue is indexed for inflation because the Personal Income Tax, sales tax, and Corporate Net Income Tax are all percentage-based taxes,” Roae said. “Families not paying enough taxes are not the problem; the problem is a state budget that has been increasing at double the inflation rate during the past six years.

“Historically, tax increase proposals end up costing more in the end than the original plan calls for,” Roae said. “If this proposal gets any traction, the increase from 3.07 percent to 3.57 percent will probably end up growing to a 4.07 percent rate by the time the legislation hits the governor’s desk.”

Gov. Rendell wants to increase tobacco taxes and institute a new tax on natural gas extracted from areas of Marcellus shale to help pay for his 2009-10 spending plan.

The state Senate has approved a budget that would adequately fund state programs and not require any tax increase. That budget was rejected in the state House Appropriations Committee along a party-line vote.

There are two weeks remaining in the fiscal year.

Rep. Brad Roae
6th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 827-6054
(717) 787-2353

Member Site: RepRoae.com
Caucus Site: PAHouseGOP.com

Bicameral Group of Lawmakers Outlines ‘Pact with PA’

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT from Representative Sam Rohrer

With the June 30 deadline to adopt a new state budget fast approaching, a bicameral group of lawmakers unveiled the “Pact with Pennsylvania,” a proposed agreement between state legislators and the constituents and taxpayers they are elected to represent.

The proposal is based on the underlying premise that – instead of focusing on how much money special interest groups and politicians want to spend – a state budget should represent how much taxpayers can afford to pay.

The pact outlines five key budgetary principles. We encourage our colleagues in the House and Senate, and the governor, to participate in the agreement between lawmakers and residents.

Protecting Our Future

The Pact with Pennsylvania is more than a promise made by the lawmakers who adopt it. It is a promise to their constituents that they will abide by the commonsense principles in the agreement. It is a basic fiscal framework that, if embraced, will assure a workable budget that meets not only the demands of the moment, but the uncertainties of the future. Pennsylvanians are tired of politicians who waffle on the basics. They want lawmakers who are willing to take a principled stand on the tough issues like the budget. The pact allows people to see exactly where we stand and hold us accountable for sticking to that position. It’s time for lawmakers to make a promise to constituents and then own up to it.

The pact is not a budget proposal, but an agreement detailing the five principles that should guide members’ actions during upcoming budget negotiations and the eventual budget vote. Those principles include:

-No tax increases.
-No additional state debt.
-Rainy Day Fund: preserved for original intent.
-Stabilize existing financial obligations.
-Proactive tax reform to improve Pennsylvania’s job climate.

Increasing Taxes Not The Answer

We want a budget that protects the state’s savings account, addresses long-term issues, promotes economic growth and that does not raise taxes or increase debt. It is heartless to suggest that, while they’re struggling to make it through an economic recession, the state should take more from Pennsylvanians through higher taxes. State lawmakers should not kick taxpayers while they’re down. It is entirely inappropriate to add greater tax burdens to our citizens just because that is easier than living within our means.

The five principles outlined in the “Pact with Pennsylvania” are essential for the state to enact a fiscally responsible budget that addresses the approximately $3 billion deficit without raising taxes or running up new state debt. The “Pact with Pennsylvania” would place the Commonwealth on the path toward long-term fiscal stability and economic growth.

Related Links:
- Read/download the “Pact with Pennsylvania”
- View the "Pact with Pennsylvania" Press Conference

What Direction Will the State Budget Take?

G. Terry Madonna & Michael L. Young published a great overview and summary of the Pennsylvania State Budget situation in their latest article titled “Déjà Vu All Over Again”. The article is a wonderful summary from start to finish and I suggest reading the full article HERE. They provide a wonderful simplified overview of some of the possible outcomes of the budget negotiations as follows:

• Probably the really bad news is that state fiscal conditions are likely to grow worse before they improve. In fact, they may be worse than we know. Historically, states have been poor at estimating future revenues. A recent report issued by the National Conference of State Legislatures asserts that some 30 states had overestimated revenues from their income tax or sales taxes in the current year. Moreover, state fiscal conditions typically worsen as the economy begins to recover. That's because job creation lags other economic events, placing heavy burdens on the states for aid to those without employment or health insurance. Bottom line: if you think this year is bad, wait until next year.
  
• An income tax hike in 2009 is likely if not certain. That pattern was firmly established during the last three recessions (1983, 1991, and 2003) when the Pennsylvania legislature raised the state income tax to balance the budget. Since this budget deficit is substantially larger than the three previous ones, a tax hike is all but inevitable. To make it palatable to legislators, it will probably be proposed as temporary and include a rescission component that will reduce the new rate after the emergency is over.
  
• There will be significant expenditure cuts before a new budget is inked. Rendell has already announced major cuts from his original budget, and Republicans who control the state Senate have already proposed even deeper cuts. Where the final reduction will be made is not yet clear, but in other states education, corrections, and health care, including Medicaid, are bearing the brunt of the cutbacks.
  
• Many painful concessions will have to be made to settle this year's budget. Senate Republicans have their own budget - a $27.3 billion spending program passed along party lines. Meanwhile, House Democrats can neither get the Rendell budget adopted or an income tax increase passed without Republican votes. The Democratic House and the Republican Senate seem hopelessly divided, but inevitably, time worn Pennsylvania horse-trading tactics will be on display. But even that may not be enough. The rhetoric coming from both sides this year is sharp and divisive. Unusual political leadership will be needed to broker the necessary compromises.

The budget deadline of June 30th is looming. The next few weeks will prove to be very interesting as Republicans and Democrats wrestle with the budget (and each other) as they attempt to finalize the 2009-2010 budget.

The article quoted above was published in Politically Uncorrected, which is published twice monthly. Dr. G. Terry Madonna is Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College, and Dr. Michael Young is Managing Partner of Michael Young Strategic Research. CLICK HERE to read the full article.

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Looking for Temporary PennDOT Work?

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT (from the office of Representative Jim Cox)

Looking for Temporary PennDOT Work?

The Governor’s Office is accepting résumés for temporary winter PennDOT workers through Monday, June 29. These positions pay between $11.32 to $16.22 per hour.

What jobs are open?
- Diesel mechanics.
- Automotive mechanics.
- Tradesman helpers.
- Clerks.
- Clerk typists.
- Transportation equipment operators (most counties).

Visit Representative Cox's Web site for additional details
about submitting your application:
RepJimCox.com
(choose the PennDOT Employment button)

Please note, there are a limited number of openings available and applying will not guarantee a position. These jobs are temporary and do not include benefits. Certain qualifications, such as a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), may apply.

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Great Quote that Still Applies Today

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"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt."

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~ Herbert Hoover, quoted in the Australian Sunday Mail

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Fiscal Conservatives in the PA Legislature - How Do They Stack Up?

Written by Roberta Biros

For those of you that follow my blog posts with any regularity, you are fully aware that I’m analytical . . . a bit overly analytical at times (I know, you can say it without offending me). Some might call it “detail oriented” (if you are being polite), or you could refer to it as “OCD” (if you are being direct) . . . either way, we can all agree that I am entertained by gathering data and presenting it in a usable format.

I’ve been trying to find a way to locate and track “fiscal conservatives” in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. I started my quest by publishing a post back in January of 2009 titled The State Budget: Are There Responsible Fiscal Caretakers in Harrisburg Who Really Watch Our Money? In it, I listed all of the State Representatives that voted against the “unbalanced” budget in 2008-2009. The post received quite a bit of attention as it was a great tool that provided a list of “determined fiscal conservatives” in an easy to read format.

Last week, I published another list in a new post titled Taxpayers Unite: Pennsylvania Taxpayer Protest Update. In that post I identified the list of state legislators that took part in the Taxpayer Protest that was held in Harrisburg. Again, the list received a great deal of attention as people are genuinely interested in exactly “who” in Harrisburg is committed to fiscal responsibility. It isn’t generally something that the main-stream media grabs onto, so these brave folks don’t often receive much fanfare.

Seeing that we are all looking for the same thing, I decided to begin a reference list of Fiscal Conservative Legislators based on simple criteria like the examples stated above. I’ve developed the list and it is officially live HERE through my site PAGovWatch.com. The list shows the participation of legislators in the past two events, and I’ll update it as new “events” occur (you can email me if you have an event that you think should be added). I’ve listed the legislators that were involved in the past “fiscally conservative” events, I’ve provided links to their websites, and I’m keeping a running tally of participation which I’ve labeled the “Honor Roll”. The Honor Roll will track those legislators which have shown consistent participation in the events that I consider important.

PAGovWatch.com Honor Roll

The Honor Roll currently includes the names of 21 legislators who both voted against the 2008-2009 budget AND participated in the June 2009 Taxpayer Protest in Harrisburg. While ALL of the names on the full list deserve attention and support, these 21 names are included on our Honor Roll because they have consistently demonstrated a genuine interest in fiscal conservatism (according to our simple scale). Those legislators are (in order of District):

Representative Bradley Roae, 6th

Representative Daryl Metcalfe,12th

Representative Michele Brooks, 17th

Representative Mike Turzai, 28th

Representative Thomas Creighton, 37th

Representative Keith Gillespie, 47th

Representative Scott Hutchinson, 64th

Representative Kathy Rapp, 65th

Representative Jerry Stern, 80th

Representative Russell Fairchild, 85th

Representative Rob Kauffman, 89th

Representative Todd Rock, 90th

Representative Dan Moul, 91st

Representative Stanley Saylor, 94th

Representative Rosemarie Swanger, 102nd

Representative Karen Boback, 117th

Representative Samuel Rohrer, 128th

Representative Jim Cox, 129t

Representative Paul Clymer, 145th

Representative Bob Mensch, 147th

Representative Curt Schroder, 155th

For those of us that follow issues of “fiscal responsibility”, these names are very familiar. For those of you that are just beginning to get involved, keep a close eye on these lawmakers. I would even suggest that you visit their individual websites (links provided above) and sign up for their email newsletters so that you can stay informed of their activities in Harrisburg. I have.

Even better, feel free to send them an email letting them know that you support their fiscally responsible actions so far and that you encourage them to keep up the good work.

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Legislator Announcements: Useful Information or Useless Dribble?

Written by Roberta Biros

I am currently on the automated email lists of many, many Pennsylvania State Legislators. I use my daily inflow of email announcements and twitter posts to stay on top of things that are happening in Harrisburg. I use these tools to keep a close eye on the activities of both Republicans and Democrats alike.

I’ve been busy for the past few days and I haven’t had an opportunity to file away these messages as they were received. For that reason, I was left this afternoon with an inbox packed full of messages. When you see all of the messages all at once, it gives you a new and fresh perspective, and I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.

First let me say that I received no email announcements from Democrats today. All of the announcements that I received were from PA House GOP members. The overview list below describes the email announcements that I received this morning:

• State Rep. Curt Schroder: Schroder Urges Federal and State Authorities to Investigate Allegations of Tax Evasion and Other Criminal
• Representative Brad Roae: Roae Supports Taxpayers at Harrisburg Rally
• State Rep. Rosemarie Swanger: Skyrocketing Costs for Universal Health Care?
• State Rep. Tom Creighton: Skyrocketing Costs for Universal Health Care?
• State Rep. Sam Rohrer: Skyrocketing Costs for Universal Health Care?
• Representative Michele Brooks: Pennsylvania Travel Guides Available at Brooks’ Offices

The first announcement by Rep. Schroder is a newsworthy announcement regarding possible wrongdoing by video poker distributors in Pennsylvania. As with most announcements by Rep. Schroder, it was detailed and interesting “news”. The announcement was useful, so I republished the content in my blog PAGovWatch.com to help to spread the word.

The second announcement was by Rep. Brad Roae (of Crawford County). Rep. Roae lets folks know that he was involved in the Taxpayers Protest in Harrisburg on Tuesday. In the announcement, Rep. Roae discusses issues of the budget and spending. Again, I found it newsworthy and republished the content to share the information with others.

The third, fourth, and fifth announcements came from three different legislators, but it was the same darn announcement simply regurgitated. This is a tactic of the PA House GOP that is a bit annoying (from the prospective of someone who receives email newsletters from so many legislators). When legislators have no announcements of their own to discuss, they just cut and paste the same text into multiple automated email messages. I personally hate it, and I try not to republish these types of announcements, but I suppose it is a useful tool for those folks that only receive an email from their own local legislator. In this particular case, the content of the messages was regarding the issue of Health Care with which I disagree on a number of levels. These three went into my trash bin.

Of the announcements referenced above, at least all of them were regarding legislative, fiscal/budget, or issue based content. The last announcement, however, came from the office of Rep. Michele Brooks (Mercer/Lawrence/Crawford Counties). The most important news that Rep. Brooks had to share with her constituents was that she offers free Pennsylvania Travel Guides in her offices. Earlier this week I published a similar announcement from Rep. Brooks regarding the availability of State Fair Guides. I thought it was useful because the guide could be downloaded and printed through an on-line link, and I was personally interested in getting the fair schedules for my own personal use. However, is this the only type of “news” that Rep. Brooks has to offer the people of our area? Did nothing happen in Harrisburg this week that was newsworthy? Does she not feel that her constituents are interested in reading and understanding complicated issues or details?

Don’t get me wrong . . . I’m not knocking Representative Brooks on this. At least she uses the medium at some level. It is a FREE way for legislators to get the word out about the business in Harrisburg and about issues of local interest and it should be used more. There are some lawmakers that don’t use email newsletters at all, and I find that sad.

I’m also not knocking Reps. Swanger, Creighton, or Rohrer for sending out unimpressive and unoriginal content. I support the frequent use of the email announcements from Legislators. I think it is a great tool for keeping people posted about important issues. Even if they don't have anything personal to share, they still use their newsletters to keep people apprised of recent news.

I wish, however, that more Legislators would use the tool to “inform” rather than “promote”. Information and updates from our legislators allow us to decide if a lawmaker is making a difference in Harrisburg (or not). I’m well informed of the actions in Harrisburg of all of the above lawmakers. There are some, however, that could do a better job of sharing “significant” information. I know they’ve all been involved in important issues of late, and we would simply like to hear more . . . straight from the horses mouths.

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Voters Want More School Funding - Until They Get the Facts

Read the full story titled: Voters Want More School Funding - Until They Get the Facts

Rep. Roae Supports Taxpayers at Harrisburg Rally

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) was among more than 30 members of the General Assembly to appear at Tuesday’s taxpayer protest rally at the state Capitol.

“I am standing up for taxpayers and fighting against the proposed tax increases,” Roae said. “We need to cut wasteful spending rather than asking people to pay higher taxes.”

Roae’s appearance at the rally took place as the governor and his surrogates toured the state in support of his 2009-10 spending plan, and a day after House Democrats voted down an attempt to bring the Senate budget proposal to the House floor for consideration.

On June 8, the House Appropriations Committee rejected, along party lines, a $27.3 billion state budget which already passed the Senate (Senate Bill 850). The Senate plan reflects the state’s economic challenges by controlling spending and suspending some programs in order to ensure the state lives within its means. No tax increase would be needed under the Senate’s plan.

In February, Gov. Ed Rendell presented a budget that would require several tax and fee increases. Now, with the revenue shortfall for this fiscal year surpassing $3 billion, the governor has indicated that he may want to raise the state’s personal income tax.

“The amount of wasteful spending seems never ending. For example, the governor just signed a $201 million contract for a company to develop high school graduation exams, and we have not even passed a law yet that would allow the exams to be given,” Roae said.

“Former Representative Dan Surra lost his re-election last fall, so even though there is a state employment hiring freeze, the governor created a $95,000 a year job for him.

“Furthermore, the Liquor Control Board is spending more than $100,000 to teach its employees how to be polite. The list of government waste goes on and on. Don’t tell me we need to raise taxes so we can continue this wasteful spending,” he said.

A new spending plan is to be in place by June 30.

Rep. Brad Roae
6th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 827-6054
(717) 787-2353

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Rep. Schroder Urges Federal and State Authorities to Investigate Allegations of Tax Evasion

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester County), Republican chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, sent letters to state and federal taxing bodies and law enforcement officials requesting they conduct an investigation into allegations of tax fraud and other criminal activity by video poker distributors in Pennsylvania.

In his letters to U.S. Attorney Eric Holder; Pennsylvania’s three U.S. Attorneys, Michael Levy, Mary Beth Buchanan and Martin Carlson; director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Robert Mueller; Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett; and state Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler, Schroder referenced testimony given by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Commissioner Frank Pawlowski at Gaming Oversight Committee hearings on legislation seeking to legalize video poker in the Commonwealth. The police commissioner called the distributors, who collect video poker revenue and split profits with the bar owner, a “criminal enterprise.”

“Colonel Pawlowski said vendors who provide the illegal video poker machines can make well into the millions of dollars per year in untaxed revenue through this criminal enterprise,” said Schroder. Both Pawlowski and Maj. John Lutz, PSP director of the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, have stated at public hearings that there are approximately 17,000 illegal video poker machines in operation throughout the state.

“If Colonel Pawlowski’s estimates are correct, this scheme has become a highly developed criminal syndicate,” said Schroder. “These video machine vendors are committing tax evasion and fraud on a massive scale.”

Schroder rejects the Rendell administration’s logic that the inability to control illegal video poker provides sufficient reason to legalize it -- as House Bill 1317 is attempting to do. “By eliminating the criminal enterprise of the distributing vendors, the entire operation of video poker could be shut down,” he said.

“I would request that your agency undertake an immediate investigation into this alleged criminal activity, including the tax fraud outlined by the State Police Commissioner,” Schroder wrote in his letter, adding, “In particular, I believe it is imperative to ferret out illegal gaming and bring appropriate enforcement actions against those who have not properly remitted taxable income to federal, state and local government entities.”

Editors Note: To see the letter and testimony, go to: http://curtschroder.com/uploads/Schroder-FBI-Letter.PDF

Rep. Curt Schroder
155th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 524-5595
(717) 783-2520
www.CurtSchroder.com

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Rep. Karen Boback Announces Statewide Veterans Expo

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

Attention Veterans and Veteran Services Organizations

The Statewide Veterans Expo will take place at the Forum Building, 607 South Drive in Harrisburg from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16.

Topics at the expo will include:

VA Medical Care
OEF/OIF Outreach
Suicide Prevention
Veterans Court
Post 9/11 GI Bill
Homeless Veterans

Registration is free, but is requested in advance. Download the registration form here, which can be returned to cnelson@state.pa.us or faxed to (717) 861-8589.

A schedule of the day’s events and more information is available at my Web site, RepBoback.com.

Pennsylvania Taxpayer Protest Video

Capitol Taxpayers' Rally