October 15, 2008
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Progress on the "Promise to Pennsylvania"
By Senator Mike Folmer

The "Promise to Pennsylvania" – focused on legislative and political reform, tax and spending reform, and legal and labor reform – was the cornerstone of my run for elected office.  More importantly, the Promise has guided me as a Senator, resulting in a number of key initiatives, including:  SB 707:  ("Taxpayer Protection Act"), SB 1015 ("Taxpayer Funded Advertising Transparency Act"), SB 1181 – SB 1196 ("Healthy Pennsylvania"), SB 1290 (Citizen's Constitutional Convention), SB 1292 ("Tax Me More Fund"), SB 1499 (accountability in the use of state vehicles), and SB 1578 ("Voters' Choice Act").

Additionally, I have sponsored other legislative initiatives, including two that have become law:  SB 1107 (child custody rights for military personnel deployed overseas, Act 127 of 2008) and SB 1156 (foster children/foster parents' rights, Act 76 of 2007).

While my Taxpayer Protection Act was not passed, I believe it helped to control state spending this year as the final budget was about the rate of inflation (just below 4%), much lower than previous spending increases of the current Administration.

The Taxpayer Funded Advertising Transparency Act was unanimously passed by the Senate, but it died in the House.  Nonetheless, this bill has led to questions being raised about the use of tax dollars for advertising by the Governor, various Departments, offices, boards, authorities, commissions, the Legislature, and others.

The goal of "Healthy Pennsylvania" is to reduce health care costs while maintaining quality of care by empowering consumers with choice and autonomy in their health care decisions.  As such, it was an alternative to other so-called "solutions" that called for government-run programs that have proven to be so expensive in other states and nations.

My Citizen's Constitutional Convention and two other bills were reported to the full Senate for consideration.  While none passed, they set the stage for a continuing dialogue on bringing true reform to Harrisburg – things like:  initiative and referendum, term limits, and redistricting reform.

I was amazed by the number of people – especially state employees – who contacted me in support of my bill to establish stricter accountability in the use of state vehicles.  SB 1499 would do this by requiring state employees assigned a state vehicle to maintain a monthly mileage log that would be posted online.

As my "Voters' Choice Act" was introduced late in the Session, there was not enough time to consider it.  This bill would eliminate the unfair hurdles that obstruct ballot access for minor party and independent candidates.  I plan to reintroduce it again next year.

While much was accomplished during my first two years in office, much remains to be done.  I am ready, willing, and able to continue to fulfill the "Promise to Pennsylvania".