Welcome to "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 July 5, 2010

Budget Details
As widely reported by the media, both the Senate (37–13) and the House (117–84) passed the state budget (House Bill 2279) for 2010 – 2011.  I was not able to support this measure as I do not believe it represents a balanced budget as required by Pennsylvania's Constitution – especially since next to no one thinks we will actually receive any or all of $850 million in federal funding.  The $28.04 billion budget represents state spending of approximately $76 million per day, $3 million an hour, $53,000 a minute, and $889 a second.  To view a listing of line items within the approved budget click here.

The following measures were also passed in conjunction with the budget, including:

• Senate Bill 1042: provides budget implementation language and a number of other provisions not directly related to the budget; passed the Senate 39 – 11  (I was not able to support this measure)
• House Bill 254: changes to the Public Welfare Code authorizing moneys appropriated for welfare under the General Fund budget
• House Bill 2280:  appropriations for the Small Business Advocate
• House Bill 2281:  appropriations for the licensure boards (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)
• House Bill 2282:  appropriations for the Office of Consumer Advocate
• House Bill 2283:  appropriations for the operations of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board
• House Bill 2284:  appropriations for the operations of the State Employees' Retirement Board
• House Bill 2285:  appropriations for gaming oversight (Gaming Board, Department of Revenue, State Police, and Attorney General)
• House Bill 2286:  appropriations for the administration of the Workers' Compensation system and the Office of Small Business Advocate
• House Bill 2287:  appropriations for the Public Utility Commission
• House Bill 2289:  the 2010 – 2011 Capital Budget (passed the Senate 38 – 12) (I was not able to support this measure)
• House Bill 2290:  raises the Commonwealth's debt limit by another $600 Million (to $4,050,000,000 from $3,450,000,000, with concomitant debt services over the next 20 years); passed the Senate 38 – 12 (I was not able to support this measure)
• House Bill 2292:  appropriations for Penn State University
• House Bill 2293:  appropriations for the University of Pittsburgh
• House Bill 2294:  appropriations for Temple University
• House Bill 2295:  appropriations for Lincoln University
• House Bill 2296:  appropriations for University of Pennsylvania

Bills Signed Into Law
A number of other bills were also sent to the Governor for action, including:

• Senate Bill 174 (Act 41 of 2010):  establishes the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers and the Health Careers Leadership Council of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers in statute
• Senate Bill 928 (Act 44):  requires the divestiture of public retirement system moneys from companies doing business in Iran and Sudan
• Senate Bill 1074 (Act 45):  prohibits the shackling of pregnant prisoners
• House Bill 9 (Act 37):  extends the sunset date for the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps by 10 years (from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2020)
• House Bill 48 (Act 35 of 2010):  makes a number of Liquor Code changes

A number of other bills were sent to the Governor and are awaiting action, including:

• Senate Bill 87:  allows institutions of higher education to charge resident tuition rates for active duty military personnel and their dependents
• Senate Bill 260:  amends the Crimes Code as it applies to the corruption of minors and the sexual abuse of children
• House Bill 1186:  establishes a new Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and makes changes to the PHEAA Board; passed 42 – 8 and 40 – 10 after additional amendments by the House (I was not able to support this measure after the House amendments were added)

Other Actions
The full Senate unanimously passed a number of measures to the House for additional consideration, including:

• Senate Bill 460:  provides for the regulation of indoor tanning facilities
• Senate Bill 699:  protections for abused, neglected, exploited, or abandoned adults
• Senate Bill 900:  creates the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act
• Senate Bill 1305:  raises the weight limit exemptions for the regulation of farm vehicles from 17,000 to 26,000 pounds as allowed by federal law
• Senate Bill 1334:  exempts service contracts from insurance regulations
• House Bill 1251:  attempts to bring Pennsylvania's insurance laws into conformity with model law of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
• House Bill 1800:  makes a number of changes to the Vehicle Code (passed 49 – 1, Senator Ferlo)
• House Bill 1859:  various changes to the Game Code
• House Bill 1890:  authorizes land transfers adjacent to the Rockville prison facility (including a long-sought transfer to Penn State University, which was also part of House Bill 2275: involving a number of other land transfers)
• House Bill 2493:  various changes to the Municipal Retirement Law relating to DROPs (Deferred Retirement Option Plans)

The Senate also unanimously confirmed:

• Austin Burke as Secretary of Community & Economic Development
• Robert Freedberg as Judge, Superior Court
• William Lieberman as a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

The Senate also adopted a number of Resolutions, including:

• Senate Resolution 348: calls for a performance audit of Pennsylvania's methadone treatment programs and the medical assistance transportation program (adopted 33 – 17). 
• Senate Resolution 229:  urges the United States Preventive Services Task Force to reexamine its recommendations on mammograms for women over 40.
• Senate Resolution 323:  directs the Local Government Commission to study the number and types of mandates placed upon local governments

The Senate recessed until Monday, September 20th (unless recalled sooner by the Senate President Pro Tempore).

Committee Actions

• I was pleased the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee unanimously reported out my Senate Bill 906, establishing penalties for trespassing in agricultural biosecurity areas
• The Senate Labor and Industry Committee unanimously reported out Senate Bill 1409, codifying the Department of Labor & Industry's Industry Partnership Program
• The Senate Policy Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1304, calling for term limits of House and Senate members.  To review the hearing, click here.

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.

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