Mike's Memo

Senate Session Days

In keeping with its promise to not hold a “Lame Duck” Session after the November Election, the Senate has scheduled nine Session Days prior to November 4:

• September 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24

• October 6, 7, and 8

November 20 and 21 may be used for a formal closeout of 2008 Session, including possible confirmation votes, the constitutionally required election of the President Pro Tempore-for-the-Interim, and other housekeeping details.

Legislative Update

Listed below are the bills I’ve sponsored during the current legislative session. Many of them are part of my pledge to reform state government.  If these bills are not acted upon by the end of November, they will ‘die’ in committee, and will need to be reintroduced next session, which begins in January 2009. I encourage you to contact members of the respective committees to get these bills moving.

Bill name and number	Status
Senate Bill 707, The Taxpayer Protection Act (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 709, Elimination of Elected Assessors in Townships of the First Class	House Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 805,  Accountability for the Operation of the Educational Assistance Program	House Education Committee
Senate Bill 978, Increasing the Daily Limits of the Bingo Law	Senate Appropriations Committee
Senate Bill 1015, “Taxpayer Funded Advertising Transparency Act” (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	House State Government Committee
Senate Bill 1107, Military Child Custody Arrangements	House Judiciary Committee
Senate Bill 1181 to Senate Bill 1196, SB 1182 and SB 1189, Healthy Pennsylvania” health care package	Senate Finance Committee, various other Senate Committees
Senate Bill 1220, exempt Pennsylvania from the provisions of the federal REAL ID Act:	Senate Communications and Technology Committee
Senate Bill 1290, Citizen’s Constitutional Convention	Set to be considered by the Senate State Government Committee on September 17
Senate Bill 1292, "Tax Me More Fund" (part of my Promise to Pennsylvania)	Senate Finance Committee
Senate Bill 1499, Accountability for the use of State Vehicles	House State Government Committee
Voters’ Choice Act	awaiting assignment of bill number