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Mike's MemoWelcome to a new year of "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 November 24, 2008 2009 Senate Republican Leaders Selected The Senate Republican Caucus has selected its leadership team for the upcoming legislative Session. The officers are:
I look forward to working with this leadership team in the weeks and months ahead. For more information about these leaders and details of their respective duties, click here. Transportation Summit Held Outgoing Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Roger Madigan hosted a Transportation Summit, which was both informative and well attended. I am hoping that these discussions will lead to a state transportation policy to address our infrastructure needs – including a more reliable and a fairer funding formula that makes better use of present and future transportation moneys. Marcellus Shale Impacts Discussed The Senate Majority Policy Committee recently held a public hearing on the Marcellus Shale formation and its potential impact on Pennsylvania. Although gas prices have fallen, energy costs continue to be a concern on the state and national level, and there is still a need for an energy policy that meets present and future needs and relies upon energy sources that are clean, affordable, and reliable. I plan to host a number of Advisory Committee meetings on these important issues. Eliminating Property Taxes THANKS to everyone who viewed and responded to my interactive my property tax elimination worksheet. Comments I received ranged from "don’t use the Sales Tax to eliminate school property taxes" to "tax everything to eliminate (not just reduce) school property taxes." The worksheet shows how expanding the Sales Tax base can be used to eliminate school property taxes. The total revenue from school property taxes in Pennsylvania is approximately $10 billion. The worksheet allows you to add a tax rate (current Sales Tax rate is 6 percent) to item(s) not currently taxed (for example 8 percent), to generate the revenue needed to eliminate school property taxes ($10 billion). Also on the website is a list of items that could possibly be added to generate replacement revenues to eliminate school property taxes. There is an area on the worksheet that keeps a running tally; once your “deficit” reaches zero, you have enough revenue in an expanded Sales Tax to completely eliminate school property taxes. Keep in mind, for each $1,000 in property tax reductions, people would need to spend $16,667 in newly taxable items under an expanded Sales Tax to equal the savings of eliminating school property taxes. If you have not yet viewed the worksheet, click here. I’m curious to see what you come up with and encourage you to e-mail me with your thoughts! Town Hall Meetings Planned In the next few weeks I will hold town hall meetings across the 48th District to explain my property tax elimination plan in greater detail. Please watch future issues of "Mike’s Memo" for dates and locations. Also, please contact Beth Williams if you are interested in helping organize a meeting in your area. Fine-tune Your E-Updates Want to get the latest information on the property tax relief, the economy, or other topics? Then click here to get detailed e-updates. 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 listed below.
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