Mike's Memo

Week of August 24, 2009

Senate attempts budget veto override

Earlier this month, Governor Rendell signed a bare-bones version or “bridge budget” of Senate Bill 850, which authorized the State Treasury to pay state employees during the budget impasse. The bill was signed only after he vetoed all program funding line items except those pertaining to payroll and essential public protection. Last week the full Senate voted (30 – 19) to override the vetoes but, unfortunately, the necessary 2/3 majority votes (33) was not achieved. If successful, funding would have been restored to service programs such as:

• Homeless Assistance: $25.6 million
• Domestic Violence: $12.5 million
• Veterans’ Educational Assistance: $6.9 million
• Rape Crisis: $7.1 million
• Veterans’ Outreach Services: $1.7 million
• Veterans’ Assistance: $428,000
• Disabled Veterans Transportation: $350,000
• Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program: $9.9 million

Other failed overrides include funding for PHEAA grants ($386.2 million) and Community Mental Retardation programs ($158.4 million).

Governor signs bills, including authorizing payment to remaining state workforce

The Governor signed a number of bills authorizing paychecks to state workforce not covered under Senate Bill 850. The measures include appropriations for the Public School Retirement System (PSERS) and State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS); Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs; Workers’ Compensation/Occupational Disease administration and the Office of Small Business Advocate; Public Utility Commission (PUC); Consumer Advocate; and gaming-related functions.

In other news, the Governor signed Senate Bill 240 (Act 37), which provides updates and codifications to the Emergency Medical Services Act  and renames the Act to the Emergency Medical Services System Act, and Senate Bill 563 (Act 34), which amends the Mechanics Lien Law to allow contractors/subcontractors to waive their rights to file claims against residential properties.

Agriculture Department Revising Milk Sanitation Regulations

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture recently held a public hearing on proposed changes to Milk for Manufacturing and Raw Milk Bacterial Standards.  The focus of the hearing was on possible changes in bacterial standards.  These changes were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on August. Interested parties have until August 31 to submit comments to:  the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Safety, Division of Milk Sanitation, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408, Attention: Paul Hoge.

Folmer fans on Facebook

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District Doings

Mark your calendar for these upcoming district events!

Wednesday, August 24 – Dunking and milking at the E-town Fair. At 5 p.m. I’ll be part of the annual celebrity milking contest in the show ring, and then from 7 – 8 p.m., is your chance to dunk the senator at Cornerstone Community Ministries’ dunking booth. The booth is located along East High Street.

Wednesday, September 2 - North Cornwall Township town hall meeting

This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions about state government. The meeting is hosted by North Cornwall Township and Heritage Commons, and will be held at the Township Building, 320 South 18th Street, Lebanon. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

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. You may also want to visit "News for Constituents", a comprehensive look into various issues affecting Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth.

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.