Mike's Memo

Senate session delayed, House only to return in Mid-November

The Senate was scheduled to return to Session Monday, October 19, and Tuesday, October 20, to consider a number of budget-related items and other issues.  However, since the House has announced they will not return until the second week of November, the Senate cancelled voting Session for Tuesday.  On Monday, Senator-elect Robert Mensch (24th Senatorial District, Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties) was sworn in to fill the unexpired term of former Senator Rob Wonderling.

"Non-Preferred" Appropriations Bills Await House Action

Prior to recessing, the Senate passed a number of non-preferred appropriations bills – those providing state tax moneys to charitable and or educational institutions not under the control of the Commonwealth.  All of these bills passed with the required two-thirds vote (33).  I was not able to support a number of these measures given the state’s fiscal problems and the push for tax increases.  The non-preferred bills are:

• Senate Bill 1036, University of Pittsburgh - $168 million, passed Senate 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1037, Temple University - $172.7 million, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1038, Lincoln University - $13.7 million, passed 40 – 9;
• Senate Bill 1039, University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary program and museum -  $34.4 million, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1040, Pennsylvania State University - $333.8 million, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1093, Drexel University $1.5 million, passed 39 – 10;
• Senate Bill 1094, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, $1.4 million, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1095, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, $415,000, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1096, Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, $378,000, passed 49 – 0;
• Senate Bill 1097, Philadelphia University of the Arts, $271,000, passed 36 – 13;
• Senate Bill 1098, Johnson Technical Institute, $43,000, passed 35 – 14;
• Senate Bill 1099, Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, $16,000, passed 35 – 14;
• Senate Bill 1100, Fox Chase Institute for Cancer Research, $345,000, passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1101, The Wistar Institute, $136,000, passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1102, Central Penn Oncology Group, $58,000 passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1103, Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, $26,000, passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1104, Burn Foundation, Philadelphia, $186,000, passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1105, The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh, $431,000 passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1106, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, $200,000, passed 41 – 8;
• Senate Bill 1107, Philadelphia Health and Education Corporation, $317,000, passed 41 – 8; and
• Senate Bill 1108, Beacon Lodge Camp, $49,000, passed 41 – 8.

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.