Mike's Memo

Senate Recessed to Call of President Pro Tempore

With the House not returning to voting Session until Monday, November 9, the Senate recessed to the call of the Senate President Pro Tempore.  Before recessing however, the Senate moved House Bill 1418 - the Capital Budget and Project Itemization Act - into position for a future vote.  It would establish the maximum bond indebtedness that the Commonwealth is allowed to incur in the fiscal year for projects listed in the bill.  In its current form, HB 1418 would authorize $143 million for five specific capital transportation projects and $1.6 billion for:

• Public improvements:  $920 million
• Furniture and Equipment:  $15 million
• Transportation Assistance  $192 million
• Redevelopment Assistance  $325 million
• Flood Control: $30 million
• Bridges: $200 million

In addition to the amortization of the bond principal, the Commonwealth would also incur annual debt service interest charges estimated to be $134 million ($2.7 billion total) – depending upon the amount of the bonds and the interest rate(s) at the time of the bond sale(s). 

Senate Approves Cost-Cutting Commission

The full Senate also approved Senate Resolution 160, which calls for a study of current government operations for possible cost-cutting recommendations.  The resolution would create a commission from the private and public sectors to help the General Assembly identify unnecessary government spending.  The resolution would be of no additional cost to the taxpayers.  The idea is similar to a mid-1990's initiative, which created the Improve Management Performance and Cost Control Task Force commission (IMPACCT) that ultimately produced savings over a five-year period.

Senate Committee Changes

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati recently announced reorganizations in Committee assignments:

• Senate Transportation Committee:     Senator Rafferty
• Senate Law & Justice Committee:      Senator Pippy
• Senate Health & Welfare Committee:  Senator Vance
• Senate Aging & Youth Committee:      Senator Ward
• Senate Policy Committee:                 Senator Erickson

I am pleased to continue serving as a member of the Senate Policy Committee and Chair of the Communications and Technology Committee.

More Information on Bills

Legislative Data Processing recently announced upgrades to the online bill history pages.  Specifically, there are now links in the bill histories to House and Senate Journals.  This means when you look at a bill, you can click on the page number by “Remarks see Senate Journal Page” or “Remarks see House Journal Page” and you will be taken to a PDF version of the appropriate Journal.  This is designed to make it easier to reference relevant floor debate as you look for information on bills.

For example - bill history page for Senate Bill 1 of last Session (Open Records Act). 

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.