Mike's Memo

Welcome 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 23, 2009

Hearing on State Procurement Contracts

On Tuesday, December 1, the Senate Communications & Technology Committee, which I chair, will hold a public hearing on Auditor General Jack Wagner’s audit of state procurement contracts. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building, in Harrisburg.  Both the Auditor General and Department of General Services Secretary James Creedon will appear to discuss and review the audit’s findings and recommendations. 

Proposed Regulations on Uniform Construction Code

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) will hold a hearing Thursday, December 10, on proposed changes to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s regulations relating to the Uniform Construction Code, including Act 157 of 2006, Act 9 of 2007, Act 39 of 2007, and Act 106 of 2008.

Happy Thanksgiving

Most stories of the history of Thanksgiving begin with the harvest celebration between the Pilgrims and Native-Americans in the autumn of 1621.  All 13 colonies/states celebrated a day of thanksgiving in 1777 to celebrate the American victory over the British at Saratoga during the Revolution.  In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day for the last Thursday in November in honor of the Battle of Gettysburg and the holiday has been an American fixture ever since.  Congress made it an official holiday in 1941 and set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.

The Senate will be closed Thanksgiving Day (November 26) and Friday, November 27. As Americans, we all have a great amount to be thankful for. I wish you and your family a wonderful day.

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.