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 March 1, 2010

2010 – 2011 Budget Hearings Winding Down

This week the Senate Appropriations Committee will complete its public hearings on the department-by-department review of the Governor's proposed 2010 – 2011 state budget. For hearing summaries click here. 

As in the past, this year's budget process will be filled with a great deal of debate. I was recently interviewed by ABC 27 News regarding my opinions on the budget.

Senate Returns to Session Next Week

With the budget hearings concluding, the Senate returns to voting session next week. My goal is to have a vote on my proposal to increase the weekly limits of Small Games of Chance from $5,000 per week to $20,000 (Senate Bill 211). Other items on my legislative wish list are to have my Senate Bill 621 (exempt Pennsylvania from the mandates of the federal Real ID law); Senate Bill 104 (accountability for state vehicles) and Senate Bill 109 (Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act) reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee.  I am also pushing for a vote on my Senate Resolution 51, which would urge Congress to recognize the sovereignty of the states as guaranteed by the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 

Session dates for the week of March 8 are:

• Monday, March 8, 1 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 9, 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 10, 11a.m.

Don't forget you can watch Senate Sessions live on my website.

Proposed PHIX Plan to be Competitively Bid

The Governor's Office of Health Care Reform will announce this week that it will issue an expedited Request for Proposals (RFP) for the proposed Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX) contract.  I have been aggressively pursuing expedited RFPs for implementation of the proposed PHIX plan.  Previously, the Administration was pushing for an intergovernmental agreement to piggyback with Delaware on their existing contract.  Since I do not believe this approach would result in an open, transparent, and fair contracting in the use of taxpayer money, I introduced Senate Bill 8. I will continue to monitor this initiative to see if SB 8 should be voted on by the full Senate. The PHIX Advisory Council will meet again Wednesday, March 3.

Senate Education Committee to Hold Hearing on Empowerment Legislation

The Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on Senator Piccola's Senate Bill 1192, the Education Empowerment Act, on Thursday, March 4, at noon. The meeting will be held in Alumni Hall on the West Campus of York College. For a list of other Senate committee hearing, click here.

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.