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 8, 2010

State Budget Outlook Bleak

With no one wanting a repeat of last year’s budget impasse, these wise words of philosopher Yogi Berra come to mind: "it's déjà vu all over again."   

Tax revenues for 2009 – 2010 continue to lag, and last month, the revenue shortfall was $102.3 million, bringing the shortfall total to $476.6 million. Despite these numbers, the Governor continues to insist the state needs to spend more. At his annual budget address on February 9, Governor Rendell predicted that at the end of the fiscal year (June 30) the deficit would be $450 million; today, a month later, he has increased those estimates to $525 million.   

A large portion of last year’s budget hole was plugged with one-time, non-recurring revenues and $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money, which will expire in 2011 – 2012 (the same year when Pennsylvania’s pension crisis will come to a head). To quote Yogi "The future ain't what it used to be." 

Budget Fact

A total of 90 percent of the state budget is for education, public welfare, corrections, and debt service expenditures. This is why we need to ensure we squeeze every penny out of every tax dollar. 

Right to Know Requests

For nearly a year, I have been to trying to obtain information from the state Department of Education about contractor(s), special assistant(s), and/or other employee(s) engaged by Intermediate Units at the direction, request, and/or instigation of the Department. 

 According to information gathered during 2009 Senate Education Committee budget oversight hearings, I learned some of these contracts are awarded because of a particular Intermediate Unit’s (IU) relationship with the Department, rather than following the Requests for Proposals (RFP) or other competitive bid processes.  I was also told the Department is able to shift costs and/or personnel to the IUs through these contracts - such practices are neither open nor transparent.   

The General Assembly and the public should know who is being hired, how much they are being paid, and what services they are providing.  It’s also a disservice to the IUs who are not able to compete for these contracts or otherwise offer their services.  Because of this lack of transparency, I sent Right To Know Requests to each of the Commonwealth’s 29 Intermediate Units.   

I simply do not believe the Department of Education does not have this information.  Since the Department is unable – or unwilling – to share the information, I have gone directly to the IUs for answers. 

Town Hall Meeting Scheduled

There have been a number of questions surrounding the Wernersville Community Corrections Center, and to address these issues, Representative Jim Cox and I will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, March 25, at 6 p.m., at the Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 4891 West Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring.  If you plan to attend the meeting, please call Representative Cox’s office at (610) 670-0139.

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.