June 6, 2008
Pennsylvania Senate Republican News
Brief
"There is a wide array of state programs subjected to the back-and-forth debate and scrutiny of the annual budget process, and rightly so. But in the case of mental health, mental retardation and early intervention, reliable and consistent care is crucial. It is neither right nor necessary to put quality care at risk."
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Senate Public Health and
Welfare Committee Chairman Ted Erickson (R-Delaware)
on Senate passage of legislation to establish consistent support
for community mental health and mental retardation services.
Preview
SENATE SET TO ACT ON BILLS TO HELP VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY PROVIDERS
The Senate is expected to consider legislation next week aimed at boosting recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders by providing tax credits to fire and emergency service volunteers and their employers.
On Monday, Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) and Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) will join other legislators at a news conference discussing these bills and other measures to assist first responders.
(For more on efforts to assist volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, please see In the Spotlight, below.)
SENATE GOP TO ANNOUNCE HEALTH CARE REFORM PACKAGE
Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) and Senate Republicans will unveil a comprehensive health care package next week designed to improve access to affordable health care by expanding proven initiatives and implementing new innovations.
HealthNET PA will expand access to health care and medicine for the uninsured and underinsured, utilize information technology to slash costs, and provide expanded insurance options for families and employers.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, TAX CUT BILLS MOVE TOWARD SENATE VOTE
The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), is expected to consider Senate Bill 2, the H2O PA plan. Sponsored by Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee Chair Jane Earll (R-Erie), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) and Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), the legislation would provide $750 million in funding for critical water and sewer projects, stormwater projects, flood control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs. The bill could also be considered by the full Senate next week.
The
committee is also expected to consider the comprehensive Senate
Republican stimulus package. (Please see
Review and
Fast Facts, below.)
Review
$96 MILLION GOP STIMULUS PACKAGE ADVANCES FROM COMMITTEE
A Senate Republican economic stimulus package that would provide nearly $96 million in tax relief for lower-income working Pennsylvanians, small businesses looking to expand, and major job creators was approved Monday by the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh).
The four-bill package, presented by the bill sponsors and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), would: increase the eligibility limits for special tax forgiveness for low-income Pennsylvanians; expand the cap on the Net Operating Loss provision of the Corporate Net Income Tax; double the amount that small businesses may deduct on their income tax filing for the costs of machinery and equipment; and amend the state Corporate Net Income Tax formula so that companies are no longer penalized when they hire new employees or make capital investments in Pennsylvania.
The measures were sent to
the Senate Appropriations Committee and could be voted on by
the full Senate as early as next week. (For more about
these bills, please see
Fast
Facts, below.)
SENATE ACTS TO STABILIZE MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL RETARDATION FUNDING
Legislation sponsored by Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) to establish consistent support for community mental health and mental retardation services was approved by the Senate on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 1373, the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Maintenance of Community Services Act, will establish a funding mechanism that consistently supports community-based services for individuals with mental retardation or mental illness receiving services in Pennsylvania.
Currently, providers of these essential community-based services, which are preferred by consumers and their families, face threats to funding every year, creating severe instability in the system and putting the quality of care for hundreds of thousands of individuals at risk.
In an effort
to stabilize the community-based system and ensure the health and safety of
individuals with mental retardation or mental illness, the Mental Health and
Mental Retardation Maintenance of Community Services Act will require the
Secretary of the Budget to allocate the appropriate funding level for
existing and new services, as well as require the allocation of a
cost-of-living adjustment for that funding level every year.
SEN. RAFFERTY, SEN. WONDERLING: REDUCE TAX BURDEN ON MOBILE HOME FAMILIES
In a move to ease the tax burden on mobile home and house trailer residents, Sen. John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) and Sen. Rob Wonderling (R-Montgomery) have introduced legislation that would exempt such homeowners from paying property taxes.
Most mobile homes are set on land the “homeowner” does not own, but mobile home and house trailer owners still receive a property tax bill each year. Senate Bill 1377 would eliminate two sections of the General County Assessment Law, excluding house trailers and mobile homes from the property tax.
Senator Rafferty said he introduced this bill because he believes that forcing mobile home owners to pay property tax is unjust due to the fact that a mobile home is designed for transport and is titled by PennDOT like every other mobile vehicle.
The
General County Assessment Law, passed in 1933 and amended in 2002,
originally called for taxes on buildings permanently attached to land or
connected with water, gas, electric or sewage facilities. A mobile home
is a dwelling structure built on a steel chassis and fitted with wheels
intended to be transported to a usually permanent location.
In 2004, a commission was established to make recommendations for improving the delivery of emergency services in Pennsylvania. To date, four of the 23 targeted areas have been addressed.
On Monday, lawmakers will discuss measures introduced to help first responders fill their ranks and help protect communities. Initiatives include:
Senate Bill 1314 - A $500 personal tax credit for active members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services organizations, as certified by the State Fire Commissioner or the Director of the Emergency Medical Services Office in the Department of Health. Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)
Senate Bill 1315 - A tuition reimbursement credit of 50 percent of tuition for each course credit. The credit would be paid directly to the college or university. Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York)
Senate Bill 1316 - A $1,000 tax credit against an employer's personal income tax for each volunteer fire and emergency services member employed, up to a total of $5,000 per year. Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)
Senate Bill 1225
- Legislation creating a Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement
System to assist counties and municipalities in
responding to disasters. (Passed by Senate) Sen. John Pippy
(R-Allegheny)
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SENATE REPUBLICAN TAX STIMULUS PLAN
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