Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"Our revenues took a significant dip this year. But we can't tax our way out of this problem. We shouldn't raise taxes on Pennsylvania entrepreneurs, families and the middle class. We can't just make short-term decisions. We have to look at the long term."

-- Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman (R-Centre) urging House action on a state budget that cuts spending and includes no new taxes.

GAMING REFORM, JUVENILE COURT COMMISSION ON SENATE AGENDA 

The Senate this week is expected to consider Senate Bill 711, sponsored by Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee Chair Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie), which would make numerous changes to the law regulating casinos in Pennsylvania. It would reestablish the prohibition on political campaign contributions by individuals and entities subject to the Gaming Act, bar outside employment by members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, extend the ban on felons receiving gaming licenses, and more. 

The Senate could also take up Senate Bill 949, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), to conduct a comprehensive study of Pennsylvania’s juvenile court system, and Senate Bill 851, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), to clarify that volunteer fire companies are not “local agencies” covered by the state’s new Right-to-Know Law.

SENATE REPUBLICANS URGE HOUSE ACTION ON BUDGET  

Senate Republicans held a news conference Tuesday to urge House action on a state budget that cuts spending and includes no new taxes. 

After being passed by the Senate on May 6, Senate Bill 850 – a responsible budget for 2009-10 that does not increase taxes, relying instead on cuts to state spending – was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. 

House Bill 1416, a 2009-10 budget bill introduced by Rep. Dwight Evans, was introduced and referred to the House Appropriations Committee on May 4. For two full months, neither bill has been allowed to advance to the full House for debate and a floor vote.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said: "I continue to hear the Governor comment on how the numbers will drive the process and quite frankly, I agree. The numbers I see for a tax increase are zero votes in the Senate Republican caucus and I am not sure he has the required number of votes in the House of Representatives to pass his tax increase budget.  Those are the real numbers that drive this process.”

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) said: “One fact – a simple, indisputable and painful fact – is at the center of the ongoing debate about Pennsylvania's state budget: the Commonwealth has a revenue shortfall of $3.3 billion. My view, and the view of the Senate Republican caucus, is that we should do exactly what hardworking families across Pennsylvania are doing: reduce our spending to match the level of available funds.” 

For more on the state budget, please see In the Spotlight and Fast Facts, below.
 New Conference  

SENATE GOP REFORM MEASURES APPROVED BY COMMITTEE  

Two measures that are part of the Senate Republican reform effort to continue changing the culture of state government were approved Thursday by the Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks). 

Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), is a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate “Lame Duck” legislative sessions, which allow legislators leaving office to cast votes. 

Senate Bill 107, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), would require the posting of government salary information online.   

Other Senate Republican reform bills passed by the Senate this year include measures to create a searchable budget database-driven website that the public can access, and to increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law which governs public meetings.
 

COMMITTEE VOTES TO EXPAND EDUCATION TAX CREDITS, STUDY TUITION CONTROLS  

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), approved legislation he authored to expand Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) without placing an additional financial burden on the Commonwealth. 

EITC allows companies in the state to receive tax credits for contributions made to the scholarship program and provides parents the economic means to choose the learning environment they believe best meets the needs of their children, regardless of family income.   

Under Senate Bill 899, the base amount of allowable household income for eligible families would increase from $50,000 to $60,000, and the capita income allowance for household dependents would increase from $10,000 to $12,000.  A cost of living adjustment would be applied annually to the income guidelines as well.  The bill would also apply a multiplier to allowable household income for those families with special needs children.  

The committee also approved a revised version of Senate Bill 881, sponsored by Senator Piccola as another step toward addressing the issue of college affordability. It would create the Tuition Control Study Commission responsible for examining the costs of a college education for students in all sectors of higher education and determine ways by which Pennsylvania may authorize controls on annual tuition increases.  Following the commission’s study, the group would be required to report its findings to the General Assembly. 
 

Committee Approves Measure to Fight Neighborhood Blight

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, chaired by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), approved two matters aimed at combating neighborhood blight.

Senate Bill 900, sponsored by Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill), creates the Neighborhood Blight and Revitalization Act.  The bill would allow a lien to be placed against the assets of an owner of a blighted property after a judgment decree is entered by a court against the legal owner of the property.   

Additionally, the bill would streamline the judicial process to help clarify who owns the property and would add provisions to return owners of state property to face criminal prosecution. The bill would also require the mortgage lender to maintain the properties when default occurs, until there is a new owner of the property.   

The committee also approved Senate Resolution 142, sponsored by Senator Argall. It would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to complete a study and cost analysis of the implementation of a statewide blight database, and report its findings and recommendations to the Senate. 

Juvenile Court Study, DEATH PENALTY BILL APPROVED BY COMMITTEE  

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), approved legislation June 29 establishing a special commission charged with conducting a comprehensive study of Pennsylvania’s juvenile court system. 

Senate Bill 949, introduced by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) after juvenile court corruption was uncovered in Luzerne County, would prevent further cases of corruption in county juvenile courts and restore public confidence by establishing an Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice. 

The committee also approved Senate Bill 628, sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), which would prohibit the imposition of the death penalty on a person with mental retardation. It also establishes a procedure for determining that a defendant is a person with mental retardation. The Senate approved the measure last session as Senate Bill 751, but the legislation stalled in the House.
 Senator Baker 

Sen. Robbins: make home sprinkler requirement a local option 

Legislation drafted by Sen. Bob Robbins (R-Mercer) would eliminate an impending mandate that would drive up the costs of new housing and increase the burden on municipalities with existing water supply problems. 

The state Department of Labor and Industry will adopt regulations implementing the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) into the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) by December 31.  The residential sprinkler mandate for all new home construction would take full effect on January 1, 2011. 

Senate Bill 1001 would remove the statewide mandate and continue to allow municipal governments the option to enact the sprinkler requirement for new construction. National studies show that the sprinkler mandate would have a limited impact on improving public safety.

Senate President Pro Tempore Scarnati said he would like to see an end to Governor Ed Rendell's public scare tactics and begin sincere negotiations on a 2009-10 final state budget:

“In order to sell something that is not in the best interest of Pennsylvanians, which is a massive increase in the personal income tax, the Governor has come to his final option…threatening a doomsday scenario in the Commonwealth. However, if we are to get to the point of significant progress on this budget, the Governor must be forthright with his information to the public."

Senator Scarnati noted several examples of the Governor scaring and misinforming the public, including statements that state parks will close, hospitals will shut down, and most recently that 800 state troopers will be laid off if the Senate Republican version of the budget is enacted.  These accusations by the Governor have all proven inaccurate. 

Senate Majority Leader Pileggi said:

“Two months ago, the Senate passed a budget that does not increase taxes, relying instead on cuts to state spending. Since that time, the 203 members of the House have yet to debate or vote on a budget. Instead, the Governor and his public relations apparatus have engaged in a full-time effort to convince you that the Senate's approach will cause the sky to fall in Pennsylvania. An objective look at the numbers shows that while difficult choices must be made, essential government services can be maintained and improved without increases in taxes and spending.”