The Latest Scoop on State Budget Negotiations

Written by Roberta Biros

(I know, the title is a shameless pun on my favorite food group, but I just couldn’t resist.)

While it seems like nothing is happening in Harrisburg in regards to the budget, there may be more going on than meets the eye. Based on information from various sources, I wanted to share ‘the latest scoop’ with all of you . . .

Earlier this week, a conference committee was assembled to hammer out the details of the State Budget. Multiple sources have told me, however, that things are not going very well in that venue. Both sides appear to be digging in for a long and private battle. Although the House calendar was originally set up for this week, State Representatives were sent home for the week to ‘sit and wait’ (although they remain ‘on call’ should a vote be required). While both sides (Democrats and Republicans) are trying to put a shiny face on the on-going debate, honest personal opinions of lawmakers are seemingly less optimistic.

Public (official) comments by Mercer County Representatives seem to be all over the board. YouTube video releases from Representative Dick Stevenson and Representative Michele Brooks make simple and basic comments regarding the budget negotiations, but they provide few details about the process itself.

Representative Dick Stevenson simply stands firm on his opinions about no increase in the Personal Income Tax (PIT).



Representative Michele Brooks supports the stand of conservative conference committee members.



Representative Kathy Rapp, on the other hand, tries to 'sound' optimistic, but it doesn't take a body language expert to realize that she may not completely believe what she is saying.



A YouTube video released by Representative Jim Cox today talks about a new ‘openness and transparency’ in the process, but taxpayers are not yet on the receiving end of that outpouring of information (see the video HERE or below).



Newspaper reports earlier this week stated that Governor Rendell might be looking for ways to push through some sort of funding for State Workers’ salaries that would get us through the impasse, but the latest news explains that the Governor may simply encourage House Democrats to approve the Senate Budget early next week so that he (the Governor) can simply trim down the Senate Budget through line-item-veto capabilities. (read the full story HERE). It all makes me just a little nervous because it seems like we are all being set up for some sort of ‘magic trick’ or something. It seems very odd that the Governor would now (and very suddenly) consider the Senate Budget Bill that has been available since early May. It makes you wonder why he has waited almost three months to consider such a move.

Although I’d much rather see a good solid budget worked out and agreed to by both sides, Pennsylvania lawmakers may be in a bit of a twist if something isn’t done soon. State Workers are going unpaid, and taxpayers are getting angry and frustrated. The inability of lawmakers to come together for the common good of the commonwealth has state residents scratching their heads and wondering . . . “what are they getting paid for?”

So . . . while the news regarding budget negotiations is sparse, you better believe that there is a whole lot of game playing going on right now that we are simply not completely aware of.

That is the latest ‘scoop’ as I see it.

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Political Issues That Are On the Minds of Mercer County Taxpayers

Written by Roberta Biros

I’ve had the pleasure of talking politics with lots of people over the past few weeks. My attendance at last week’s Jefferson Township Fair along with the time that I spent in Farrell at the Slovak and Italian Homes Ethnic Food Festival gave me an opportunity to discuss important and pressing issues with local taxpayers. I’d like to share some of the issues that were discussed and debated.

The Status of the Pennsylvania State Budget

While there were many topics that were on the table, the one issue that remains on the tip of everyone’s tongue is the State budget. There were many local folks that were confused to see State Legislators at the weekend events. Most people expected that our lawmakers would still be in Harrisburg working to come to some sort of compromise on the budget. Instead, they were back home in Mercer County enjoying summer festivities. I realized that the budget was out of the control of the House, but it was my understanding the Senate leaders were to be working over the weekend to move the budget process further. I thought I should do a little research in order to clarify the questions.

When I last addressed the issue of the budget, the House had rejected the State Senate’s last draft of a budget and it was being sent back to the Senate. The plan was that a bipartisan Conference Committee would be assigned on Monday to tackle the project. Governor Rendell, however, stated last week that he felt that work could be done over the weekend before the Committee was even assigned. It seems that the Governor was mistaken. According to KYW News Radio 1060 (read HERE),

"Last Thursday, Governor Rendell expressed optimism that negotiations could produce a budget agreement even before the conference committee met. But later that same day, the majority leader of the GOP-controlled Senate said there was no rational basis for such optimism. And in fact, the majority leader’s spokesman says while there were some informal budget discussions over the weekend, there were no breakthroughs. "

It seems that the optimism that was painted on this part of the budget process was simply like ‘putting lipstick on a pig’. The establishment of a Conference Committee may move the budget process forward, but it will not be moving with any particular amount of speed . . . and that is unfortunate.

State Employees Remain Unpaid During Impasse

Another topic that almost everyone agrees on is that shameful use of State Workers as a pawn in budget negotiations. State Employees are currently continuing to work, but they will not receive their paychecks until a budget is passed. The Governor has been using the workers as a threat during budget talks, but no move was ever made through the Governer’s office to insure that workers would continue to get paid. I reported back in mid-May about legislation that was on the table to prevent this exact problem (read HERE). Specifically, House Bill 913 was submitted in March of this year as an effort to insure that State Workers would continue to be paid during a budget impasse. Two State Representatives from Mercer County (Representative Dick Stevenson and Representative Michele Brooks) were part of the group that introduced the bill on March 12. Unfortunately, the bill has been sitting in committee ever since.

Now that State Employees are officially not receiving paychecks, the real problems for the State are just around the corner. According to the Associated Press (read HERE),

"On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor said it had begun investigating whether Pennsylvania has violated its employees' rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act by ordering them to work without regular pay. The department received more than 1,500 calls, a spokeswoman said."

The threat of a Federal Labor Department investigation now has the Governor squirming. So much so, that the Governor is now looking for a ‘quick fix’ like an ‘interim budget’ that would fill the gap until final budget negotiations are completed. According to the same article by the Associated Press,

"Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday that he will look for a way to speed money to pay for Pennsylvania's state government operations so that tens of thousands of employees don't miss more paydays during an entrenched budget impasse. Rendell said he decided to pursue an interim budget that is whittled down to the essentials after informal talks over the weekend with Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, made it clear that any agreement on an approximately $28 billion budget still is far away. "

It seems like the Governor should have focused on this potential problem months ago, but, instead, he was holding on to his big bargaining chip. Again, this is an unfortunate situation no matter how you look at it.

Keystone Exams

Another issue on people’s lists of concerns are the Keystone Exams. Governor Rendell has been trying to push through these graduation exams since the end of the fiscal year, but concerned and responsible lawmakers have been trying to put a stop to it. The exams are EXTREMELY expensive (a seven-year contract totaling $201 MILLION), and their effectiveness is questionable. Senator Jane Orie authored Senate Bill 281 that was designed to STOP the Keystone Exams, and it was referred to the House Education Committee in June . . . where it stalled.

It seems that a bipartisan group of lawmakers are going to attempt to drag the legislation out of committee this week through a Discharge Resolution. A Discharge Resolution is a tool that can be used by the House to force legislation out of committee. We last saw it used in mid-June in an effort to move the Budget forward (read HERE for details). A Discharge Resolution requires 25 signatures from House Members, and I suspect the list of names may be similar to those that signed onto DR1 and DR2 in June (read the list HERE).

With the current state of the economy, local taxpayers are concerned about projects with large price tags, and the Keystone Exams qualify in that regard. Taxpayers simply aren’t willing to pay.

Health Care Reform

Another important issue of discussion last week was that of Health Care Reform. While the President is currently pushing for some sort of “Universal” plan that would cover all Americans, people are discussing the various possibilities amongst themselves, and it is a rather ‘healthy debate’ (no pun intended).

The majority of people that I talked to agree that SOMETHING needs to be done to provide health insurance for those that don’t have it. Unfortunately, no one is exactly sure what the best solution would be. Surprisingly enough, this is the same problem that lawmakers in Washington are running into. The problem is SO big, that a quick fix doesn’t seem possible. For that reason, most people that I talked to simply felt that this was an issue that deserved more time and debate. Rather than pushing through some sort of legislation now, most taxpayers feel that more time should be taken to hammer out the details and examine the big picture.

The President has hopes of passing something through sooner, but I think that most Americans would prefer to take our time to do this right. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Gun Rights: Concealed Weapons Amendment

The final issue that was brought up numerous times last week was the recent amendment that was voted on in the U.S. Senate regarding the Concealed Weapons Law (specifically referred to as Senate Amendment 1618 to Senate Bill 1390). The amendment would have required each of the 48 states that currently allow concealed firearms to honor permits issued in other states. The issue was overwhelming supported by those of us that firmly support the Second Amendment, but it was hotly debated by those that wish to limit gun rights.

The issue was brought to vote on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. It needed 60 votes to pass the Senate. It only received 58 votes (with a final vote count of 58 to 39). Three Senators did not vote (Byrd, Kennedy, and Mikulski). Pennsylvania Senators Casey and Spector split their votes (Casey was FOR the amendment, and Spector was AGAINST it).

The issue of Gun Rights is an important one in Mercer County. With a strong base of sportsmen in the area, the issue was supported by Republicans and Democrats alike.

In Closing . . .

While I had the opportunity to discuss MANY issues with local taxpayers, these were the ones that were brought up most often. I wanted to share the details with all of you so that you, too, have a sense of the conversations that are going on. I thank all of the folks that took the time to talk to me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations, and I look forward to many more opportunities in the coming weeks and months.

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Mercer County Senior Follies, August 1-2, 2009

Event Announcement

"Happy Days Are Here Again"

Saturday, August 1, 2007 (curtain 7pm) and Sunday, August 2, 2009 (curtain 2pm)

Hickory High School Auditorium

Tickets $10.00 at the door or from cast members.

Proceeds donated to Shango Valley Center for Aging and Geriatric Health

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Senator Bob Robbins and Rep. Brad Roae: PENNVEST financing

Legislator Announcement

Robbins, Roae announce PENNVEST financing
Meadville Water Authority to receive $4.82 million

The Meadville Area Water Authority will receive $4.82 million in state financing to help cover the costs of a major water project, according to State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) and State Representative Brad Roae (R-6).

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) today approved the low-interest loan for the project, which involves the installation of more than 7,600 feet of water mains and fire hydrants.

“This project will correct a serious problem facing the Meadville Water Authority,” Senator Robbins said. “The new water mains will ultimately replace an existing main that is exposed and located in an area that makes it almost impossible to repair. If that main were to leak, it could cause serious flooding problems for the city and particularly the Allegheny College campus.”

“This upgrade will address problems with unaccounted for water losses and security and environmental concerns regarding the existing exposed pipe,” said Representative Roae. “This project is essential to maintain a safe and reliable water system for the Meadville community.”

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Don’t Take My Word For It

Written by Roberta Biros

Yesterday I wrote a blog post titled “The Budget Negotiations Remind Me of a Story . . .”. In it, I explained that the budget negotiation process so far in Harrisburg has amounted to the Republican-lead Senate and the Democrat-lead House putting a ‘big red x’ through the proposed budgets of each. If you think I’m exaggerating, I invite you to take a look at the Senate version of House Bill 1416 as it came out of the Senate on Sunday. Click HERE to see the bill.

Does anyone really think that this is making progress? Me neither.

Yesterday, the House had an opportunity to vote on the Senate version of HB1416, and it was turned down 150 to 49. This version of the budget WAS NOT turned down strictly on party lines this time. Why? Because some people in Harrisburg are seeing the problem for what it is . . . a political nightmare. 48 Republicans jumped off of the sinking ship and joined with House Democrats to turn down the State Senate’s last version of the budget. With the initial game playing finally at an end, it is anticipated that a six-member bipartisan conference committee of senators and representatives will now be appointed in order to seriously negotiate the budget terms. Three Republicans and three Democrats will be selected to serve on the committee and to finally work together to work out the details of a passable budget.

Everything that has happened up until this point has been political posturing. What really needs to happen is a few serious planners need to sit down, roll up their sleeves, and work this problem out. Hopefully, the appointment of a conference committee will achieve that goal.

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Happy Birthday Mom!

Written by Roberta Biros

Today is July 22, 2009. Today is my Mom's 73rd Birthday.

I'll start off by saying that she would HATE the picture that I've posted of her as she hates every picture that she is in (she and I share that trait). I'll also add that she would not be embarrassed by me posting her age. She sees herself as young at heart, and she realizes that 'the number' isn't important.

My mother is the youngest of 13 children, so she has always been surrounded by folks that are older that she is. She currently lives in a senior living community, and she is one of the 'youngsters' in the neighborhood. I am the youngest of my Mother's five children. As the youngest, I spent the most quality time with her as a kid. While my brothers and sisters were off at school, my Mom and I spent some very special time together. It made us close and we have always shared a special bond.

If you ever met her, she would be easy to remember. She makes the most of everyday (as we all should), and her love of 'angels' is a testimony to her deep faith and genuine optimism.

I cherish my Mom. As I get older I realize how lucky I am to have her around. While we are separated in distance by about a hundred miles, I feel closer to her now than ever before. We talk on the phone several times a week at length (thank goodness for "unlimited long-distance"). We always enjoy talking . . . we are perfect shopping partners . . . we share a shameful love for ice cream . . . and we especially enjoy playing guitars together whenever we have the chance. We are a pair.

There was a day (when I was much younger) that I was annoyed when people said "you are just like your Mother". The years have taught me that there is no higher compliment.

Happy Birthday Mom!

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The Budget Negotiations Remind Me of a Story . . .

Written by Roberta Biros

I read a story about the Pennsylvania State budget this morning (read HERE), and it struck a nerve. In summary, in February our Democrat Governor released a state budget that no one liked. In May, the Republican lead State Senate passed their version of a state budget (SB 850). It was voted through along party lines and was sent it to the House. Last week the Democrat lead House rejected the Senate version of the budget, and, instead, passed their own budget bill (HB 1416). That bill was passed through the House by a straight party line vote. The Bill was then sent back to the Republican lead State Senate. Yesterday, the State Senate took the House Bill and rejected it and sent a new version back to the House.

By the looks of it, this process may continue indefinitely and Pennsylvania State workers, vendors, and taxpayers are being held hostage. Neither side is willing to work towards a compromise because strict ideals have drawn some pretty clear lines in the sand. While the process is becoming frustrating for lawmakers and taxpayers alike, I had to sit back and laugh today because the topic reminds me of a story. Allow me to share . . .

We’ve all had bosses that we didn’t like. Many of us have had bosses that we didn’t get along with. Some of us have had bosses that fell into both categories at the same time. I’m reminded of a fellow that I worked for many years ago. He owned and operated a software company. I was the manager of software training, technical support, and documentation. We were in the process of releasing a new version of our software, and I was busy drafting the user manuals for the program. The project would eventually include hundreds of pages of user instruction and reference, but the process began with a summary outline of each volume and chapter. I remember drafting the outline for an entire volume of the documentation. I submitted the draft to my boss so that he could comment and rework the outline before I started writing content. My boss took the draft home over the weekend. On Monday morning when I got to my office the draft was sitting on my desk. Rather than seeing multiple comments and suggestions for changes, the draft was simply marked up with one big red “X” on each and every page of the outline. He offered no suggestions or comments . . . he simply rejected everything that I had presented and left me with no direction or guidance of how to proceed.

When I tell people the story, they usually laugh because they realize what an ‘arse’ this guy was being. Twelve years later, it is easy for me to laugh about it too. At the time, however, it wasn’t funny at all. Unfortunately, this story explains exactly what is happening in our state legislature right now . . . and it just isn’t funny.

The Democrats in the House put a big red “X” through Senate Bill 850. The Republicans in the Senate have just put a big red “X” through House Bill 1416. There seems to be no conversation . . . there seems to be no communication . . . there seems to be no progress.

In my story, I eventually resigned from my position and left to start my own business. My former boss and I parted ways and went on to ‘do our own thing’. In the story of the State Budget, parting ways and ‘doing our own thing’ is simply not an option. This is a problem that needs to be worked out . . . and soon.

In an Associated Press story (read HERE), Pennsylvania voters are getting annoyed with the game playing in Harrisburg, and they are blaming the governor and legislators. According to the article, the poll “found 27 percent of the state's voters approve of the job the Legislature is doing. That's barely higher than the Legislature's 26 percent approval rating that the same pollster found following the 2005 legislative pay raise mess.” Those are some pretty troubling numbers for legislators. Poor poll numbers for the Governor won’t hurt Mr. Rendell (since his term is up next year anyway), but legislators have every reason to be concerned. 2010 will be a big election year for the House and Senate, and poor approval ratings may make for a thorough ‘house cleaning’ (no pun intended) during the next election cycle. Legislators need to step up and offer some leadership. The constant bickering needs to stop, and reasonable lawmakers need to take control of the process. There are potential heros to be made in all of this, and it will simply be a matter of time before we find out who they are.

As always, just my opinion.

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2009-2010 PA State Budget: Will History Repeat Itself?

Representative Michele Brooks, Representative Dick Stevenson, and Representative Mark Longietti respond to budget questions, and Senator Bob Robbins may be on the hot seat

Written by Roberta Biros

I’ve been following the negotiations related to the Pennsylvania Budget very closely. As a fiscal conservative I am completely against tax increases to fund growing government programs. Instead, it is my opinion that government (at all levels) should be forced to “live within its means”. That being said, when times are tough, difficult and painful cuts need to be made to limit spending to match income. I prescribe to this type of responsible spending in my own business and household, and I expect the same from our elected officials with regard to the spending of ‘our money’.

A key issue in this year’s budget negotiations is the matter of a potential increase in the personal income tax (referred to as PIT). Those that support an increase in the PIT argue that costs have risen so taxes need to rise to adjust. Those that are against an increase (like myself) argue that as a percentage based tax the PIT automatically adjusts to the income of the taxpayers every year, and it is the job of elected officials to adjust spending appropriately. I’ve been vocal about my opinions about a possible tax increase. If you ask any of the state legislators representing Mercer County, they will tell you that I’ve contacted them enough times that they know where I stand on the issue. I believe that it is our responsibility as taxpayers to provide our legislators with clear instructions on ‘how we want to be represented’, and I am not alone in my dedication to that task.

On Friday morning of last week (July 17th), I sent an email message to the three State Representatives that cover the Mercer County area—Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th), Representative Mark Longietti (D-7th), and Representative Dick Stevenson (R-8th). My question was a simple one as follows:

I have a very straight-forward question for you regarding the 2009-2010 State Budget, and I'm hoping that you or your staff could provide an answer. I realize that the budget issue is a complicated one, but I'm interested in the general feedback that your office has received from residents / taxpayers regarding the issue of TAX HIKES vs. COST CUTTING.

QUESTION: Would you say that residents "supported the idea of paying higher taxes" or would you say that residents "preferred to cut costs and reduce funding for some programs"? Additionally, can you provide a specific numeric ratio of those opinions based on the calls, letters, and email messages that your office has fielded over the past several weeks?

I received responses from all three legislators on Friday.

The first response came from Representative Michele Brooks within about a half-hour of my original query. Representative Brooks stated that her constituents overwhelmingly said they cannot afford a tax increase and government must start living within its means just as they do. Her office received hundreds of contacts against a PIT tax increase, while only a handful of her constituents stated that they supported an increase.

The second response came later in the day from Representative Dick Stevenson. Representative Stevenson stated that the feedback from his office was similar to that of Representative Brooks. The majority of the contacts were opposed to any increase in taxes and his constituents supported reductions in government spending.

The third and final response came from Representative Mark Longietti. Representative Longietti received quite a bit of feedback in his office as well. Based on his statements, the ‘majority’ of the contacts “neither want taxes raised nor services and programs that they support cut”.

For the record, the Pennsylvania House voted through a proposed budget over the period of Thursday and Friday last week. The House Republican version of the budget (which included across the board cuts and no increase in the personal income tax) was voted down on party lines. The House Democrat version of the budget (which included spending that will eventually require some sort of tax increase) was passed . . . along party lines. Representatives Brooks and Stevenson supported the Republican version of the budget, and they did so in line with the feedback from their constituents. Representative Longietti supported the Democrat version of the budget. He explained that “since our form of government is a representative democracy, and I have been blessed to have been elected to this position, I will continue to listen to the feedback that I receive, consider it along with the other information that I gather, and exercise my best judgment as to what is best for the people of my legislative district and Pennsylvania as a whole. That, I believe, is what I was elected to do.”

Upon passing the House on Friday, House Bill 1416 (the House Democrat version of the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania State Budget) was sent to the State Senate.

Now things will get interesting. The Pennsylvania State Senate is controlled by the Republicans (30-20), but history has shown us that those numbers don’t necessarily mean anything. There was a great AP story published today (read it on KDKA’s site HERE) that reminds us about some recent past history in the Pennsylvania Senate.

The story looks back to December of 2003 when “14 Republican state senators voted with Democrats to pave the way for an increase in Pennsylvania's personal income tax”. At that time, Pennsylvania taxpayers did not support a tax increase either, but 14 bold Republican state senators voted for the increase anyway, and most of them eventually paid the price for their mistake. That move (along with the infamous ‘middle-of-the-night’ legislative pay raises that were approved and rescinded in 2005) forced 8 of those 14 Senators out of office in 2006.

After reading the story, my question was “Who are the remaining 6 Republicans that SHOULD HAVE been fired in 2006, but still remain in office?” I did some research, and I found the answer (read the original vote record from 2003 HERE). The following Republican Senators who voted FOR the 2003 tax increase are still in office and are now part of the Republican Majority in the Pennsylvania Senate that will be responsible for the 2009-2010 Budget:

Senator Edwin Erickson (26th)
Senator Jeffrey Piccola (15th)
Senator Dominic Pileggi (9th)
Senator Robert Robbins (50th)
Senator Robert Tomlinson (6th)
Senator Mary Jo White (21st)

I find the list of particular interest because it includes the name of the honorable senator that represents Mercer County, Robert “Bob” Robbins. Will Senator Robbins represent his constituents by standing firm against an increase in taxes? I’ve contacted Senator Robbins a number of times (along with the three State Representatives listed above), but I have never received as much as one response from him or his office. I cannot, therefore, provide any information on where Senator Robbins stands on this issue.

Fiscal conservatives across the state will be watching the continued budget negotiations very closely. We will be keeping a particularly close eye on the Senators listed above. They managed to squeak by and keep their jobs in 2006, but with 2010 re-elections just around the corner, will they be so lucky again?

As always, just my opinion.

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People from My Old Neighborhood React to Recent Burglaries

Written by Roberta Biros

I read (and watched) with interest today about a story out of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, today. Having lived in North Huntingdon for over 14 years, I was curious to learn more about a recent string of robberies that have hit several neighborhoods there. Much like Mercer County, North Huntingdon is rarely in the news as the general population consists of hard-working and law-abiding citizens. This series of burglaries simply reminds us all that crime can hit anytime and anywhere.

You can read more about the story HERE at KDKA.com, and you can watch the video HERE.

Is this a sign of the times?

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PA Budget Update: The House is Finally Ready to Play Ball

Written by Roberta Biros

Today was the same as most days. My husband and I got up early . . . had a light breakfast . . . and headed out to our office to concentrate on our work for the day. While we work we either listen to the radio (I like listening to Joe Biro on WPIC 790AM), listen to the TV (if anything interesting is on), or we listen to the broadcast of House Live from the PA House of Representatives. This week being as important as it is, I've been tuned into House Live when the House is in session as I'm waiting for something to happen regarding the Pennsylvania State Budget.

Unfortunately, the House has been in recess often during the past several weeks, but when they are in session, the Live Feed is actually very interesting. This afternoon, it looks as though some serious debate will finally begin regarding the budget that was finally 'taken away' from the House Appropriations Committee. Opening comments were made by the House Appropriations Committee Minority Chairman, Mario Civera, and House Appropriations Committee Majority Chairman, Dwight Evans. The comments were interesting seeing that these two gentlemen have been slinging mud back and forth at each other for the past several weeks. At a recent fair, a woman described the conversations as "polite name calling", which I found appropriate.

After the initial opening remarks (at about 1:15pm), Representative Dick Stevenson (R-8, representating Mercer and Butler Counties) addressed the House with some supportive remarks regarding Representative Civera's Amendment to the Budget. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Representative Stevenson has been deeply involved in the budget process, although I admit that I haven't heard much from Representative Stevenson in the way of press releases or public comments (other than those that I've already published).

It appears as though today's activities will be limited to grandstanding by both sides of the aisle while taxpaying Pennsylvanians turn blue while they are holding their breath for a budget to be passed. While the House is devoted to speeches this afternoon, we are all hopeful that both sides will come together to actually pass a budget (rather than just talking about it).

If you are interested in watching the process as it occurs, be sure to log onto the House Live Feed. As taxpayers, it is important for us all to understand the issues that are being debated so that we know how and why the decisions are made in Harrisburg. While you are watching, be sure to cross your fingers in hope of a finalized budget sometime soon. (While you are at it, add an extra wish for no tax increases!)

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Representative Michele Brooks and Representative Dick Stevenson Offer Comments on the State Budget

Written by Roberta Biros

Representative Dick Stevenson and Representative Michele Brooks offered statements through YouTube this week regarding the State Budget negotiations.

Representative Dick Stevenson described recent moves by House Democrats in his video that was published on Monday, July 13th (view HERE or below):



Representative Michele Brooks explains her stand on the budget details in her video that was released on Wednesday, July 15th (view HERE or below):



You can access Representative Stevenson's and Representative Brooks' websites through the links below:

Representative Dick Stevenson (R-8th): http://www.dickstevenson.com/

Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th): http://repbrooks.com/

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Representative Mark Longietti and Representative Michele Brooks Announce Grants for Mercer County

Written by Roberta Biros
with Legislator Announcements from Representative Mark Longietti and Representative Michele Brooks

According to Representative Mark Longietti and Representative Michele Brooks, some much needed funding will be flowing into Mercer County. Representative Longietti released an announcement on Tuesday, July 14th, and Representative Michele Brooks made her announcement on Wednesday, July 15th. Both make Mercer County residents aware of the fact that grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority will be coming to Mercer County municipalities for water and sewer projects.

As per the announcement from Representative Mark Longietti:

HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Mark Longietti announced today that three Mercer County municipalities will receive a total of $10.46 million in grants for water and sewer projects through the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

"I am pleased our local communities were able to obtain funding to protect water sources and the health of their local residents," said Longietti, D-Mercer. "Even during these tough economic times, the state must continue to invest in projects that benefit our communities."

The projects receiving H2O PA program grants are:

· The City of Sharon Sanitary Authority will receive $9 million to expand its wastewater treatment plant and build an additional interceptor and siphon barrel. The authority, under a state Department of Environmental Protection decree, is
building a new treatment plant at a cost of about $30 million. The authority already received a $15 million Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority loan, but had to finance the rest of the project through bonds, causing rates to go up to levels that some people could not afford. "It is my hope this grant will help ease the problems caused by higher sewer rates in Sharon," Longietti said.

· Hermitage Municipal Authority will receive $1 million to increase the capacity of its regional wastewater treatment plant. One of the upgrades will be to the sludge
processing system, which will be replaced with one that meets the needs of the 7.7 million-gallons-per-day flow, as well as provide a system that will use methane gas to fuel an onsite generator and provide power to the treatment plant. The authority had been under a DEP order to build a new treatment plant.

· Sharpsville will receive $461,425 for water system improvements that include
replacing a water line.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority administers and finances projects included in the H2O PA program. It also oversees other programs that use targeted state investment to attract private capital for economic development in all regions of the state.

The H2O PA Act, established by the General Assembly in July 2008, provides grants to municipalities or municipal authorities to assist with the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer projects.

As per the announcement from Representative Michele Brooks:

Jefferson Township in Mercer County will be able to expand sewer service and upgrade its operations thanks to a state grant funded through the PA H20 Program and the Commonwealth Financing Authority, said Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Crawford/Mercer/Lawrence).

“I am pleased the township was awarded this funding, as Jefferson Township has been identified by the Mercer County Comprehensive Plan as an area targeted for growth,” Brooks said. “This grant will enable the township to upgrade its infrastructure to meet current and future demands.”

The local grant will enable the township to provide sewerage service to nearly 220 homes and businesses. Specifically, the project will address the elimination of malfunctioning on-lot sewage disposal systems and permit future non-residential development within the project area.

The township will receive nearly $1.7 million from the authority as part of Act 63 of 2008, which created the PA H20 program. This program was created a referendum vote last year.

You can visit the websites of both Representative Longietti and Representative Brooks through the links below:

Representative Mark Longietti (D-7th): http://www.pahouse.com/Longietti/

Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th): http://repbrooks.com/

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A Great Video Worth Sharing

or CLICK HERE to view.

A Great Quote

"When a politician decides to make a living of politics, that's the day he becomes corrupt."

Jerry Springer, quoted in the London Daily Telegraph

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Still No Budget, But Personal Income Tax Increases May Be Dead

Written by Roberta Biros

It was a long day for lawmakers in the Harrisburg yesterday. The 2009-2010 budget battle continues, but there seems to be good news for taxpayers.

Below is a legislator announcement from Representative Brad Roae (R-6th) outlining the basics:

Roae Issues Statement on State Budget Negotiations

Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) issued the following statement in reaction to the announcement by House Democratic leadership that floor sessions are cancelled until Monday:

“The Democrats just canceled session for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” Roae said. “Monday is now the next possible day that we can vote on the budget.

“Today the Democratic leadership realized that almost all of the House Republicans and about 20 “Blue Dog” Democrats will not vote to increase the Personal Income Tax, as a result, the chances for passing a Personal Income Tax increase have been dealt a severe blow.

“Pennsylvania currently has the 11th highest tax burden in the nation. The people of Crawford County cannot afford an increase in the Personal Income Tax.

“The Republicans are prepared to vote on a responsible budget plan that has no Personal Income Tax increase, will protect the people and will support the core functions of government.

“Only the committee chair of the majority party can bring a bill up for a vote at a committee meeting.

"There are 104 Democrats and 99 Republicans in the state House, so the Democratic chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), is the only person who can release the budget for a vote.

“I am here representing the people of my district. I wish the Democrats would let us conduct session so we can get on with the people’s business.”

Rep. Brad Roae
6th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(814) 827-6054
(717) 787-2353
(717) 787-3407
Member Site: RepRoae.com
Caucus Site: PAHouseGOP.com

Representative Roae's announcement hits on some important key points. First, it is disappointing to see that work on the budget has again been put on hold in exchange for a long weekend. Like many taxpayers, I'd prefer to see the legislature remain in session to hammer this thing out, but that just isn't going to happen.

Second, it is great to see that my fellow "Blue Dog Democrats" (fiscal conservative Democrats) are willing to take a stand for good government and responsible spending and stand on the side of "no tax increases". Without the "numbers", House Democrats will be hard pressed to push through Governor Rendell's budget and Senate Bill 850 may actually be moved forward in some form.

A front-page story in today's Herald explains that the process of moving the Senate version of the budget forward may simply be a ploy to kill the budget in the Governor's office, but I suppose only time will tell [read the story from The Herald HERE (there was no specific link available at the time of publication of this blog post)].

The fact that there is finally SOME movement of the budget is promising, but this battle is far from over. There was some celebrating by Republican legislator's yesterday and today. Here are a few tidbits from the PA House GOP website:

Rep. Smith says "Personal Income Tax Plan Dead In Its Tracks "

As per the PA House GOP website, Republican Leader Sam Smith announces that the governor's tax hike proposal is dead [view the video HERE]

Rep. Brooks says "We Have Made Huge Strides On Budget Goals "

As per the PA House GOP website, Rep. Michele Brooks expresses excitement that the governor's tax increase proposal has been taken off the table of budget discussions. [view the video HERE]

A review of the House Democrat's news website was a little less informative. As of this morning, there were not recents posts regarding budget negotiations. A deeper search takes you to the site of the House Appropriations Committee (who has control of the budget), but their site has no new information to report.

10:30am: House Republican's Announce a House Budget Bill Amendment

This morning, the House Republican's held a press conference to introduce their amendment to the Budget Bill (SB850). House Republican's have taken the original Senate Bill 850 and messaged it through a line-by-line review. Details are a little vague at this point, but more information will become available on Monday when lawmakers get back to business in Harrisburg. If approved, the House version of the budget could travel back to the Senate for another round of negotiations.

So, where does that leave us (the taxpayers)? At this point, Legislators headed home for the weekend and intend on returning to Harrisburg for Monday sessions. According to the House GOP website, "The House of Representatives will convene in voting session at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 13, unless sooner recalled by the Speaker." At that time it is expected that Senate Bill 850 will FINALLY be released from the House Appropriations Committee and House Members will have an opportunity to amend the bill and vote on it. Based on the numbers, it is expected that the bill will pass the House with some changes and will be moved forward. There is no way to tell how long this process will take, but at least it looks like some movement is being made . . . and that is good news.

Be sure to log into the House Live feed on Monday (July 13) at 2pm when the House is scheduled to convene.

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BLOG POST UPDATE:

Here is a link a video of the PA House GOP press conference that was held this morning at 10:30am.

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Weekend Update: July 4th & a Surprise Wedding

Written by Roberta Biros

For my weekend readers, I wanted to share the details of my July 4th activities.

July 4th morning

As most of you know, it was my plan to attend the July 4th TEA Party in downtown Mercer on the morning of July 4th. I did, and I was amazed at the size of the crowd. I had planned on including photos from the event, but I’ll admit that I simply never had an opportunity to dig out my camera. I was passing out goodies and was talking to attendees before the event . . . I was listening to the speakers during the event . . . and I had to head out shortly before the event ended. I hated to leave early, but I had an earlier commitment that I couldn’t miss (read below). I apologize to those that I didn't have time to talk with.

The TEA Party was a great event, and it was a nice way to spend the morning of the 4th of July! I was able to touch base with some ‘old friends’ and I made some ‘new friends’ along the way. It was a very enjoyable family event.

July 4th afternoon

I had promised to be home NO LATER THAN 11:30am as we needed to leave the house BY NOON. My brother, who lives in Fayette County, was having a picnic for the 4th, and he asked that we be there by 2:30pm. I knew that the 2.5 hour drive would have us pressed to make it on-time. Unfortunately, I didn’t leave the courthouse in Mercer until about 11:45. I raced home quickly . . . changed clothes . . . and we were out of the house on-time at noon. We reached my brother’s house shortly before 2:30pm. I WAS REALLY GLAD I WASN’T LATE as my brother and his fiancé had a surprise for those in attendance.

At 3pm, he asked everyone at the party to gather around the pool. He then proceeded to hand out envelopes and we were all instructed to NOT open them yet. Once everyone was in place, we were all told to open the envelopes all at one time. The note inside read as follows:

To our children, families, friends and neighbors . . . SURPRISE!

Welcome to the marriage of Tonya & Charles. July 4, 2009, Uniontown, PA.

We are so happy that you could be here today to share this moment with us.

My brother (dressed in a patriotic t-shirt and swim trunks) slipped a tuxedo t-shirt on . . . his fiancé (dressed in a bathing suit with cover-up) put on a veil & picked up a bouquet . . . the pastor stepped up to the pool (near the diving board) . . . and they held the ceremony immediately.

Wow . . . a 4th of July picnic and a surprise wedding ceremony all in the same afternoon. Brilliant!

Needless to say, everyone in attendance was delighted (and shocked). I was glad that I had my camera available to document the event. Here are just a few photos for your enjoyment. I hope it illustrates the carefree flavor of the event. (the photo in the upper right hand corner is the very funny cake topper)

(Above) The Pool-Side Ceremony.

(Above-left to right) My Brother-in-Law, Husband, Sister, and Mother.

(Above) A Very Happy Groom.

(Above) The "Traditional" Cake Cutting Ceremony.

(Above) Me with my Brother (the New Groom).

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Don't Let Our Freedom Be Taken Away

Written by Roberta Biros

On July 4th, proud Americans celebrate their independence. We have picnics and cookouts and fireworks. As we celebrate, however, our independence and freedoms are slowly being stolen. Our government is taking away our liberty through higher taxes as they force us, the taxpayers, to pay for their pet projects and bad decisions.

Budget battles are going on in Washington DC as well as in every state capitol across this country. Lawmakers at every level are making decisions . . . important decisions . . . “Should we tax more or spend less?” Taxpayers are beginning to organize and speak out as a group. The message in every case is the same . . . “Government needs to stop the tax increases, stop overspending, and begin to live within its means”. In order to be heard, we must speak up and get involved. Whether you attend a protest -or- contact your legislator -or- run for office -or- write a letter to the editor -or- “all of the above”, it is important that you voice your opinion while you still have a chance.

Mercer County Budget Woes

I’ve drafted and sent the following letter to the Editor of The Herald, and I’d like to share it with all of you. The letter is in response to an on-going issue involving Mercer County Commissioners and the unions representing county workers (read the full story HERE and HERE and HERE). There was also a letter to the editor of the Herald from the three Commissioners, but it was not available for on-line viewing at the time of this posting. In that letter, Commissioner Lechner stated:

“Lastly, you questioned whether the union vote would be different if commissioners and row officers had first made some personal sacrifices. We made it abundantly clear to your reporter when he visited our office immediately after the meeting with labor that the commissioners had informed labor that we were going to participate in the pay reduction and that several row officers had already indicated that they would as well.”

Here is my response to the issue and to the letter from the Commissioners:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

In Harrisburg this week, our legislators are battling over the state budget. The key question is whether to increase taxes or cut costs. While it is an understandably difficult decision, it is one that we all make in our own households everyday. The main difference is that when we balance our personal budgets, we don’t have the luxury of simply increasing our income with the swipe of a pen. Instead, we are forced to live within our means in order to make ends meet. This usually means giving up luxuries, but it often requires giving up necessities.

As the Commonwealth struggles with its financial difficulties, necessary budget cuts will ultimately affect us locally. Mercer County Commissioners are already considering how our own county budget will be affected by cuts at the state level. Our County Commissioners are, of course, already considering tax increases; but they are also looking at ways to cut costs. They recently met with union representatives regarding possible cut backs in the courthouse during this difficult time. Union representatives rejected the county’s proposal, and they were absolutely right to do so. Our County Commissioners asked union workers to take a cut, but the Commissioners didn’t bother to demonstrate a level of fiscal responsibility and commitment before entering discussions.

Rather than blaming The Herald and its reporters in a recent letter to the Editor, the Commissioners should have walked into negotiations with the union well prepared. Perhaps a signed pledge from elected officials and row officers volunteering to give back a percentage of their paychecks if the union agreed to similar cuts . . . or, better yet, a pledge stating that they would donate a portion of their salaries back to the County’s general fund regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the union.

Our County leaders need to realize that as elected officials they are expected to be both leaders and public servants . . . in this case, they have not demonstrated either. Rather than asking others to sacrifice, they should have lead by example by being the first to give back to the taxpayers.

Roberta Biros
Delaware Township

In Closing

This is just another example of elected officials taking us, the taxpayers, for granted. It is time that we pressure lawmakers to be accountable and responsible. We need to let them know exactly how we feel our taxes should be spent (or not), and we must be persistent. It is our right . . . it is our priviledge . . . and it is our duty.

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A Musical Reference for July 4th

Written by Roberta Biros

I tried to find something a little different to offer my loyal readers as an Independence Day gift. I decided to return to my roots (County Music) and dust off an "oldie but a goodie". Enjoy this musical reference from Merle Haggard:

Fightin' Side Of Me

Written and Performed by Merle Haggard.

I hear people talkin' bad,
About the way they have to live here in this country,
Harpin' on the wars we fight,
An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.
I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,
An' standin' up for things that they believe in.
When they're runnin' down our country, man,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song that I'm singin' be a warnin'.
When you're runnin' down our country, hoss,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

I read about some squirrely guy,
Who claims, that he just don't believe in fightin'.
An' I wonder just how long,
The rest of us can count on bein' free.
They love our milk an' honey,
But they preach about some other way of livin'.
When they're runnin' down our country, man,
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down the way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song that I'm singin' be a warnin'.
When you're runnin' down my country, man,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
Runnin' down a way of life,
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it:
Let this song that I'm singin' be a warnin'.
When you're runnin' down my country, hoss,
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

You can view the video on YouTube HERE.




For those of you that enjoy "classic county music", you might like this one too . . . Okie from Muskogee.




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Urine or You're Out

Written by Anonymous

I received this through a re-forwarded email message. I have no idea who originally wrote it, but it is worth sharing:

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. So here is my Question.

Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their rump --doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.

Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!!!!

A Stunning Senior Moment

Written by Anonymous

A self-important college freshman walking along the beach tok it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen resting on the steps why it was impossible for the order generation to understand his generation. "You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one" the student said loud enough for others to hear. "The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon. We have nuclear energy, ships and cell phones, computers with light speed . . . and many more." After a brief silence, the senior citizen responded as follows.

"You're right son. We didn't have those things when we were young . . . so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little sh*t what are you doing for the next generation? The applause was amazing!

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Representative Mark Longietti's Health Care Bill is Signed into Law

LEGISLATOR ANNOUNCEMENT

In a newsletter released by the office of Representative Mark Longietti today, Rep. Longietti stated:

I want to update you on some good news coming out of Harrisburg. Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday signed into law the Senate version of a bill I introduced that will extend parents' health insurance coverage to eligible uninsured children through age 29.

I believe the law is important now because many young people stay in school longer to get an education to help them in an increasingly competitive job market. Many young people start their working life in jobs that do not offer benefits. Some have had trouble finding a job in today's rough economy.

Young adults and their families can start reaping the benefits of the new law in December.

You can read details of the law here. You can view some video of the event by clicking here.

I also want to let you know I'm working on other legislation important to Mercer County. One bill would allow businesses to get tax credits for financially supporting programs such as the Success by Six program started by the United Way of Mercer County. Another bill I am co-sponsoring would help manufacturing and high-tech business grow even in this struggling economy.

If you have any questions about state-related issues, please contact me or call my staff in the Hermitage office at (724) 981-4655.

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