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August 5, 2009

Senator Mike Waugh
E-News Update

In this Edition:

• Hi Everyone!
• State Budget Update
• Budget Audio and Video Clips
• House Committee Approves Waugh Legislation
• Governor Signs Legislation Extending Unemployment Benefits
• Waugh Participates in "Save Our Plant" Rally
• PennDOT Online E-newsletter Launched
• York County Farmstand Tour
• Agritourism Resource Handbook Available
• About the E-News Update
• My offices are here to serve you

Hi Everyone!

As work continues in Harrisburg to enact a responsible state budget for fiscal year 2009-2010, I wanted to provide you with an update on where the process currently stands, as well as information pertaining to additional topics that may be of interest.  As always, if you need further details on any of the issues below or other state-related matters, please do not hesitate to contact me.

State Budget Update

On July 17th, with a vote of 104-95, the House approved an amended version of House Bill 1416, which increased overall spending while removing higher education from the general fund budget, essentially leaving it to be funded through some form of tax increase.

Upon receiving HB 1416 from the House, the Senate also amended the bill by reinstating higher education into the general fund and reducing overall spending to a fiscally responsible level that takes into consideration the state’s current $3.25 billion revenue shortfall.

On July 20th the Senate passed this amended version of HB 1416 with a vote of 31-19.  The following day the House voted to "non-concur" in our amendments by a vote of 49-150, which essentially means they did not support the Senate changes.  However, the Senate "insisted" in our amendments, ultimately leading to the formation of a Conference Committee.

Such a Committee is made up of three members of the House of Representatives and three members of the Senate – two from the majority party and one from the minority party of each Chamber.   Members of the Conference Committee are: Senator Dominic Pileggi, Majority Leader of the Senate; Senator Jake Corman, Majority Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Jay Costa, Minority Leader of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Representative Todd Eachus Majority Leader of the House; Representative Dwight Evans, Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; and Representative Sam Smith, Minority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Wednesday, July 29th marked the first day of the convening of the Conference Committee, although much of the discussion focused on procedural issues and questions surrounding the revenue projections for fiscal year 2009-2010.  The Committee convened again on Thursday, July 30th, and while the Conference Committee has not officially met since then, leaders from both the House and the Senate have been meeting with Governor Rendell in an effort to reach a compromise.

In addition, upon the Governor’s request, just yesterday the House passed Senate Bill 850, the Senate-approved budget bill sent to the House at the beginning of May.  This morning the Governor signed SB 850 but "blue-line vetoed" all line items except those that will provide for payment of state workers, who have not received a full paycheck for their work performed since July 1, when the fiscal year began.

According to Rendell, the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury has begun taking action to ensure prompt payment of workers now that the bill has been signed.

Budget Audio and Video Clips

Click to watch or listen to:

• Floor Remarks by Senator Waugh, July 14th
  
  
• Floor Remarks by Senator Waugh, July 20th
  
• Remarks from Members of the Conference Committee, July 29th

- Senator Corman
- Senator Pileggi

• Remarks from Members of the Conference Committee, July 30th
  - Senator Corman
  - Senator Pileggi

House Committee Approves Waugh Legislation

Yesterday morning the House Judiciary Committee unanimously supported Senate Bill 605, legislation I introduced to define and classify the act of bank robbery. 

SB 605 amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which contains sections pertaining to "robbery" and "robbery of a motor vehicle."  Currently bank robberies are categorized simply as "robbery," and if no bodily harm was done but property was taken, they have been classified as third degree felonies. My legislation now addresses the specific action of taking or removing money of a financial institution, and classifies such a robbery as a felony of the second degree. 

The bill also includes language that addresses the use of notes and verbal threats to carry out bank robberies and provides the tools needed to prosecute offenders, regardless of the method used by robbers.  Often individuals use notes and verbal threats to commit bank robberies thinking their crime will be considered less severe without a weapon, but it is my hope these changes will serve as a deterrent for bank robberies in general, seeing as all such acts would be considered second degree felonies. 

SB 605 now proceeds to the full House for consideration.

Governor Signs Legislation Extending Unemployment Benefits

House Bill 1770, which amends the Extended Benefits Program under Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law to allow claimants to collect seven weeks of federally-funded benefits, was signed into law yesterday by Governor Rendell.  

As of July, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate has risen above 8%, and for many of the workers who lost their jobs, unemployment compensation benefits have proven necessary.  Under current law, they are eligible for 72 weeks of benefits, but the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided for the use of federal stimulus dollars to extend these benefits by seven weeks.  In order for Pennsylvania residents to take advantage of this extension, the legislature was required to amend our current state law, which we have done through the passage of HB 1770. 

When the legislation was before the Senate at the end of July, the bill was amended to make benefits retroactive to July 1, and upon the Governor’s signature, the legislation took effect immediately.   

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, claim forms will begin being mailed tomorrow, and claimants can expect their first payments within two weeks, presuming forms are returned promptly and there are no issues with the claims. 

Waugh Participates in "Save Our Plant" Rally

On Sunday, August 2, 2009, I joined several other elected officials and thousands of supporters at the Harley Davidson "Save Our Plant" Rally sponsored by Fox 43.  The rally was organized in response to Harley Davidson’s potential move of production currently based in Springettsbury Township, York County to a location outside of Pennsylvania.

The Rally began with a 50-mile ride of more than 1,500 Harley motorcycles around York and Adams Counties and continued when riders returned to Sovereign Bank Stadium for a formal program, live performances from local bands, and fun for kids and families.

Governor Ed Rendell was on hand to share with attendees the efforts being made at the state level to assist in keeping the Harley plant in York County, and Congressman Todd Platts spoke of the work being done at the Federal level to do so as well. 

Many of the bikes on display featured "Made in York PA" tags like the one pictured here.  Be sure to view some other great photos from the event posted on my website.

PennDOT Online E-newsletter Launched

Last month the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation implemented an online electronic newsletter, E-PennDOT Digest, to enable the public to access updated information regarding the Department’s programs and services.

The quarterly e-newsletter is available online at the Department’s website by clicking on E-PennDOT Digest under the "News & Media" link.

York County Farmstand Tour

This coming Saturday, August 8, 2009, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. be sure to check out the York County Farmstand Tour, which is sponsored by the York County Agriculture Business Council and Horn Farm Center. Other sponsors are Jim Mack’s Ice Cream, Flinchbaugh’s Orchard & Farm Market, Perrydell Farm, & Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market.

Participants will receive a Farmstand Passport to have stamped at each location they visit throughout the day.  Those who visit three farmstands and have their passport stamped may submit their passports for free ice cream & peaches from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at one of two finale locations: Horn Farm Center or the York County 4-H Fair.

The goal of the tour is to encourage York County consumers to familiarize themselves with their local farm markets and to learn about the benefits of "Buy Fresh, Buy Local".

Agritourism Resource Handbook Available

Throughout York County there are more than 70 agritourism operators – agricultural businesses that open their doors to visitors for educational purposes. 

Now the Center for Rural Pennsylvania has produced a guide for those businesses interested in transitioning to an agritourism venture.  Your Agritourism Business in Pennsylvania: A Resource Handbook will help farmers to decide if agritourism is right for them and will provide guidance on how to establish an agritourism business in Pennsylvania.

While the handbook is available online for downloading, I have a limited number of hard copies available, so if you know of a current agritourism operator or someone interested in starting an agritourism business that does not have Internet access, please have them contact my Harrisburg office at 787-3817.

About the E-News Update

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My offices are here to serve you:
Don't forget to check my website at www.senatorwaugh.com from time to time for updates on legislation, local events and happenings in Harrisburg.  There is a link to email me if you have questions, suggestions or need additional information.  Otherwise, you may contact my district or Harrisburg offices at:

DISTRICT:
218 N. George Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 846-2828 (York)
(717) 382-9940 (Fawn Grove)

920 York Street
Hanover, PA 17331
(717) 637-7311

CAPITOL:
9 East Wing
Senate Box 203028
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3028
(717) 787-3817

TTY: 1-800-364-1581