Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

HEARING TO EXAMINE HOUSE HEALTH PLAN’S IMPACT ON MCARE

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, chaired by Sen. Don White (R-Indiana), will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the impact of the House Democrat health care proposal on Pennsylvania’s MCARE fund.

The House-passed plan would divert funds from the MCARE program, which was established to assist doctors with medical liability insurance premiums, and delay phase-out of the program.

KEY BILLS FACE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

Several key bills are expected to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee when the Senate returns to voting this week.

The 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 panel could also consider bills sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) and Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) to provide tax credits and tuition reimbursement to Pennsylvania’s emergency first responders as a way to help fire companies and emergency medical service companies recruit and retain volunteers.

Senate Bill 1350, legislation sponsored by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) to create an online database so that the public can more easily obtain information on state spending, is also expected to be considered by the committee.

GOP ECONOMIC STIMULUS AND TAX RELIEF PACKAGE, SMOKING BILL

The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), will consider the comprehensive Senate Republican stimulus package on Monday.

The plan would provide nearly $96 million in tax relief for lower-income working Pennsylvanians, small businesses looking to expand, as well as major employers and job creators. (Please see Review, below.)

On Tuesday, the Committee of Conference for Senate Bill 246, chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), will meet to consider Senator Greenleaf's bill to prohibit smoking in public places and workplaces that are enclosed or substantially enclosed.

Senate Republicans unveiled a sweeping stimulus package May 20 that would provide nearly $96 million in tax relief in the upcoming fiscal year for lower-income working Pennsylvanians, small businesses looking to expand, as well as major employers and job creators.

The four-bill package, presented by the bill sponsors and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), would: 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; and increase the eligibility limits for special tax forgiveness for low-income Pennsylvanians.

Senate Republicans are working to include the measures as part of the General Assembly’s consideration of Pennsylvania's 2008-09 budget. (For more on the package, please see In the Spotlight, below.)

Sen. Browne
Sen. Corman
Sen. Eichelberger
Sen. Regola
Sen. Vance

SEN. SCARNATI ANNOUNCES NEW TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PLAN

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced a transportation funding plan May 22 that will repeal Act 44 and eliminate the possibility of tolls on Interstate 80.

Senator Scarnati said it was important to have valuable dialogue with the constituents concerned with Act 44 and believes this led to further examination of the existing proposal.

Senator Scarnati said: "I have stated time and time again that I did not support tolling I-80, but realized that Pennsylvania was faced with a transportation funding crisis. After tremendous input from various individuals and groups, I realized that we needed an improved plan that will meet the demands of our motoring public without placing any area at an economic disadvantage. I believe my plan will do just that."

SENATE REPUBLICANS: NO LAME DUCK SESSION IN 2008

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) announced Thursday that the Senate will not convene for a regular lame duck session in 2008.

The 26 days between November 4 and November 30 are known as a “lame duck" session because some members of the General Assembly can vote on legislation despite the fact that their successors have already been elected. At least six new members will be elected to the Senate this year, replacing retiring members.

A lame duck session can run until November 30 because the state constitution requires the legislative session to end by that date in every even-numbered year. Through the years, lame duck sessions have been criticized because legislators and the governor are less accountable to voters during this period of time. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania is currently one of only 12 states that do not limit the length of legislative sessions.

Nearly a year ago, the Senate approved Senate Bill 468, a constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), which would eliminate regular lame duck sessions. The measure would allow the legislature to convene if a special session is necessary.

Senator Scarnati said: "Whether or not the House acts on Senate Bill 468, we will not convene for a regular lame duck session. If some truly extraordinary event necessitates legislative action, we will be ready to act."

(For additional significant reform proposals passed by the Senate and awaiting House action, please see Fast Facts, below.)

SENATE MAKES LEGISLATIVE JOURNALS DATING BACK TO 1993 ACCESSIBLE ONLINE

Senate leadership, including Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), announced Wednesday that the Senate's complete Legislative Journals from 1993 to 2004 are now available online at www.pasen.gov.

The Senate’s Legislative Journals from 2005 to the present have been available online since January 2007, when the Senate adopted a series of new rules designed to make the legislative process easier to follow. The Senate's Legislative Journals from years prior to 1993, dating as far back as 1802, will continue to be available in the Senate Library.

During the current legislative session, the Senate has added a great deal of information to the official Senate website, including: A live video feed of all Senate sessions; votes from the Senate floor and committees; and the text of all amendments offered on the Senate floor.

Senator Pileggi said: "Having 15 years’ worth of the Senate's Legislative Journals easily accessible is also a valuable educational and historical tool. Many important policy decisions have been made since 1993."

SEN. BAKER OBSERVES EMS WEEK, PROPOSES EMS ACT CHANGES

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, took part in a Capitol event May 22 to honor Pennsylvania’s emergency medical services personnel and to introduce legislation to update the state Emergency Medical Services Act.

Senate Bill 1420 would reduce duplication of service and create a more coordinated and adaptive system by giving EMS personnel the tools they need to continue to provide quality medical care to those in need. The measure would also implement the EMS Scope of Practice used by the National Association of State EMS Officials.

Senator Baker said: "The existing law has not been revised since 1985, but advancements in medicine and technology over the last 20 years have been tremendous. Current regulations do not match today's needs."

SEN. PICCOLA INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES

To better ensure the safety of children who are cared for in residential-based child care centers, Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) unveiled legislation May 20 that would require all family day care home providers to have liability insurance as a condition of their certification.

A family day care home is a child day care center located in a residential home that provides care to four to six children who are not relatives of the caregiver. These types of day cares are self-certifying, which means that providers must only submit a report to the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) that states they are in compliance with all regulations for certification. Regulations currently encourage the approximately 4,500 family day care homes in the state to carry liability insurance, but it is not mandated.

Senate Bill 1421 would also require centers to disclose and explain any inspection summaries issued by DPW, the day care’s policies, and emergency plans.

Senator Piccola said: "Mandating providers to carry this insurance not only covers the day care in the event of an accident, but it also provides the parent with an additional level of security by ensuring that the facility is safe for their child."

In the Spotlight

The Senate Republican plan to provide $96 million in tax relief to job creators and low-income families includes:

Senate Bill 1385, sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre), to expand the cap on the Net Operating Loss provision of the Corporate Net Income Tax to $5 million or 20 percent of taxable income. The NOL expansion is projected to save Pennsylvania employers $78.2 million by Fiscal Year 2010-11.
"Increasing the NOL cap would provide a real incentive for business expansion and development, which in turn should provide more security for existing jobs and make it more attractive for employers to add new positions," Senator Corman said.
Senate Bill 1387, sponsored by Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland), to double the amount that small businesses may deduct on their income tax filing for the costs of machinery and equipment to $50,000, which is projected to provide $6.6 million in savings to Pennsylvania's small businesses.
"This will provide relief to those small businesses looking to make substantial investments in equipment and machinery by providing for an increased tax deduction. That deduction may very well make a difference in whether a company will expand its operations," Senator Vance said.
Senate Bill 1388, sponsored by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), to expand the Corporate Net Income Tax sales factor to 85 percent. Currently, the sales factor accounts for 70 percent of the apportionment formula, and the property and payroll factors each account for 15 percent. As a result, Pennsylvania companies are penalized by increased taxes when they hire new employees or make capital investments in the commonwealth.
"Increasing the weight of the sales factor would help Pennsylvania companies that are based here and employ our citizens as opposed to those companies that just sell their products here," Senator Eichelberger said.
Senate Bill 1386, sponsored by Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), to increase the eligibility limits for special tax forgiveness for low-income Pennsylvanians. Currently, a family of four with a combined income of less than $32,000 pays no state income tax. Under SB 1386, families earning $37,000 or less would be exempt.
"There has not been an increase in the base amount since 1998 and the dependent allowance has not been increased since 2003, the same year that Governor Rendell imposed his 10 percent personal income tax increase," Senator Regola said.

Fast Facts

SENATE-PASSED REFORM MEASURES AWAITING HOUSE ACTION

Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), which would increase penalties for violating the Sunshine Law.
Senate Bill 468, a constitutional amendment sponsored by Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), which would eliminate regular lame duck sessions.
Senate Bill 729, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), which would require the posting of government salaries online.
Senate Bill 986, sponsored by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), which would prohibit bonuses for state employees.
Senate Bill 1122, sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), which would prohibit the furlough of state employees if a state budget is not completed on time.
Senate Bill 1201, sponsored by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), which would improve the information available about who travels on state-owned planes.

Questions or Comments?

Contact the Senate Republican Communications Office or call 717-787-6725.