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Congressional summit
I agree that a congressional summit on government should
be held on government reform. A summit would help to eliminate unfair and
illegal practices that occur in state government. For example: a non-partisan committee
should be established to redistrict legislative and senatorial areas. This
would ensure that there is no unfair advantage for any political party.
We need terms limits for legislators. Legislators would
never vote term limits in. Once elected, State Representatives should serve
at least four years. They should only occupy their positions for no more
than eight years. This would help to eliminate career politicians and abuse
in the system. Term limits would also cut down on paying huge retirements
and lifetime insurance premiums to retirees and spouses. Term limits will
also help eliminate the career politicians networking games.
Changes in policies would help to eliminate career
politicians who become stagnant and reduce those who abuse the system. For
example: bonus gate, state employees were paid by the state to work on
campaigns with state funds, in 2007 legislators traveled the world on
$89,000 of tax payers money to places such as Ireland, England, Mexico,
etc. Another common abuse is the use of the state vehicles while
campaigning.
Property Tax Swap Plan
We need true real estate tax reform. Real estate taxes
need to be lower by adding a one percent increase to existing sales tax.
For every dollar earned, real estate taxes need to be decreased an equal
amount. For example, Idaho
has approved a one-cent tax increase to existing sales tax and has
generated $260 million dollars. Idaho
is just one of the many states changing to the Property Tax Swap Plan
instead of regular real estate tax.
One Billion and Climbing
The state budget deficit for
this year is estimated to be between one and three billion dollars. Before we can address any further
spending, we must cut spending and reduce the size of government, not raise
taxes. Government is too large and spending is out of control. I have a
plan to begin this process. It involves reviewing every department, agency,
and program in state government. Eliminate and modify departments,
programs, and agencies that are not necessary.
Secondly, over one billion dollars has been spent on non-competitive
bidding contracts. Imagine a 5% savings if those contracts were put out for
competitive bidding. Our state government should not have a free ticket to
spend taxpayers’ money without competitive bidding. Our citizens shop
around for the best prices. Government must begin to do this also. The
practices of handing out contracts to favored companies must stop. I will
spearhead legislation to promote competitive bidding and eliminate
non-competitive bidding, saving million of taxpayer’s dollars.
Lobbyists
Many of our legislators are bought and paid for.
Legislators have to stand up to lobbyists and take their influence out of
state government. State legislator should not accept gifts or financial
consideration for decisions they may have to make.
Deregulation of electricity and its effect on households.
The
people in the 76th District need and desire a representative who
can relate and identify with them. They want a Representative who will work
in their best interests. If Mr.
Hanna identified with the citizens in the 76th District, he
would not have voted to deregulate electricity.
The
deregulation of electricity will have a negative impact on our
citizens. “On Jan 1, 2010 rate
caps come off in PPL areas and in 2011, rate caps are coming off in the Allegheny
Power areas.”
“Once
caps expire utility companies can bill customers for the wholesale price
for the power that they use. Our citizens can expect to pay electric bills
that are 30-60% higher, which could amount to $500 or more a year. Some utility caps in northwestern PA have
already been lifted. Most resident saw bills increase by 30%”
The
increase in electricity will have a disastrous impact on the people in the 76th
district. Over sixty percent of the families in our district are raising
children on an average salary of $31,000, and over 30 % of our citizens are
retired on fixed incomes of $26,000. Over 6,500 citizens in the 76th
District are living in poverty.
There will be personal hardships and many people will require public
assistance.
“In
Maryland,
where rate caps expired last year, more people sought public assistance in
paying their bills and there was an increase in the number of customers
whose power was shut off.”
Deregulation of electricity and its effect on industry.
The
deregulation of the rate cap on electricity will have a devastating impact
on our industries. Companies in the 76th District are already
dealing with the high prices of gasoline and soon higher prices in natural
gas.
“In
Jan 1, 2010, companies will be dealing with the biggest challenge ever, a
major increase in industrial electricity. Industrial electricity is
expected to increase by as much as 60-70%.
In northwestern PA where utility caps have already expired, the largest
industrial customer saw bills rise 61%.”
“Two
Penn State
researchers, David Passmore and Rose Baker, who
run the University’s Workforce Education and Development Center,
calculated a formula to show just how much the deregulation of rate caps
will hurt individual families and industry. They found that a 10% increase
in industrial electricity, would result in more than 9,600 jobs lost. If
industrial electric bills rise by 70%, 67,000 jobs will be lost.”
“PPL
has earned a record $1.3 billion last year and anticipates a 50% earnings
increase in 2010, the year the rate cap expires.” Why the increase
costs?
The
deregulation of the rate caps on electricity must be reexamined so electric
bills remain reasonable for our people and businesses.
Sources: The Lock Haven Express
Sept. 1 and Sept. 10, 2008
Highway and Transportation Funds
Our
legislators and governor must stop robbing the Highway and Transportation
Fund and budget the PA State Police fund separately. Any state agency that
uses the PA State Police should pay them for their services. The General
fund should cover all work done by the PA State Police that is not highway
related such as, robbery, murders, drug related crimes, etc. Funding the PA
State Police in this manner would free up a large some of money in the
Highway and Transportation Fund that could be used to repair bridges and
roads. As a result, a large some of money could be accessible in the
Highway and Transportation Fund for other necessary expenses.
Spring Creek Canyon Property
I
do not support the bill to divide Spring Creek
Canyon. Spring Creek Canyon
is a remote, pristine, and ecological rich area. This area needs to be
protected for its environmental qualities. The property should go to the
DCNR for recreational purposes so all citizens could enjoy this natural
gem.
State
property should be leased for natural gas exploration.
State
grounds should be leased and the assets divided up for road improvements
and research in renewal natural energy such as wind, sun, coal and water.
Other assets should go to road repair and maintenance. Both state and
municipalities should receive a portion of the assets to repair and
maintain roads and bridges in the areas where drilling exploration takes
place.
Informed Citizen’s Tip
Mike Hanna, our State Representative,
says that he opposes tolling I-80 but on June 25, 2007, Hanna voted with
the rest of the Democrats to make I-80 a toll
road. This bill passed by one vote. The vote was 101-100. If he had voted
no, the bill would have died and it would not have become an issue. This
issue should have never made it to the federal level.
To see the history of the bill, House
Bill 1590- McCall vote 6/25/07; Printer Number 1971 click on the address
link below. The actual record to add tolling to I-80 shows that Hanna cast
the one (Y) yes vote needed.
Please click on this link.
www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2007&sess_ind=0&rc_body=H&rc_nbr=536
John
Peterson, our U.S. Representative, stated in an article in the Lock Haven
Express, “that 430 million dollars was given to the state for roads
and bridges.” We did not get
our fair share. It was sent to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
to be used for mass transit instead.
When
the mass transit funding bill came up for vote, our Representative appeared
to be more concerned about mass transit funding then representing the
wishes of our people, to stop the tolling of I-80.
HB
1590, the McCall amend, which is part of the Highway and Transit Funding
Bill, which included language, to use I-80 for a toll road. It was voted on
6/25/07 Mr. Hanna voted. YES. The vote was 101 to 100. If Mr.
Hanna had voted no, the bill would have not become an issue. The bill would
have died. To make matters interesting, Mr. Hanna denied in The Lock Haven
Express that he voted Yes on 6/25/07. It is a matter of record in the
voting archives of The State House of Representatives. Records do not lie.
On
6/27/07 HB 1590, third passage, which still included language for the
tolling I-80. Hanna voted YES. The
very next day, 6/28/07, an article appeared in the Centre Daily Times, that
confirmed Mr. Hanna’s vote on HB 1590, dated 6/27/07.
The
article stated:” Local Democratic law makers who voted for the HB
that would toll interstate 80 said, “The deal is a lot better than
increased tax on gasoline, but Republicans who opposed the measure said,
“such a sweeping change desires more public debate.”
State
Rep. Hanna, who also favored the bill, said, “Pennsylvania lags behind other states in
generating revenue from interstate tolls.
I think it’s inevitable, and I think it’s certainly a
better option than a gas tax”.
On
7/17/07 HB 1590, was returned to the House from the Senate for concurrence.
Mr. Hanna voted. NO. The Senate took out the mass transit
funding, which was essentially the money for Philadelphia mass transit.
By
the actions of his vote, it is clear that Mr. Hanna was more concerned
about funding mass transit, then working to stop the tolling of I-80.
Is
Mr. Hanna representing the 76th District or is he representing Philadelphia?
Sources
of information: the voting archives of the State House of Representatives
and the Centre Daily Times.
Now that I-80 tolling was rejected, Mr.
Hanna wants to lease the Turnpike to a Spanish firm and he wants this bill
to move swiftly through for quick approval. At a time when unemployment is
at its highest, our Representative is comfortable giving
Pennsylvanians’ jobs away. If
a Spanish firm can make one billion dollars a year, why can’t a firm
from Pennsylvania?
We must create and preserve jobs for Pennsylvanians.
“Recently,
as reported by The Lock Haven Express, Representative Hanna voted for a
Spanish firm to take over the Turnpike for 75 years, a $12.8 billion
deal. It was voted down by a
12-to-185 vote. Just why was it voted down?
“As reported by The Lock Haven Express, House
Transportation Committee Chairman, Joseph Markosek,
a Democrat from Monroeville, was not happy
with the way with which the governor’s office conducted these bids. Markosek said, ‘The main concern about the
process was the secrecy. We never
got to see the bids and then the Governor announced a winner.’ Markosek added, ‘I personally do not like the
idea of leasing a very valuable state asset over a multigenerational time
period. I believe it is a bad policy decision no matter how much money the
state gets.’
The Commonwealth Foundation calculated the values of a
Turnpike lease. The projected the lease of the Turnpike would yield $50.2
billion over a period of 50 years.
“Rep. Firth Everett, Rep.from
Muncy, who voted against the measure, said,
‘Many legislators were not happy with the way the bidding process was
carried out. Some of the legislators said that the Governor did not give
them enough information to make an
informed decision. The issue was not
debated in the usual open way.’
“Majority Whip Keith McCall, Democrat from Carbon County, said, ‘Considering the
size of the bid and the fact that we would be giving our roadway away:
it’s just a bad deal.’
” Jan Mills submitted a letter to the editor of The Lock Haven
Express. Mills said, ‘The Spanish contract to lease the turnpike was
686 pages long. A group of knowledgeable people divided the contract up and
read it. As a result, they found that there was a compensation event clause
in the contract, which meant, anything that even appears to cause a loss of
revenue could fall under this clause. As a result, your children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren would be paying this Spanish firm if
they claimed to have a loss of revenue over a period of 75 years. They
would make Pennsylvanians pay for their company's loses for years and years
to come.”
Sources: Lock Haven Express June, 19, 2008 and June 26,
2008
Setting term
limits for Representatives and Senators
Many people in our district are asking why State
Representatives and Senators do not have term limits as the Governor does.
Many of our residents believe that State Representatives and Senators
should not occupy their positions for more than eight to twelve
years. A solution to this problem would be to pass a bill setting
term limits to eight to twelve years for State Representatives and Senators.
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