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Dear Friends,
Fall 2008
Here’s hoping this newsletter finds you and your family well and that your summer was a happy and safe one. As I am sure you are aware, the budget process this year was far less contentious than in years past and I am pleased that through a bipartisan effort there was no tax increase passed on to you. Te one common concern throughout the budget debate centered on keeping the Commonwealth in sound financial health as concern continues to grow over a slowing economy and high energy prices.Te General Assembly concentrated its efforts on addressing the pressing needs of our state and it is the intention of this newsletter tooutline what those priorities were. Additionally, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about some very special upcoming events in our district and share some news about organizations that I was happy to honor by resolution on the House floor.As always, I am interested in hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me anytime by e-mail at kbeyer@pahousegop.com or youmay contact me at my district office at (610) 791-6270.With warm regards,
New State Budget Passed with Bipartisan Cooperation
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e new state budget contains no tax increases or new fees and,through a bipartisan effort, held the spending increase to 3.98 percent,or $1.08 billion. e total budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year is $28.26billion. I am including these charts to represent the revenue used inthis budget, and a look at the areas in which it is utilized.One particular note, as you view the chart of General FundExpenditures, the category listed as “all other expenditures” includestransportation, military and veterans affairs, economic development,agriculture and many special issue line items. Also, in the revenuechart, some examples of non-tax revenue include interest on accounts,various fees and state liquor store profits. e all other revenue listingincludes taxes paid by financial institutions and insurance companies,consumer taxes on liquor and malt beverages and others.The education funding formula for this budget provides asubstantial increase for Pennsylvania school districts. For example:• e Allentown School District will receive $74,844,761 forbasic education, an increase of 19.45 percent. Specialeducation funding is increased by 2.38 percent.• The East Penn School District will receive $10,114,638for basic education, an increase of 4.24 percent. Specialeducation funding is increased by 1.62 percent.• The Salisbury Township, Southern Lehigh, and SauconValley school districts will each receive increases of 3 percentfor basic education and just over 1 percent for special education.e Pre-K Counts program will receive $86.4 million in thisbudget, which represents an increase of $11.4 million over last year.e State System of Higher Education will receive a $15 millionincrease, and community colleges will see an additional $6.9 million.Other major increases in education included $22.7 millionfor assessment programs, $12.19 million for teacher professionaldevelopment, $9.5 million for pupil transportation, and $12 millionfor early intervention services. is helps arrive at the total educationspending figure of $274.7 million. A combination of lottery fund and tobacco settlement revenue as well as a separate Senate bill will allow for the expansion of the PACE,PACENET, and PACE Plus Medicare programs. e budget includesfunding that will allow the average number of seniors enrolled in theseprograms to rise to 407,575. An estimated 24,000 additional seniors will be assisted by these programs in 2008-09.
Revenue Spending
For more information v
House Honors Good Shepherd
My colleagues in the Lehigh Valley delegation recently joined me inhonoring the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. Tis outstandingorganization continues to provide a wide range of services to nearly 37,000people each year at 31 sites in seven eastern Pennsylvania counties.Good Shepherd was founded in 1908 by the Rev. Dr. John H. and D.Estella Raker. Services provided by the facility include rehabilitation forpersons with neurological problems, as well as assistance and treatmentfor individuals whosuffer from stroke,cancer and multiplesclerosis. GoodShepherd also aidschildren with autism,Parkinson’s disease,and many otherhealth problems.Te unanimousvote cast on thefloor of the Houseis well-deserved,and I am proud thatGood Shepherd isan integral part of health care in theLehigh Valley.
2009U.S. Women’sOpen to Come toLehigh Valley
Make your plans early to take part in one of thegreatest annual events inthe world of golf. One of the major tournaments inthe women’s golf world,the U.S. Open, will beplayed on the Old Courseat Saucon Valley Country Club July 6-12,2009.Te world’s best women golfers play inthis tournament, which boasts a rich 64-yearhistory. Te tournament receives worldwidecoverage, including live broadcasts by ESPNand NBC. For more information or topurchase tickets for this great event, pleasevisit the Web site at
http://www.2009uswomensopen.com
Rep. Beyer with House Speaker Dennis O’Brien and Good Shepherd CEOSally Gammon following passage of House Resolution 710.
I am pleased that a compromise agreement on energy policy was reached between the Legislature and the governor duringthe budget negotiating process. As a member of the Energy Task Force of the House of Representatives, I can say that thisagreement stemmed from a spirit of bipartisanship and hasresulted in a forward-thinking program that will ultimately benefitall Pennsylvanians.e funding component of Special Session House Bill 1consists of borrowing $500 million for a wide range of energy programs and an additional $150 million directly from the statebudget between 2008-09 and 2015-16. Here is a summary of how the plan will be executed:
$500 million in borrowing:
$165 million for grants and loans to private companiesto help pay for alternative energy projects. is money will also support clean-energy projects for businesses,economic development agencies, and local governments.
$100 million for consumer solar energy projects to helppay for the installation of solar panels and technologiesin homes and small businesses across Pennsylvania.
$80 million to support the production of solar energy and promote the solar power industry in theCommonwealth.
$40 million to support ongoing research, development,and implementation of the next generation of cleanenergy and energy-conserving technologies.
$40 million to supplement the Low-Income HomeEnergy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helpsour neediest residents.
$25 million to provide loans and grants to supportrenewable energy projects, including wind turbinesand geothermal systems, to increase Pennsylvania’shome-grown energy supply.
$25 million to provide loans and grants to supporthigh-performance, “green” buildings.
$25 million to help small coal-fired energy plantsinstall pollution-control technologies so they cancomply with new state and federal regulations.
$150 million from the state budget:
$92.5 million for consumer energy conservationprojects. e money will be allocated over the nexteight years to pay for grants, loans, and rebates forconsumer energy conservation projects.
$50 million for alternative energy production taxcredits. is money will be allocated over the next eightyears and can be used to support – among otheritems – waste coal, biofuel, solar, wind, geothermal,clean coal, or waste energy projects.
$2.5 million for projects that save energy by makingcomputer networks more efficient.
$5 million to fund a home-energy efficiency loanprogram to help low- and moderate-incomehomeowners install energy-conserving technologies.is compromise plan increases no taxes or fees, emphasizesuse of the private market, and provides tools for energy conservation and energy-bill reduction. In addition, the plan will increase Pennsylvania home-grown energy production, helpreduce dependence on foreign energy supplies, and invest in thenext generation of clean-energy technologies.I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to furtherimprove our overall energy policy in Pennsylvania, whileprotecting the hard-working taxpayers.
Comprehensive Energy Agreement Reached
sit www.RepBeyer.com
Montel Williams’ Prescription Bus to Visit District
Actor, author, and talk show host Montel Williams has been instrumental in the promotion of a program called “TePartnership for Prescription Assistance.” It consists of doctors, pharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy organizations, andcommunity groups that help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage to obtain the medicines they need.Te program provides two buses that travel throughout the nation. One of the buses will be at Valley Farm Market, 704 W. Emmaus Ave., Allentown, from 9 a.m. to noon, on Friday, Sept. 12.Te bus serves as a travelling center to boost awareness and increase enrollment in patient-assistance programs. More than475 programs are available to provide access to more than 2,500 medications. Assistance can also be provided in connecting withgovernment programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance program (CHIP).IF you are unable to visit the bus, go online to www.pparx.org or call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.
Free HealthService Availableto Women
A new program is available to help withfamily planning services and preventativehealth care for women in Pennsylvania.e Department of Public Welfare recently announced the establishment of the Select-Plan for Women, a free and confidentialservice. Women between the ages of 18 and44, who have incomes at or below 185percent of the poverty level may be eligible.e plan pays for services with the healthcare provider of your choice, and you canobtain prescriptions at any pharmacy withthis program. ere are no co-pays or visitlimits.For more information, please call my office at 610-791-6270, or visit the Web siteat
www.selectplanforwomen.state.pa.us
House Resolution 448 passed with a unanimous voterecently to pay tribute to the volunteer efforts at St. John’sUnited Church of Christ, Coopersburg.Know as the “Te Little Church with the Big Heart,” St. John’s holds an annual Community Outreach Benefit thathas raised and distributed more than $180,000 to residentsin Southern Lehigh and Upper Bucks counties, includingmore than $56,000 for families with seriously ill children.More than 200 volunteers are involved in the effort.I was joined by my Bucks County colleague, Rep. PaulClymer (R-Bucks), in sponsoring this resolution.
House Resolution 448, honoring St. John’s UCC, was unanimously passed. Flanked by Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks) and Rep. Beyer, far left, and House Speaker Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia), far right, are honorees from St. John’s UCC: Pastor Rev.Richard Guhl, Nancy Mihalko, Nancy Carr, Judy Guhl, and Tim Talaber.
Te Lehigh Valley, and Limeport in particular, is graced with one of the finestbaseball stadiums ever built in America, and I was honored to recently be a partof the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Limeport Stadium.Tis jewel of our region has been operated by Limeport Stadium Inc., agroup consisting of more than 50 men and women working on a volunteer basis.Trough their fundraising efforts, they were able to make more than $100,000in renovations and improvements, while maintaining the original integrity of thestadium. Many Lehigh Valley high schools and DeSales University call this grandballpark home. Along with my valley colleagues of both parties, I sponsored House Resolution785, which recognized the anniversary and paid tribute to everyone who has hada role in the creation andmaintenance of this greatestablishment.
e 75th anniversary of Limeport Stadium was honored in House Resolution 785, which received aunanimous vote. Standing with the prime sponsor, Rep. Karen Beyer, are, from left to right, Limeport StadiumInc. Community Relations Director Frank Koeller, Limeport Stadiumannouncer Chris Barebo, and Anniversary Committee ChairmanTom Fulton.
Limeport Stadium Celebrates75th AnniversaryResolution Honors St. John’s UCC
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