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School District Consolidation
Becoming more efficient in all aspectsof life is something that is important. It’sthe cornerstone of what I feel is critical tohelp the Commonwealth of Pennsylvaniamake it through the current economic dif-ficulties. Every dollar we save is money that can be returned to hard-working tax-payers or redirected to provide valuableservices in danger of being cut.First, we should explore all ways tobecome more streamlined and cost-effec-tive with government resources to ensureefficient use of funds. Second, providingproper education for children is also im-portant to me and the community I repre-sent. All of these issues must be addressed when considering the consolidation of Pennsylvania’s school districts. e ques-tions are: Will it change what schools ourchildren attend? Will class sizes be larger? Will it change extracurricular activities?ese questions need to be answered, andas community members and legislators, we need to remain engaged in this discus-sion and take advantage of good ideas tomake our school districts as efficient aspossible.Saving money through the consolida-tion of school districts seems to be com-mon sense, but a study conducted by theLegislative Budget and Finance Commit-tee three years ago revealed only minimalcost savings. It found that of the 501 pub-lic school districts, approximately 80 werepossible candidates for consolidation. Inaddition to that study, many school dis-tricts belong to purchasing consortia andare already realizing the implied savings. At this point, the issue is not some-thing that is actively being pursued by theRendell administration. ere has beenno introduction of legislation on this is-sue. Please contact my office if you havethoughts concerning this issue or any possible solutions where money can besaved.
Rate Cap Expiration
Over a decade ago, Pennsylvania de-regulated the electric industry to spurcompetition and lower electricity pricesfor consumers. As part of this agreement,the price on the generation or productionof electricity was limited or capped at its1997 price.Pennsylvania’s electric utilities cannotcontinue to indefinitely serve customersat capped rates. Rather, as envisioned by the 1996 Competition Act, utilities willand must eventually buy power at com-petitive market prices and charge custom-ers accordingly. Unfortunately, wholesaleelectricity prices – like all other goods orservices – have risen since 1997.ere is sufficient time if we act now todevelop a reasoned response before the ex-piration of the caps. Legislation in variousforms is already under consideration. ePublic Utility Commission (PUC) andthe energy companies have taken steps toput in place programs to educate consum-ers, encourage energy conservation, andencourage proposals to gradually phasein increases. You can look into these pro-grams at the PUC’s Web site
puc.state. pa.us.
e local electric companies havetaken steps to mitigate the increased pricesto consumers. Both PPL and Met-Ed haveprepayment plans available that give cus-tomers the opportunity to start a savingsaccount and receive interest on the money they set aside for when the rate caps comeoff. PPL’s prepayment plan gives its cus-tomers a 6 percent return on the money saved, and Met-Ed gives its customersa 7.5 percent return rate. You can findmore information on these programs at
pplelectric.com
and
met-ed.com.
Currently under consideration isHouse Bill 20, which would call for utili-ties to submit rate phase-in plans with thePUC that would limit the increase to nomore than 20 percent for a three-year pe-riod after the caps expire. Whether or notthis legislation is passed, it is important forresidents to begin to curb their electricity usage to help prepare them for future ratecap adjustments.In an effort to educate the residents of the 88th District, I am holding a publicforum on the rate cap issue. is forumis aimed to give consumers and businessowners the opportunity to learn moreabout the situation and ask any questionsthey may have. e meeting is scheduledfor 7 p.m. on July 30, at Elmwood Ele-mentary School, located at 100 East Elm- wood Avenue in Mechanicsburg.
Budget Update
e Pennsylvania state budget contin-ues to be a tough issue for both lawmakersand those they represent as they struggleto address a $3.2 billion deficit caused by years of overspending and borrowing.One solution, a Senate-passed bud-get plan that reduced nearly $1.6 billionfrom the governor’s budget proposal, wasrecently defeated in the Democrat-con-trolled House Appropriations Committee.Pennsylvanians were subjected to numer-ous forecasts of doom and gloom if thesmaller spending proposal was enacted.Now, they are left asking the fundamentalquestion: “Where is the money going tocome from?”Several House Democrats and key members of the Rendell administrationhave already answered that question by saying that raising taxes is “the easiest”route to go. Gov. Ed Rendell has already called for an increase in the Personal In-come Tax as well as several others.In times like these, we should not beplacing additional strains on families.Instead, we should be asking ourselves,“What is needed?” As individuals, weprioritize our spending, and now govern-ment must do the same. e economy has affected us in unique ways, but thecommon denominator is that people are worried about making ends meet.I have no doubt that Pennsylvania cancontinue to provide the essential servicesthat people depend upon, but the statemust eliminate wasteful spending andbecome a responsible steward of taxpay-ers’ money. I am committed to ensuringthis and fighting for families whose per-sonal budgets cannot afford to have moremoney whisked away into the hands of the Harrisburg bureaucracy.
Furlough Legislation
e House State Government Com-mittee, of which I am member, recently approved legislation that would outlaw furloughs for state employees in the eventof a budget impasse.House Bill 1395 would deem all em-ployees of the Commonwealth at the timeof a budget impasse to be critical and es-sential, and thus they cannot be subject toa furlough based on any categorization ordistinction of employment. I don’t feel theemployees of this state should be penalizedbecause the governor and the legislativebranch cannot pass the budget on time.ey should not be held hostage to the par-tisanship and have their lives in upheavalbecause of the impasse.
U
PDATE
ON
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SSUES
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UMMER
2009
Residents Visit Delozierand Staff at Open House
To get to know more of the residents in the 88th Legisla-tive District, my staff and I hosted an Open House in February.More than 100 residents stopped in to see the offi ce and learnmore about what state programs are available.
My staff in Harrisburg and in the district are always willing to helplocal residents with any state-related issues. Pictured with myself in theback row is district staffer Drew Lyons. In the front row (from left) isHarrisburg staffer Jennifer Haines and district staffer Beverly Kawaller.
U
P C O M I N G
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V E N T S
Mechanicsburg
: Rate Cap Forum – July 30, 7 p.m., Elmwood Elementary School
Lemoyne
: Second Annual Harrisburg Symphony Concert – July 2, 8 p.m., Negley Park Hometown Day – Sept. 12, Memorial Park
Lower Allen
: Music in the Park, July 26, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Lower Allen Community Park Village of Lisburn – Founder’s Day Celebration – Oct. 3
Shiremanstown
: Family Fun Night – June 25, 6 p.m., Manor Park
New Cumberland
: Green Fest – June 27, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Apple Festival – Sept.
(date to be determined later)
Upper Allen
: Upper Allen Kiwanis Club will be hosting Music in the Park – Aug. 9, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.,Friendship Park located at 1901 Fisher Road.
Visitors to Harrisburg
During my first few months in offi ce, I have had the plea-sure of visiting with several constituents from the 88th Legisla-tive District. ose who have visited the state Capitol include:Elmwood Elementary School second-graders; Elmwood El-ementary School chorus, who performed in the Capitol Ro-tunda; Allen Middle School chorus, who performed in theCapitol Rotunda; Hill Top Academy seventh-graders; CubScout Pack 54; Monroe Elementary School fourth-graders;St. Joseph’s Catholic School fourth-graders; and WashingtonHeights Elementary School fourth-graders.Over the past few months, we have also had six local highschool students come to the Capitol and serve as guest pagesfor the day. ose students include: Leah Achor and AbigailLeach from Bible Baptist; Ashlyn Ernst and John D’Adamofrom Mechanicsburg High School; and Frank Garvey andKyle Henson from Cedar Cliff High School.
Families and caregivers of children under the age of 6 were hon-ored for their programming and services at a recent PennsylvaniaLibrary Association Best Practices Award ceremony. At this event, Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, located in Mechanicsburg, washonored for its entry of “Kindergarten Club.” I am photographed with (from left) Wendell Minor, Florence Minor and Children’sLibrarian Linda Stoner.
Residents who would like to receive our weekly e-mail blasts can go to my Web siteat
RepDelozier.com
and click on the “sign upfor e-mail updates” icon.
U
PCOMING
E
VENTS
M a r k Y o u r C a l e n d a r s !
District Offi ce:2929 Gettysburg Road, Suite 6
Camp Hill, PA 17011Phone: (717) 761-4665
Fax: (717) 731-7126Harrisburg Offi ce:164A East Wing
PO Box 202088
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2088Phone: (717) 783-5282
Fax: (717) 772-9994E-mail: sdelozie@pahousegop.com Web site:
RepDelozier.com
For more information on my upcoming Legislative Updates,please visit my Web site at
RepDelozier.com.
Delozier Appointed to ree House Committees
During the 2009-10 legislative session, it is my honor to serve on three House com-mittees
–
State Government, Labor Relations, and the Consumer Affairs committees.In addition, I have been asked to serve as Republican secretary of the House LaborRelations Committee. We have worked on many issues in all three of my committees. In the State Gov-ernment Committee, we worked on an anti-discrimination bill, a bill prohibiting stateemployee furloughs, and the selling of Commonwealth property. In the Labor Rela-tions Committee, we have worked on bills relating to firefighters and subcontractors, as well as unemployment and workers compensation. e Consumer Affairs Committeehas been focused on the issue of electric rate caps and utility infrastructure. For moreinformation on these and other bills, please go to the Pennsylvania Legislature’s Website at
www.legis.state.pa.us.
Telephone TownHall Meeting Update
On May 6, I hosted the firsttelephone town hall meeting inCumberland County. I would liketo thank everyone who participat-ed in the successful discussion andtook the time to listen to our dia-logue. is was a great opportunity to hear from a variety of residentsfrom around the district and learnmore about their concerns that Ican take back to Harrisburg.Residents of the district werephoned at the time of the town hallevent and given the opportunity toparticipate in the discussion, ask aquestion or just listen in on the is-sues that were being discussed.I look forward to more oppor-tunities to participate in open andhonest discussions with local resi-dents.For information on upcom-ing telephone town hall meetingsand other district events, go to
RepDelozier.com.
O
UT
IN
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ISTRICT
LemoyneCleanup Day and Sign Dedication:
To help beautify the Borough of Lemoyne, I recent-ly joined fellow citizens for the an-nual cleanup day.I recently joined other lo-cal legislators, alumni, students,teachers, parents and school ad-ministrators in honor of Harris-burg Academy’s Charter Day cel-ebrated at the state Capitol. Rep.Glen Grell (R-Cumberland) andI are shown presenting a Housecitation to Robert Caplan, chair-man of the board of trustees forHarrisburg Academy. Grell and Ishare representation of the Har-risburg Academy.
New Cumberland Fire Department OpenHouse:
Our local firecompany recently openedthe doors to its stationso that residents could walk around and look atthe equipment and meetsome of the firefighters.
Randi’s Race:
To bring about greater awareness of domestic vio-lence issues, I participated in the 5th Annual Randi’s 5K Run/Walk forHope and Courage. is event included 20 teams and hundreds of in-dividuals who raised more than $35,000 for Domestic Violence Servic-es of Cumberland and Perry Counties. I am photographed with (fromleft) Lois Miller, a fellow volunteer, and Deborah Donahue, director of Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties.
Jubilee Day:
At the annual Jubi-lee Day celebrationin Mechanicsburg,my staff and I met with local residentsand fielded many state-related ques-tions on the bud-get, local servicesand rate cap de-regulation.
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