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PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 529
Barrar to ConductEnergy Expo
Though gas prices have come down, overall, the price of energyis increasing. This will especially be true when the rate caps onelectricity expire, which analysts believe will cause a spike in homeelectric bills. That is why Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester/Delaware)and I are collaborating to bring you information on how your familyand business can reduce energy consumption and ultimately savemoney.
Thursday, Feb. 26
7 to 9 p.m.The Aston Community Center 3270 Concord Rd.Aston, PA
This event will be your opportunity to meet with energy expertsto discuss new technologies, such as smart meters, reducing peaktime usage, alternative energy options, and new methods of energygeneration that may be available in the future.Additionally, representatives from the state will be on hand to talkabout the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), which isa loan program that assists homeowners in improving the energyefficiency of their homes.To learn more about this event, contact my office at (610) 485-7606 or visit my Web site at
SteveBarrar.com.
D
ear Neighbor:
The 2009-10 legislative session is sure to be achallenging time for Pennsylvania. We are facing abudget crisis in the Commonwealth, and the entirenation has seen elevated unemployment as a result of the current economic recession. Though we are in themidst of a difficult era, I see opportunity.America has faced adversity before, and we haveovercome many hardships. If we work hard, helpone another and exhibit our usual ingenuity, we willprevail and will be stronger than ever.The same holds true for our great state. If ever therewas a time for bipartisan cooperation, it is now. As weconfront this crisis, there will be many difficult choicesto make, and we need to make the decisions that willmove us into a brighter future for this Commonwealth.Pennsylvania has many unique resources anda diverse market. From agriculture to tourismto manufacturing, the Commonwealth’s dynamiceconomy is a source of strength.That being said, there are some things thatwe cannot afford to compromise. There arerepercussions to tax increases, and our delicateeconomy cannot afford to further stifle growth byinhibiting the ability of families and businesses tomake their own spending decisions. Now is the timeto trim the state budget and encourage individualspending.I look forward to representing your interests inthe Legislature, and to enhancing our community.As always, if you need help with any state matter,my office is available to assist you. Additionally,if you have any questions regarding the content of this newsletter, please contact my office.SincerelyStephen E. Barrar State Representative160th District
w w w . S t e v e B a r r a r . c o mw w w . S t e v e B a r r a r . c o m
1. Have you personally been impacted by the nationalmortgage foreclosure crisis?
Yes
No2. Have you personally been impacted by a job cut,layoff or down-sizing?
Yes
No
3. With Pennsylvania facing a budget shortfall expected toexceed $2 billion by the end of the fiscal year in June,what do you think the General Assembly should do toresolve the deficit?
Ask for a federal assistance package
Cut spending on programs
Raise the Personal Income Tax
Expand gambling to include table games
Other, please explain: _______________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 4. If Pennsylvania receives an economic stimulus packagefrom the federal government, how should we use it?
Infrastructure improvements and shovel-readyprojects
Pennsylvania’s Budget Outlook
R
Plugging budget shortfalls
Creating jobs
Other, please explain: _______________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 5. Rate caps on electricity generation are set to expire for PECO customers at the end of 2010. What have you doneto prepare for the possibility of higher electricity pricesthat are expected to result from this expiration?______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 6. What should be the top priority of the General Assembly in2009? Please choose one.
Road and bridge repair
Economic development and job creation
Solving the health care crisis
Improving education
Investing in alternative energy
Other, please explain: _______________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Annual Legislative Survey
On, Jan. 6, Barrar met with Dan Ruggieri, the new police chief of Aston Township, to present him with a Pennsylvania state flag that had been flown over the Capitol. Pictured from left to right are Jon Firlein; Chief Ruggieri; Barrar; Sgt. Gary Smith, AstonTownship Police Department; and Officer Tony Ruggieri, West Town East Goshen Police Department.In September, Barrar participated in the fun and festivitiesof Pocopson Township’s Second Annual Founder’s Day celebration.
Barrar to HeadTourism Committee
Having recently been named the Republicanchairman of the House Tourism and RecreationalDevelopment Committee, I am eager to investigatehow we can use the state’s second largest industry,tourism, to boost our economy.As people tighten their belts and cut expenditures,such as lavish vacations, the Commonwealthhas the unique opportunity as a “drive-throughdestination” to capitalize on the many attractionswe have to offer. Families who may have planned tovisit the Florida theme parks or a Caribbean islandmay now consider Hershey Park or Valley Forge asan alternative.Tourism brings almost $26 billion into the stateand provides almost 600,000 jobs, with more than$16 billion in payroll.With our scenic natural wonders, numerous historicsites and world-class museums, Pennsylvania canbecome THE place to visit in
2009. From theBrandywine Battlefield to the Pocono Mountains,and from Lake Erie to the Andy Warhol Museumin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania tourism is truly auniverse of opportunity.
Fighting for LoweringHealth Care Costs
For several years, I have been fighting for legislation that would lower health care costs by limiting retroactive denial of reimbursements frominsurance companies to medical providers. I am renewing my charge thissession with the reintroduction of my bill that would limit retroactive reviewsto 12 months.Current Pennsylvania law allows insurance companies several years toreview their reimbursement records. My legislation would place a 12-monthlimit on reviews, except in cases of fraud, coding errors and duplicate claims.The legislation would also allow providers six months to submit claims for reimbursement, if there is a denial due to coordination of benefits.There has to be some cutoff as to how far back insurance companies canlook for retroactive review of claims. We need to have a balance betweeninsurance companies and health care providers.Pennsylvania’s doctors, dentists, chiropractors and optometrists wantto treat patients, and we should empower them to do so. Our currentsystem allows insurance companies to drown doctors in paperworkinstead of freeing their hands to heal people. We could make medicinemore affordable if we limited retroactive denials and allowed providers tofocus on treatment.Last session, my legislation passed the House but was stalled in theSenate. I am hopeful that this will be the year it will become law.For more information on my legislation, visit
SteveBarrar.com
or call (717)783-3038.
On Nov. 19, Rep. Barrar attended a budget hearing during which the Rendell Administration addressed theCommonwealth’s economic concerns and the fiscal shortfalls. Barrar believes state officials must be pro-activeduring this economic recession to minimize the impact onPennsylvania’s families and small businesses. He hasbeen asked to join the Republican Budget and Economic Policy Task Force because of his experience with the statebudget process.
On Feb. 4, Gov. Ed Rendell gave his annual budget addressto the General Assembly, and the numbers are staggering.Pennsylvania is facing a deficit approaching $3 billion for the 2008-09 fiscal year. In total, when the shortfalls fromthe current budget are combined with the projections for next year, we could see a deficitof more than $5 billion.The governor proposed abudget containing $29 billion inspending, which is a $705 millionincrease over the current year.With revenue collections fallingshort of their projections for every month so far during thisfiscal year, it is surprising that thegovernor actually wants to spendmore money next year.Following is an analysis of thegovernor’s budget:•
Taxes
– The proposal doesnot contain a plan to raise thePersonal Income Tax or the Salesand Use Tax for the general public.It does call for new taxes onnatural gas extraction from theMarcellus Shale and a tax onsmokeless tobacco. It also callsfor a 10-cent hike on every packof cigarettes. Finally, the governor wants to eliminate thediscount businesses receive for remitting their sales taxcollections before the deadline, which will effectively raisetaxes on Pennsylvania’s job creators.•
Education
– Rendell is calling for a study regardingthe consolidation of Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts.When I consider the largest school district in the state, theSchool District of Philadelphia (SDP), I shudder to think of the impact this could have on education. SDP has someof the lowest-performing schools and accounts for someof the most wasteful spending in the Commonwealth. Thegovernor says that his plan will lower property taxes, butcreating larger school districts will not necessarily lead tolower school taxes, as we can see by looking at some of thelarge suburban school districts.•
Public Welfare
– As inevery other year, Rendell hasproposed increases in the welfarebudget for programs like MedicalAssistance and Cash Grants. Ifind it interesting that he saidrepeatedly in his address thatthis budget was about creating jobs, but the one area of thewelfare budget he is cuttingis the Child Care Assistanceprogram, which allows singlemothers on welfare to work.•
Gaming
– Rendell hassuggested that Pennsylvaniaallow video poker machinesin establishments with liquor licenses to fund a tuition programfor college students. I haveproblems with this plan on manylevels, not the least of which isthe fact that this administrationhas so badly bungled the implementation of slot machines.Rendell’s system is ripe with fraud, as illustrated by the LouisDeNaples scandal. Furthermore, when I voted to approveexpanded gaming, it was with the understanding that therevenue was to fund property tax relief. I could support sucha plan in the future, if it were used to help Pennsylvania’shomeowners, but not during this administration.For more information on the state budget, visit
SteveBarrar.com.
Because I value and rely on the opinions of those I represent, I am looking forward to reading your answers to thefollowing questions. Please return a copy of your completed survey to my office, or complete this survey electronicallyat
SteveBarrar.com.
Volunteer Responders May Be Eligible for Tax Credit
In July, the Volunteer Responder Retention and RecruitmentTax Credit was signed into law, providing a $100 tax creditto fire department, rescue and emergency medical servicevolunteers who meet the program’s criteria.Eligibility is based on a points system, and points areearned for participation in activities such as certification,emergency response rate and attendance at organizationalmeetings. A complete list of point-earning activities isavailable at
osfc.state.pa.us
.The deadline to apply for the tax credit is April 15,2009. Applications are available in my district office, or at
revenue.state.pa.us
.Legislation has also been introduced in the House to makethis a permanent tax credit and to raise the credit amountto $500 per year by 2013.Volunteer emergency service organizations save our localgovernments an immeasurable amount of money, and thistax credit is an investment into volunteer services, which arehaving great difficulty with recruitment and retention. Themen and women who selflessly volunteer as first respondersdeserve a tax credit for giving their time and risking their personal safety for the protection of our communities.
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