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PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 529
SPRING 2009
State Representative
Bryan Cutler
Serving the people of the 100th Legislative District
Dear Neighbor:
We are in the midst of challengingtimes in Pennsylvania and in our nation.It seems as though we receive daily badnews about the stock market, Americanindustry and unemployment. It is clear that times and attitudes are much differentnow than only a few short months ago, but we must do our best to ensure thatthings change for the better and not justfor the sake of change.In the Commonwealth, we arefaced with an enormous budget deficit, predicted to be more than $5 billion for thecurrent and next fiscal years combined.While Pennsylvania’s numbers are notat the catastrophic levels of California’s,we must be proactive in our approach toovercoming these financial difficulties.Everything must be on the table when itcomes to budget cuts.While we are facing economicturmoil, we are also confronting aneffort to reverse many of the hard-foughtreforms that were instituted in the Houselast session. As the public rightfully is preoccupied with financial matters, theHouse Democrat leaders have done awaywith many of the improvements that haveallowed more openness and public inputinto the legislative process. Though Ihave fought against these setbacks togood government, many of the House’soperating rules and procedures wereunfortunately rolled back.As always, I will continue my effortsto adopt sound economic strategiesand not only preserve, but also expandthe reforms of our state’s government.As you read the rest of the articles inthis newsletter, keep in mind that I amavailable to answer any questions youmay have, and I always welcome your input.Sincerely,Bryan Cutler State Representative100th District
I was so pleased tohave the support of my family as I was sworn in for my second term serving the 100th District.Seated is my daughter, CheyanneMarie. I am holding my son, CalebDean, and my wife,Jennifer, is holding the newest additionto the Cutler family,Drew Carolyn.
Cutler to Host Energy Expo
With energy costs continuing to rise and the rate caps on electricity generationfor PPL customers set to expire at the end of this year, I am hosting this expo toinform you of the assistance, rebate programs and alternative energy solutions avail-able.
Wh
en: Saturday, April 188 a.m. to NoonWhere: Information Center at Muddy Run Recreational Park 172 Bethesda Church Road WestHoltwood
This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about methods you canimplement to reduce the impact of the rate cap expiration before your electricity bills spike. If you have any questions regarding this event, contact my office at(717) 786-4551 or visit my Web site,
RepCutler.com
. I’m looking forward to seeingyou at the expo!
I met with JimHollinger and Jerry Stern of Sun LionEnergy Systems inGordonville at the2009 PennsylvaniaFarm Show. SunLion Energy Systems will participate in my upcoming Energy Expo on Saturday, April 18.
Annual Legislative Survey
Because I value the opinions of those I represent and want to accurately represent your views in Harrisburg, I am asking youto complete the following survey and return it to my office at your earliest convenience. The survey is also available on my Website,
RepCutler.com
. I look forward to reading your responses!1. Have you personally been impacted by the national mort-gage foreclosure crisis?
Yes
No2. Have you personally been impacted by a job cut, layoff or down-sizing?
Yes
No3. Do you believe Pennsylvania should legalize video poker machines for bars and taverns?
Yes
No4. Do you think Pennsylvania should attempt to consolidateschool districts from 501 down to 100?
Yes
No5. With Pennsylvania facing a budget shortfall expected to ex-ceed $2 billion by the end of the fiscal year in June, whatdo you think the General Assembly should do to resolve thedeficit?
Ask for a federal assistance package
Cut spending on programs
Raise the personal income tax
Expand gambling to include table games and poker machines in bars6. If Pennsylvania receives an economic stimulus packagefrom the federal government, how should we use it?
Infrastructure improvements and shovel-ready projects
Plugging budget shortfalls
Creating jobs
Education 7. 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 9. Name _________________________________________ E-mail: ________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________ ______________________________________________
Keystone HELPEnergy Efficiency Loan and RebateProgram
Thanks to the Alternative Energy Investment Fundsigned into law last year, Pennsylvanians will now haveaccess to $17 million for home energy upgrades throughthe Keystone HELP Energy Efficiency Loan and RebateProgram.The loans will offer a low average interest rate of 4 to 8 percent depending on the loan amount, type of project andlevel of home equity. Rebates of up to $250 are availablefor ENERGY STAR rated improvements, while rebatesof up to $500 are available for improvements that exceedENERGY STAR standards.Pennsylvanians who have a combined householdincome of $150,000 or less, are making qualifyingimprovements to an owner-occupied dwelling and meetthe credit eligibility standards may be eligible for theKeystone HELP program.Qualifying projects include installing air source heat pumps, central air conditioning systems, boilers, furnaces,water heaters, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats,windows and doors that are ENERGY STAR rated.Alternative energy heating and cooling equipment andsystems and geothermal heat pumps may also meet thecriteria.Please note that many of the projects must be completed by a certified, trained or approved contractor. A listof approved contractors, as well as complete programguidelines and applications are available on my Web site,
RepCutler.com.
Applications are due by June 30.
Follow the Money:Pennsylvania’sPortion of theFederal StimulusPackage
It seems that every day there is news regarding the federal stimulus package, and sometimes a story from one day or one source conflictswith another. Fortunately, Pennsylvanians now have a way to getcurrent information on the stimulus and can track how the state isspending this money.I have added a special section on my Web site,
RepCutler.com,
thatallows you to access the most up-to-date information regarding theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law in mid-February. Through my site, you can link to a Web site set up bythe Commonwealth to help you track where the stimulus money isgoing. I also have a link to the federal government’s page about thegrants available through the stimulus package and a link to help youdecipher what the legislation enabling these programs is all about.Pennsylvania’s Web site also provides a portal, through which youcan voice your opinion about how various agencies are spending themoney. The “Public Input” section links directly to the entities thatwill have a stake in the stimulus.Finally, Pennsylvania’s site details the ways in which families, businesses and local governments may be eligible for stimulusfunding. For example, the site says that families will be able tocollect an additional child tax credit, and first-time home buyers may be eligible for an $8,000 tax credit, while local governments mayreceive assistance with road and bridge repairs.If you have any questions regarding Pennsylvania’s portion of theeconomic stimulus plan, contact my office.
ww.RepCutler.com ww.RepCutler.com
Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Picture
In February, Gov. Ed Rendell addressed the General Assembly with his spending plan for the 2009-10 fiscal year and the picturehe painted was bleak. Pennsylvania is billions of dollars in the hole for 2008-09 and without severe cuts, we will not be able to meetour program obligations for the upcoming fiscal year.Details are now emerging about the federal stimulus money that may be coming to Pennsylvania, but no matter the amount weget, we must keep in mind that this is a short-term solution to an inherent problem of how the Rendell administration has created its budgets. There has been entirely too much spending, too many budgets where expenditures grew faster than the rate of inflation,and recently, unrealistic revenue projections.From the few specifics I have heard about the federal stimulus money, I believe the Commonwealth will receive funding over a period of three years. While it will certainly help our bottom line, that funding will probably run out long before all of our nation’sand state’s economic problems are solved. Our markets have fallen so far so fast that it will likely take years to rebuild, so wemust begin to repair the very way we plan our budgets now by evaluating programs, cutting those that are not working and holdinggovernment agencies accountable for the money they spend.Let us not forget that money from the federal government will still come directly from our pockets as taxpayers. This federalfunding is not manna from heaven. Debt service on this $787 billion spending plan will exceed $1.27 trillion, leaving this burdenfor generations to come.Following are two charts, the first representing Pennsylvania’s budget growth since 1994, and the second representing howgeneral fund spending increases have continually outpaced general fund revenue growth under the Rendell Administration.
Doing My Part toRestrainStateSpending
During my first term in office, I dideverything possible to limit my officespending and keep costs down becauseI realize that the money I use to run thisoffice does not fall from the sky – it is paid for by us, the taxpayers.As such, I do not take the per diem,which is compensation offered for working days spent in the Capitol for voting and non-voting session days.During the 2007-08 session, there were184 days for which many legislatorswere eligible for a per diem. At a ratevarying from $148 to $158 per day,refusing the per diem saved taxpayersmore than $27,900.In addition to refusing the per diem,I also did not participate in the car lease program, which allows for a maximumreimbursement of $650 per month. Thisamounts to $15,600 saved for the twoyear term, for a total savings of morethan $43,000 by rejecting the per diemand the car lease.Additionally, I returned $3,903that went unused in my office budget.Through sound fiscal management, Itried to maximize every dollar spent toserve the district, and I am proud to have been under budget.I am here to serve our district andrepresent the interests of the 100thDistrict in Harrisburg, not to get rich atthe taxpayer’s expense.
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