Dear Neighbor:

It has been my privilege to represent you in Harrisburg for the last year. Itake the responsibilities you have entrusted me with very seriously and I striveto be accessible to you and responsive to your needs and concerns. Part of thateffort involves sending periodic newsletters to update you on important legislativedevelopments in Harrisburg and here in the 142nd Legislative District.The most difficult issue we face in Harrisburg continues to be our Common-wealth’s financial situation. In February, the governor presented his budgetproposal for the 2010-11 fiscal year. I will discuss the governor’s proposal inmore detail in the budget supplement in this newsletter. His proposal of taxincreases and imposing new taxes on our residents is unacceptable. We needto examine state spending and eliminate waste and inefficiency wherever it isfound. Additionally, I support reforming the budget process to eliminate thebudget impasse that transpired during the 2009-10 budget.I am pleased to announce that the Neshaminy School District received an over $2.4 million increase in state education funding this year. This 13.6% increasewas significantly higher than the 3% increase from the previous budget. Theadditional funds will help reduce the strain felt by property taxpayers.Many important bills which I supported passed the House and have nowbecome law. These include two bills to expand health care coverage at no costto the taxpayer and increased restitution for the victims of identity theft. Addition-ally, I broke from voting with my party leadership to support the table games bill,which will bring 1,000 permanent full-time jobs to Lower Bucks County.In January 2010, I opened a second district office and the first ever legislativedistrict office in Lower Southampton. The office is located in the Lower South-ampton Township complex at 1500 Desire Avenue in Feasterville. Office hoursare from noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Tocontact the office, call (215) 942-4067. The district office in Middletown, locatedat 370 East Maple Avenue, Suite 102 in Langhorne is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.weekdays and can be reached at (215) 752-6750. Please feel free to contact or stop by either office with any state government questions. I am also availableby appointment, which can be scheduled by calling the Langhorne office.Also, be sure to visit my Web site at

RepFarry.com

. There, you will ﬁnduseful information about recent developments in the Legislature and you cansign up for periodic e-mail updates.Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your representative. Please donot hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of service.Sincerely,Frank FarryState Representative142nd Legislative District

www.RepFarry.comApplications NowAvailable forProperty Tax/RentRebate Program

Applications for the state’s Property Tax/RentRebate program for 2009 are now available inmy district offices.Eligible participants can receive a rebateof up to $650 based on their rent or propertytaxes paid in 2009. The program benefits quali-fied Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older,widows and widowers 50 years or older, andthose 18 years or older with disabilities.Eligibility income limits are set at the fol-lowing levels, excluding 50 percent of SocialSecurity, Supplemental Security Income, andRailroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:$0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate(Homeowners and renters)$8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500rebate (Homeowners and renters)$15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300rebate (Homeowners only)$18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250rebate (Homeowners only)Residents are reminded to provide all thenecessary income, property tax or rental infor-mation required to process claims quickly andaccurately. Applications are due by June 30.

Check the Status of your Application

Applicants can check the status of their re-bate as soon as six weeks after submitting anapplication by visiting my Web site at

epFarry.om

clicking on “Where’s My Property Tax Re-fund?” and entering their Social Security num-ber, anticipated rebate amount, and their dateof birth. Claimants can also use an automatedphone service to check their rebate status byalling 1-888-PATaxes.

Federal and Pennsylvania tax forms are nowavailable in both of my district ofﬁces.

State Representative

Frank A.

Farry

142

Legislative District

370 EasLLower So

Identity TheftLegislationSigned Into Law

Last year, legislation imposing stricter penalties on perpetrators of one of thefastest growing and most invasive crimesin the nation was signed into law.House Bill 222, now Act 42 of 2009,requires anyone convicted of identitytheft to provide ﬁnancial restitution to hisor her victim.Under the new law, judges will berequired to sentence the person convictedof identity theft to make restitution for allreasonable expenses incurred by thevictim or on the victim’s behalf.The types of fees recoverable include,but are not limited to:• Fees for attorneys and accountants.• Fees and costs incurred in disputingor correcting credit records or reports.• Fees related to investigating thetheft.• Fees related to bringing or defendingcivil or criminal actions related tothe theft.• Court costs.I encourage consumers to be vigilantin checking their credit reports and to bemore guarded about to whom they releasetheir personal information and how theydispose of ﬁnancial documents.

www.Rep

Bills Would Address Fraudand Abuse at DPW

Auditor General Jack Wagner has conducted several recent audits highlightingwaste and abuse in the Department of Public Welfare (DPW). According to his re-ports, the potential fraud andSomething must be done toouse Republicans havegreater accountability and efﬁcruly need assistance are recRequire that resideResidency would beCommonwealth for at leRequire applicants ba test for illegal drugs aProhibit the purchasProvide for a comprerecipient sampling tEstablish a computerizcross check 19 differeto ensure that applicaam committed to endingThese measures are reasonby the auditor general. It ishe House ﬂoor for considera

Expanding Access to Healthcare

One of the biggest challenges facing our health care system is the need to provide health insurance to the uninsured. Inhis legislative session, I supported two measures which were signed into law by the governor and which will provide access toinsurance for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians. Act 2 of 2009 makes COBRA health insurance coverage available to Pennsylvania businesses with fewer than 20 employees.n 1986, the United States Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, giving workers and their amilies who have health coverage through their employer the right to continue coverage for a period of time after they leaveemployment. However, that continuation of coverage through COBRA currently doesn’t apply to small businesses with fewer han 20 employees. Act 2 changes that and makes group-rated health insurance available to employees and former employeesof small businesses in Pennsylvania. Act 4 of 2009 allows individuals to remain on a parent’s health insurance plan through age 29 if eligibile. According to theprovisions of the bill, a child would be eligible if he or she is not married; has no dependents; is a Pennsylvania resident or is enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher education; and is not provided insurance coverage or eligible for government benefits. According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, as many as 400,000 individuals, ages 19 to 29,are currently living in Pennsylvania without health insurance. Pennsylvania’s high unemployment rate has exacerbated theproblem, forcing otherwise qualified individuals to rely on part-time jobs with limited or no health benefits. Act 4 provides themwith an option to purchase health care coverage.

Seniorhealth FairApril 16

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Middletown Senior Citizen Center 142 Trenton Road,evittown, PA 19056

New DistrictOfﬁce Open

Lower SouthamptonTownship Complex1500 Desire Avenue,Feasterville, PAPhone: (215) 942-4067

Hours: Noon to 4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday andby appointment

ARRY.COM

Community Corner

Rep. Farry presents a citation from theHouse of Representatives congratulating the Neshaminy High School Cheerleadersand Coach Mary Hart for their national championship.Rep. Farry presents citations fromthe House of Representatives tofour members of Boy Scout Troop78 congratulating them on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Pictured are (from left to right): Kyle Markloff,Peter Ciarlante, Rep. Farry, Gerard McGowan, and Stephen Moyer.

Table GamesApproved forPennsylvaniaCasinosHouse Passes Hand-HeldCell Phone Ban

The House recently approved a measure to ban hand-held cell phone use andext messaging for motorists on Pennsylvania roadways. I supported this legislationbecause I believe it will have a substantial impact on reducing auto accidents anddeaths resulting from distracted driving. Adult drivers would still be permitted to engage in voice communication in hands-ree mode, while junior drivers (drivers aged 16 and 17 who have not obtained fulldriving privileges) would be prohibited from using any interactive wireless communi-ation device for any purpose.There are several exceptions to the ban including:• Use by operators of emergency service vehicles and volunteer emergencyresponders who are responding to an emergency and engaged in theperformance of their ofﬁcial duties.• Reading, selecting, or entering a telephone number to make a call.

• Use of a GPS navigational system, including those on a cell phone.

• Use of a device to contact 911.• Use of a device if a vehicle is stopped and in neutral or park.The legislation would also allow junior drivers to use a device to contact 911 if thear is stopped in traffic and in neutral or park, or if they are operating an emergencyervice vehicle and engaged in the performance of official duties.Violations would be treated as a summary offense, carrying a fine of $50 plusapplicable surcharges. These fines would be doubled in active work zones, schoolones and highway safety corridors.Before this bill becomes law, it must be approved by the Senate and signed byhe governor. While I expect the Senate to make changes to the bill as it is currentlywritten, I am hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that will make drivingin Pennsylvania safer for all of us.