PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE
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HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO 529

State Representative Kate M. Harper

61st Legislative District
KateHarper.net

March 2010

Waiting for Spring and the Return of Prosperity

Dear Neighbors,
As I write this, the scene is snowy outside
my house and school openings are delayed. On
a parallel track, our nation’s economic recovery
seems to be gaining traction but its recovery is
painfully delayed to those out of work, those
who have exhausted their savings, those who
never got around to refinancing their mortgages
or selling their houses and now find the banks
and the market unwilling to cooperate.
The health care debate in Washington seems
political and academic except for the gnawing
realization that health care insurance depends
on keeping a job, or paying higher premiums,
and the certain insight that increasing any
government program will come with higher costs
and higher taxes. And higher taxes without an
economic recovery means less money available
for hiring back down-sized employees.
In Harrisburg, where the budget must be
balanced each year – we don’t print money
and we cannot “deficit spend” – we are awash
in red ink again. Costs continue to rise for
education, Medicaid, unemployment payments,
and everything else while revenues from sales
taxes, income taxes and corporate taxes are
falling below the expected marks by hundreds
of millions of dollars.
Last year’s embarrassing budget impasse is
something no legislator wants to repeat, but it
was not the product of “laziness.” Instead it was
the result of differing philosophies on how to best
balance a state budget when revenues are off by
$300 million and costs are up. It could happen
again. Last year, Governor Rendell stubbornly
held out for a personal income tax increase and
expanded gambling. The General Assembly did
not believe increasing broad-based taxes in a
recession was the right thing to do.
This year, however, the debate may include
a “severance tax” on natural gas in the Marcellus
Shale regions of the state. Last year, neither the forests as a “cash cow.”
legislators nor the Governor wanted to tax this To be sure, the natural gas industry is
industry thought to be “in its infancy,” but with bringing money into parts of the state that need
most other states levying the tax and major money and jobs. Unfortunately, because the
energy company Exxon now one of the players drillers bring in out-of-state crews, the industry
here, the tax is back on the table as a way to is not bringing in the job opportunities many
avoid another personal income tax increase expected, and is exacting a heavy toll on rural
(it would be the second in Governor Rendell’s roads (often unpaved), rural services, and in
eight-year term of office) while people are still some cases, the rural environment. I believe a
struggling. natural gas severance tax, with the proceeds
For those of you who don’t have land in the to include more money for environmental
more rural regions of the state and haven’t visited regulation of the industry and protection for our
there recently, it might come as a surprise to know waters and forests, is an option worth exploring.
Pennsylvania has a bit of a gold rush going. Last Some of the revenues should be dedicated to
year, 4,000 new oil and gas wells were drilled in local governments to help with the ill effects of
rural PA, more than any other state in the nation the “gas rush,” but this source of revenue would
except Texas. This year, a staggering 5,200 well be one way to close the state budget gap. What
permit applications are expected by the state do you think? Feel free to call or e-mail me.
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The object is to tap into billions of cubic feet of
natural gas trapped in a rock formation known
as the Marcellus Shale accessible now because
of new technology and
drilling techniques that
pump millions of gallons
of water infused with
chemicals into the earth
to fracture the rock
(“fracking”).
Unfortunately, last
year ’s compromise
budget (which I opposed)
included revenue from
unlimited drilling in our
own state forests, with
no environmental impact
studies, no minimum
bid prices or maximum
acreage limits. The first
bids for 31,967 acres
were higher than revenue
projections and some in
state government see
the Commonwealth’s

Harper Available to Speak

to Area Groups
Looking for an update on state government? Tips on how to get
involved in public service? Information on new laws that affect your
community or professional organization? Rep. Kate Harper welcomes
the opportunity to speak to groups of all sizes and all ages about issues
of interest to you. She equally welcomes your feedback on state and
local issues.
Just call the Blue Bell office at 610-277-3230 to schedule.
Thanks to the generous donations of people throughout Montgomery County, Rep.
Kate Harper’s office shipped 13 boxes full of more than 1,000 CDs and DVDs
to soldiers in the B 1/150th Unit #072 in Camp Basrah, Iraq, just in time for the
holidays. The shipment weighed 511 pounds. Harper’s staff, Shannon Bucher (left),
Mike McLaughlin and Intern Kristin Donehower delivered the donated music and
movies to the post office. Harper held the collection in honor of fellow lawmakers,
Reps. Nick Miccarelli of Delaware County and Scott Perry of York County, who
were serving in Iraq over the past year, as well as the many other men and women
from Montgomery County and across the state serving our country.
 Gambling in PA Expanded
to Include Table Games
Licensed casinos in the Commonwealth will soon be adding poker,
roulette, blackjack and other table games to their facilities under a new
law approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor in
January.
The addition of table games is expected to generate approximately
$140 million in the next fiscal year to help balance the state’s budget.
Under the law, Category 1 and Category 2 licensed slot machine
facilities are permitted to operate up to 250 table games at any one
time, while Category 3 licensees (also known as resort facilities) can
operate up to 50 table games. The one-time fee to obtain a table games
license is $16.5 million for Category 1 and 2 licensees, and $7.5 million
for Category 3 licensees.
The measure also makes a number of necessary reforms to the
gaming industry by prohibiting gaming board members from owning
any financial interest in an applicant or licensed facility and imposing a Kate Harper participates in the ground-breaking ceremony for renovations to the
SEPTA station at North Wales. Pictured left to right are Rep. Kate Harper, SEPTA
lifetime ban on applicants who seek a license and have been convicted General Manager Joseph Casey, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, North Wales Borough
of a felony. Council Member Jocelyn Tenney, District Director Julie Slavet, North Wales
Borough Manager Susan Patton, Borough Council Member Bill Van Sant, and
State Grants Invest in Area Upper Gwynedd Township Manager Len Perrone. The project includes a new roof,
restoration of existing brick work and interior elements and installation of energy

Businesses, Employees efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting and windows.

Four local businesses have been awarded grants from the

Commonwealth. The funds support important investments in employee
training and alternative energy.
Premier Dental Products Co. of Plymouth Meeting received a grant
of $1,750 for employee training through the Workforce and Economic
Development Network (WEDnet) grant program. The company
manufactures and distributes quality health care products worldwide.
IMS, also of Plymouth Meeting, received a grant of $6,500 for
employee training through the Workforce and Economic Development
Network (WEDnet) grant program. The company provides market
research to the pharmaceutical and health care industries.
Merck & Co. will receive a $1 million grant toward an $11.3 million,
1.6-megawatt solar photovoltaic system that will generate about 22
percent of the electricity for its facility in Upper Gwynedd Township. The
company was also awarded an $875,000 grant to support solar energy
through the PA Green Energy Works program, which is supported by
federal stimulus funds.
Rep. Kate Harper greets guests during a Holiday Open House at her Blue Bell
Solar Park LLC, based in Conshohocken, will receive $5.5 million office. A variety of state forms and information are available at the office, located
for a 10-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Carbon County. The at 1515 DeKalb Pike, and Harper and her staff are happy to assist people with
plant is part of a $78 million PA Solar Park that is being developed on 134 state government-related concerns.
acres by Green Energy Capitol Partners. Overall, the Solar Park facility
will generate enough electricity to power about 1,450 homes.

Celebrating a Lifetime of Public Service; Elizabeth Sinclair Turns 100

Rep. Harper presents Elizabeth “Lib” Sinclair with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives in honor of her 100th birthday.
Elizabeth “Lib” Sinclair, of Lansdale’s Dock Woods Community,
celebrated her 100th birthday on Dec. 16, 2009.
As a woman who dedicated her life to helping others, Lib has
made a difference in many, many lives during the past century.
She worked as a teacher, served as president of her church’s
Women’s Guild, reported plane traffic with her husband, Alonzo
(also known as “Feet”) during World War II, and led a local sorority,
Eta Delta Tau, and the Salvation Army in a number of community
service projects.
An active member of the local PTA, Lib eventually was elected
to the Norristown school board and became only the second woman
elected president of the board in 125 years.
Even in retirement, when she and her husband spent time in
the Virgin Islands, they were still serving the community, getting
involved in the local Moravian church and serving as greeters to
tourists arriving on the island.
Some sage advice from the centenarian: “Make yourself a part
of the community. Join with what’s going on and help when and
where you can.”

www.Kate
 Eagle Scout Awards
Congratulations to these fine young men on
their Eagle Scout achievements!
Rep. Kate Harper congratulates David M. DeLong for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
His community service project involved the design and construction of a handicapped-
accessible ramp at the Burton Fork Baptist Parsonage in South Carolina as part of
a Lansdale United Methodist Church Youth Mission trip. David is a member of Troop
152 in West Point and is the son of Paul and Sandy DeLong.
Rep. Kate Harper congratulates Michael Wheatman and Joshua Bowman for achieving
the rank of Eagle Scout. Michael’s community service project included landscaping
a garden and constructing birdhouses for the Abramson Center for Jewish Life in
Horsham. Joshua’s project involved removing old playground equpment and installing
new equipment for the preschool program at Temple Sinai. Michael and Joshua are
both members of Troop 665 in Dresher. Pictured left to right are Steven Wheatman,
Ellen Wheatman, Michael Wheatman, Rep. Harper, Joshua Bowman, Barbara Bowman
and Bill Bowman.
Rep. Kate Harper congratulates Derek Stufflet for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Derek’s community service project involved helping to organize fundraisers in support
of Backpacks and School Supplies for Foster Care Children, resulting in 300 backpacks
filled with school supplies being distributed to children in foster care. Derek is a member
of Troop 216 in Plymouth Meeting and is the son of Chip and Sherry Stufflet.
Pothole? Call 1-800-FIX-ROAD
PennDOT wants your help to identify potholes and other state road problems in need of repair.
Simply call the toll-free maintenance hotline at 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) and your call will be directed to the appropriate local
maintenance facility. When calling, be prepared to:
• Report the county and municipality where the problem is located.
• Report the state route number, which can be found on the small white-and-black signs posted along state roads, where the problem is located.
• Describe familiar landmarks nearby in order to help PennDOT crews locate the problem.
In addition to reporting potholes, motorists should also report missing highway signs, shoulder drop-offs, roadway washouts and other
potential hazards.
eHarper.net
Statewide Network Offers
Free Legal Services
People in need of legal advice but without the means to pay
for it may be eligible for assistance from Legal Aid of Southeastern
Pennsylvania (LASP), an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid
Network (PLAN).
Services are free for people who qualify. Eligibility is based on
monthly income, current assets, family size, type of legal problem
and place of residence.
Among the many types of legal services provided by LASP
are assistance with landlord/tenant disputes, public housing,
utilities, bankruptcy, denial or termination of government benefits
and more.
For additional information, call LASP’s toll-free Helpline at
1-877-429-5994, visit www.lasp.org or stop by the office at 625
Swede Street in Norristown.
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network and its affiliates are
funded in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and are
designed to ensure equal access to legal services regardless of
financial status. Rep. Harper is a board member of Legal Aid of
Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP).
New Law Extends
Coverage for Adult
Dependent Children
Through Age 29
A new state law (Act 4 of 2009) requires insurance companies
to offer the option of providing health insurance coverage to adult,
dependent children on their parents’ policies through the age of
29.
The coverage would be offered at the option of the policyholder
(in most cases, an employer who provides benefits to his or her
employees through a group policy). Employers who choose to offer
this coverage would then make it available to their employees.
In order to qualify, the child must be unmarried, have no
dependents, reside in the Commonwealth or be enrolled as a full-
time students at an institution of higher education, and have no
other health insurance coverage.
Employees interested in such coverage should talk with their
employee benefits office to determine availability.
Dorthea (Dot) Gillespie, president of the Walnut Meadows Homeowners Association,
testifies before the House Urban Affairs Committee in support of House Bill 1201,
introduced by Rep. Harper. The bill aims to protect owners of mobile homes from
unreasonable and unexpected ground rent fee increases. More than 100 area
seniors attended the hearing at the Montgomery Township Municipal Building.
 Sitting in Traffic & Upcoming
Dear Sitting in Traffic:
Wondering Events
Blood Drive: March 19
If I come up behind the mailman, is it OK to pass his mail truck
when it is blocking part of the lane I am traveling in? If not, how do I Rep. Harper and the local chapter of the
get around him so I’m not stuck stopping every time he stops? American Red Cross will hold a blood drive
“Special Delivery” and legislative information day on Friday,
Dear Special Delivery, March 19, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Whitpain
You are permitted to pass a mail truck, but as always, it is important to proceed with Township building. If you would like to schedule
caution. an appointment to donate blood, please call
Most often, you will come upon a mail carrier when traveling on a two-lane road. In order Rep. Harper’s office at 610-277-3230 or visit
to pass, you will have to move at least partially into the lane that carries oncoming traffic, so KateHarper.net, and click on the blood drive
KateHarper.net
it is important to pass only in an area where you have clear visibility to see there are no other button.
vehicles approaching. If you are on a hill or curve, or visibility is otherwise limited, you should
wait to pass until conditions allow you to do it safely. Montgomery County Senior
In addition to checking the lane for oncoming traffic, you also need to be on the lookout Games: May 10-14
for vehicles that may be turning onto the roadway from a driveway or side street. Watch for Rep. Harper encourages all seniors age
pedestrians and bicyclists as well, and be sure to check your rearview mirrors to ensure no one 50 and over to take part in this year’s 25th
behind you is trying to pass. Annual Montgomery County Senior Games
Once you are satisfied that you can safely pass the mail truck, be sure to signal your intentions and Expo, May 10-14. General information and
for the mail carrier ahead of you and the traffic behind you. registration forms will be posted by mid-March
at KateHarper.net, or call the Blue Bell office
at 610-277-3230.

Helpful Sites Online

The Internet provides easy access to all sorts of valuable information, including tips to help you plan a family trip
focused on Pennsylvania’s rich history.
Graeme Park, Horsham U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle
www.ushistory.org/graeme http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/index.cfm
This nearby park features the Keith House, the only surviving This is the Army’s pre-eminent museum and research complex,
residence of a Colonial Pennsylvania governor. dedicated to educating the public and preserving the legacy of the
men and women who have served our nation as soldiers.
State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
www.statemuseumpa.org Chambersburg Heritage Center
Located right next to the Pennsylvania Capitol building, the www.chambersburg.org
State Museum includes a variety of Civil War artifacts, paintings, Learn more about Franklin County, from the Native Americans who
photographs and more. once inhabited the area to the region’s role in the Underground
Railroad and Civil War.
National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg
www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org Visit PA: www.visitPA.com
This museum includes weapons and tools of war, as well as interactive Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about
displays, war maps and films. travel in Pennsylvania.

Did You Know... Northeast Extension

Your old cell phones could help save someone else’s life?
If you have an old cell phone that still works, bring it to Rep.
Harper’s Blue Bell office. The phones are then redistributed to people
who can use them to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Go Green with the “Harper
Report” Online
Many people have asked if they can stop receiving the paper
version of the Harper Report and instead read it online to help
protect the environment and our natural resources. The answer is....
absolutely.
Simply go to and click on the “Go Green” icon on
the upper right side of the page to sign up.
Even if you already receive regular e-mail updates, you must fill out
this form and include your full mailing address so you can be removed
You will be notified via e-mail when
Project Update
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials recently announced that construction
of the southern portion of the Northeast Extension widening project is
scheduled to begin next spring.
Widening and reconstruction could not begin until a number of
bridge reconstructions were completed. Substantial progress is already
being made on the Route 202 Bridge in Whitpain Township and the
Walton Road Bridge in Plymouth Township, and both are expected to
be completed in September.
Work on the Morris Road Bridge is slated to start in March, with
the new bridge reopening to traffic in late 2010. The widening project
also required the reconstruction of the Kriebel Road and Bethel Road
bridges, and those were completed in 2008.
The northern section of the widening project, along with
reconstruction of the Bustard Road bridge, is scheduled to start in 2014.
Prior to that, turnpike officials will be replacing the Sumneytown Pike
bridge to make way for the widened roadway.
For additional information on the project, visit KateHarper.net
KateHarper.net.

CONTACT ME  clip and save

Now Available at the Blue Bell Office: HARRISBURG

210 Ryan Office Building
• Property Tax/Rent Rebate Forms – Seniors who meet age PO Box 202061, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2061
and income guidelines may qualify for a rebate of up to Phone: (717) 787-2801
$650 on rent or property taxes paid in 2009. Forms BLUE BELL
and additional information about the program are available. 1515 DeKalb Pike, Suite 106, Blue Bell, PA 19422
• Tax Forms – Some of the most commonly used tax forms are Phone: (610) 277-3230
available, including the PA-40 and the related schedules. Email: kharper@pahousegop.com
Tax day is April 15. Internet: www.KateHarper.net