Spring 2010

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 529

Representative Jeff Pyle60th Legislative District

JeffPyle.net

Budget 2010-11: Governor Proposes More Spending

In early February, the governor presented his state budget proposal for the 2010-11 fiscal year.The Legislature must proceed with caution especially since his plan relies on federal stimulus funding. As the recession continues to impact the country, the federal government has been pouring billions ofdollars into the states, including Pennsylvania.This additional revenue is a blessing and a curse. It has helped in areas where revenues have declined;however, the federal stimulus program is not a permanent source of revenue. Next year,Pennsylvania will realize a $3 billion shortfall as the stimulus program ends. This will leave aserious deficit in state revenues. The 2009-10 budget relied heavily on stimulus fundingas well as completely draining the Commonwealth’s savings accounts. These were justa few of the reasons I voted against that budget. The spending was not sustainable.This year, the governor’s budget is predicated on the Commonwealth receiving anadditional $800 million in federal stimulus funds. It’s important to note that Congress has

Hi Everyone:

The right to petition our government for change is older than you or I. It’s a founding principle of democracy.Thomas Jefferson said, “When the government no longer represents the will of the people, it is the right and obligationof the people to replace the government.” Whether or not you agree with the decisions being made in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg or even in our hometownships, boroughs or school districts, it is imperative that we speak our minds and for our elected officials to know our wishes. It is our right to expect completely open answers for our tough questions. When we ask the tough questions ofour government officials, never should we accept anything less than an accurate, courteous answer.I haven’t written you in awhile because last summer, I dissented with the taxation required to fund this governor’sspending plan. I couldn’t justify the cost of a mailing and felt I should practice what I preached. During last summer’sbudget standoff, thousands of folks e-mailed, wrote letters and made phone calls to me demanding that I voiceour district’s opposition to the proposed higher taxes. In a representative democracy, the task of those elected is todo what the people want them to do, not what the elected official wants to do. I know of no other way to interpret“responsible government.”I personally don’t agree with many of the decisions being made in Washington, D.C. I do not equate “progress” with spending more taxpayer money (as I heard in Harrisburg so often last summer). To sum up, I feel we do bear anobligation to help our neighbors who have fallen on tough times (and the times are most definitely tough), but I do notfeel it is the right time to embark on expensive, non-essential initiatives or projects whether they are national, statewideor local. Going into the 2010-11 Pennsylvania budget process, that is my disposition, but if you disagree, please feelfree to dissent. It is your right and obligation. I welcome your input and need it to make informed decisions and votes.I work for

YOU

.Jeff PyleState Representative60th Legislative District

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Efforts to Curtail Anti-Poaching Bill Prove Successful

Legislation introduced in July 2009 would have imposed serious penalties on honest, law-abiding and well-intentionedhunters who make a mistake or use poor judgment while hunting wildlife throughout Pennsylvania.House Bill 1859, in its original form, targeted those who illegally kill game for profit. Since the Commonwealth’s poachinglaw has not been changed in more than 20 years, I believe the current penalties for the most egregious violations arenot high enough to deter those who profit from illegally killing, and therefore stealing, our wildlife. However, due to thelanguage used in an earlier version of the bill, the average hunter could be charged with the same offense if he or shemade an honest mistake. As we all know, people do make mistakes; we’re human. Under the original proposal, penaltiesincluded confiscation of firearms. I felt this was unacceptable. As a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, I have been closely involved at the ground level with thislegislation to ensure that our sportsmen and sportswomen are not subjected to harsh penalties that should be aimed atthose disrespecting our game lands and wildlife. The penalties include loss of firearms rights, suspension of hunting licenseand the potential for authorities to search and seize property related to poaching activities.I was instrumental in having language removed that many of my colleagues and the National Rifle Association believedcreated the potential for law-abiding sportsmen to be hammered with unnecessary penalties. I also pushed successfully to remove the search and seizure language from the bill because I believe it is a violation of our constitutional rights.I do agree that poachers, jack-lighters and traders of illegal animal parts should be charged to the fullest extent of thelaw; however, we need to ensure that there is a clear line between poachers and those who make an honest mistake. After tightening language in the bill, it cleared the House on July 21, 2009, by a vote of 169-3 and is now underconsideration in the state Senate.

Repairs of Local Roads and Bridges

Roads and bridges in the 60th Legislative District have been receiving much-needed repair. More than $32 millionhas been directed to the local area for road expansion and paving, and bridge repair and structural upgrades. Althoughmany projects are taking place throughout Armstrong and Indiana counties, below is a highlight of some of the projects:

ARMSTRONG COUNTY

East Franklin Township• Rehabilitation of two bridges carrying Route 422 Eastbound and Westbound over Route 28 ramps.South Buffalo Township• Preservation of State Route 3023 Iron Bridge over Buffalo Creek.North Buffalo and South Buffalo Townships• Restoration of Route 28 from State Route 3023 to State Route 128. Worthington Borough and West Franklin Township• Resurfacing Route 422 from west of Route 422/State Route 2009 Intersection to east of the Route 422/State Route1015 Intersection.Kiskiminetas Township• Resurfacing, widening of approximately 1 mile portion of the existing Roaring Run Trail in the Village of Edmonincluding construction of a restroom facility.

INDIANA COUNTY

Cherryhill Township• Bridge deck rehabilitation of Route 422 Westbound over Chestnut Ridge Road.• Bridge deck rehabilitation of Route 422 over Chestnut Ridge Road.Brush Valley Township• Rehabilitation of the bridge carrying Yellow Creek Park Road (PA 259) over Blacklick Creek. Armstrong Township• Pavement restoration on Route 422 from PA 286 to State Route 4004 (Lions Health Camp Road). yet to approve legislation that would provide this revenue stream. I believe it is unwise for Pennsylvania to depend on money it does not have, or may not receive. As a side note, the majority Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) recently stated that he felt we must raise taxes. Said Evans, “It’s not rocket science, it’s not complicated.” What state government must do is regroup and analyze actual revenues and design a budget based on thesenumbers. If the federal stimulus funding comes through, great, but if it doesn’t, we will be facing a massive deficit fortaxpayers to fund. State spending should only match revenues and not a penny more. We must break the mindset thattaxpayers are an endless supply of cash and operate in a framework to only use the money we currently have.Including stimulus funds, the governor proposes to spend $29 billion next fiscal year, which is a $1.2 billion increasein spending. If the governor’s budget is enacted as presented, the total spending increase during the past eight years would be nearly $9 billion, or 45 percent. To put this in perspective, during the 320 years since the founding of theCommonwealth, state spending increased to $20 billion. The governor’s appetite for spending is unsustainable.

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Low-Cost Prescription Drug Assistance Available

Senior citizens who rely on prescription drugs to stay healthy may qualify for financial assistance through thestate’s PACE and PACENET prescription drug assistance programs.PACE and PACENET offer comprehensive prescription coverage to older Pennsylvanians and covers mostprescription medications and some prescription supplies.Eligibility restrictions for PACE require that applicants be residents of Pennsylvania for at least 90 consecutive daysprior to application. Additionally, applicants must be age 65 or older and have a total income for the precedingcalendar year of less than $14,500 for a single person, or less than $17,700 combined for a married couple.Once enrolled in the PACE program, a benefit card will be mailed, and enrollees will be required to pay a $6co-payment for each generic prescription medication. Brand name prescriptions require a $9 co-payment. Theseco-payments are made to the pharmacy at the time of purchase.PACENET applicants must also be residents of Pennsylvania for at least 90 consecutive days prior to applicationand be age 65 or older. For PACENET, applicants must have had a total income for the preceding calendar yearof between $14,500 and $23,500 for a single person, or between $17,700 and $31,500 combined for a marriedcouple.

Applications Now Available for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Applications for the state’s 2009 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program are now available. Eligible participants canreceive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2009. The program benefits eligiblePennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older withdisabilities.Eligibility income limits for homeowners are set at the following levels, excluding 50 percent of Social Security,Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:• $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate (Homeowners and renters)• $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate (Homeowners and renters)• $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate (Homeowners only)• $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate (Homeowners only)The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is one of many initiatives supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery, whichdedicates its proceeds to support programs for older Pennsylvanians. Since the program began in 1971, more than $4billion has been paid to qualified applicants.Residents are reminded to provide all the necessary income, property tax or rental information required to processclaims quickly and accurately. Applications are due by June 30.Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available by contacting my office, or by visiting

JeffPyle.net.

Legislation Would Provide Tax Credit to Deer Processors

As a way to supply our food banks and encouragedeer processing facilities to participate in the HuntersSharing the Harvest (HSH) program, I have introducedHouse Bill 2256, which would permit a processingfacility to claim a tax credit against its state income tax liability.The HSH program provides an opportunity forhunters to donate their unwanted fresh venison to afood bank or pantry that provides thousands of mealsfor our less fortunate. Venison is a high-protein, low-fatmeat that is preferred among many.Established in1991, HSH is sponsored by Pennsylvanians for the Responsible Use of Animals andoperates with the cooperation of the PennsylvaniaGame Commission and state Department of Agriculture, along with several state sportsmen’sorganizations.It should come as no surprise that Pennsylvania’ssportsmen and sportwomen have donated morethan 40 tons of venison a year to needy individualsand families through food banks and soup kitchens.House Bill 2256’s limit of $100,000 in tax credits has thepotential to supply an additional 60 to 80 tons of fresh venison to our food banks.One of the group’s largest costs is the result ofprocessor reimbursements, which is why HSH continually accepts monetary contributions year-round for itsservices. Hunters donating their harvest voluntarily pay a $15 tax-deductable fee toward each processeddeer. The remainder of the processing fee is coveredthrough HSH sponsors and generous donations ofindividuals across the state.Under my legislation, a $50 tax credit per deerprocessed would be available to deer processingfacilities that donate their services to the HSH program.The maximum amount of credit available each year would be $2,500 per processor. This would endthe need for hunters to pay the fee while allowingprocessors to obtain the tax credit.This bill is currently under consideration in the HouseFinance Committee.