High Quality
Open the downloaded document, and select print from the file menu (PDF reader required).
Summer 2010
Your opinion mattersto me. There are sev-eral important issuesfacing our Common-wealth in the weeks,months and yearsahead. Part of my jobas the state represen-tative from the 62ndLegislative District isto make sure the viewsand opinions of localfolks are expressed inHarrisburg.To help me do that,I would ask that youplease take a few min-utes to fill out the con-stituent survey on thispage.If more than one per-son from your house-hold would like to fillout the survey, youcan visit my websiteat
RepDaveReed.net
to fill out the question-naire online.Thank you for takingthe time to share your views with me.Sincerely,Dave Reed
C
ONSTITUENT
S
URVEY
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Many of Pennsylvania’s roads andbridges are in bad shape and will requireadditional funding to be repaired or recon-structed.
Question 1:
Would you support or op-pose an increase in the state tax on gaso-line if the money generated was used onlyto fix Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges?
Support
Oppose
Question 2:
Would you support or op-pose an increase in state vehicle registra-tion fees, drivers’ license fees and other motor vehicle-related fees if the moneygenerated was used only to fix Pennsyl-vania’s roads and bridges?
Support
Oppose
Question 3:
Would you support charg-ing tolls on a variety of currently free roadsacross the Commonwealth if the moneygenerated was used only to fix Pennsyl-vania’s roads and bridges?
Support
OpposeSTATE BUDGET
Our state faces many difficult budgetaryissues. I’m interested to learn how youthink we should handle any future budgetdeficits.
Question 4:
To close a state deficit,would you support or oppose cuts inspending for various state programs andservices?
Support
Oppose
Question 5
: To close a state deficit, wouldyou support or oppose increasing taxes onPennsylvania families and employers?
Support
Oppose
Question 6
: To close a state deficit, wouldyou support or oppose a combination of spending cuts and tax increases?
Support
OpposePUBLIC PENSION REFORM
You can read in the newsletter about a billrecently approved by the House that wouldreform Pennsylvania’s two major public pen-sion systems.The two major state pension plans use a
defined benefit system
, where retirementbenefits are guaranteed.Most private employers have what areknown as
defined contribution systems
,where employers match a certain amountof an employee’s retirement investment. A401(k) is an example of a defined contribu-tion plan.
Question 7:
To reform the state’s publicpension systems, would you support or op-pose moving newly hired state workers andteachers into a 401(k) plan?
Support
Oppose
Question 8:
To reform the state’s publicpension systems, would you support or op-pose continuing the current defined benefitplan but increasing the retirement age andvesting period while decreasing the multiplier used to calculate retiree benefits for newhires?
Support
Oppose
SURVEY continued on back
State Debt Update
By interns Autumn Pividori, Sara Lutton, Rachel Berman-Vaporis and Kelsey Doak
(see reverse side for intern profiles)
One of the many problems worrying Americans today is the federal deficit.At nearly $14 trillion and counting, many are concerned that the country ison a spending spree. While this is an issue of great concern, Pennsylvaniansalso need to keep a wary eye on their state debt, as the state governmenthas a great affect on their everyday lives as well. The total debt issued bythe state currently stands at approximately $10 billion and counting. Under Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration, that debt has nearly doubled.This begs the question: What exactlyhas the Commonwealth been spendingmoney on? The majority of Rendell’snew borrowing programs have beendedicated to public works and services,such as highways and bridge repairs,with a $625 million borrowing programfor Growing Greener II and $400 mil-lion going toward water and sewageimprovements, as approved by Com-monwealth citizens in the 2008 voter referendum.According to The CommonwealthFoundation, the state and local debt,including state agencies and authori-ties, as well as school districts andother local governments combined isapproximately $120 billion. That breaksdown to nearly $9,600 per person andthe interest on this debt has reachedmore than $1 billion this year.
Add a Comment