As the end of the 2009-10 legislative ses-sion approaches, there are many challenges stillfacing our Commonwealth. I want to takethis opportunity to update you on the statusof the important issues state government isstriving to manage.e economy and jobs are certainly thebiggest concerns, as we continue to recuper-ate from the worldwide economic downturn. As the economy faltered so did state revenuecollections, leading to 25 consecutive monthsof revenue collections failing to meet projec-tions. Finally in June, the streak was brokenand the state actually brought in more revenuethan anticipated – mostly due to a successfultax amnesty program and licenses for tablegames. is is very important because ourstate budget is based on this revenue forecast-ing. I am hopeful collections will continue toexceed projections because this will help thestate avoid future budget cuts.Speaking of the budget, the state finally passed a budget on time for the first time dur-ing the eight-year Rendell administration. Ivoted against the spending plan, and you canread more about my reasons for this in thisnewsletter’s budget article.Finally, I want to remind you that my offi ceis here to assist you with any of your state-related needs. If you would like informationabout state legislation, need help working witha state department or agency, or if you haveany questions or concerns, you can contact my offi ces in Berwick, Bloomsburg, or Harrisburg.(Detailed contact information is availableon the back of this newsletter.) You can alsofind valuable information on my website,

RepMillard.com

, and on my Facebook page,

Facebook.com/RepMillard

Best wishes for the rest of your summer!Respectfully,David R. MillardState Representative109th Legislative District

Summer - Fall 2010

Dear Nighbor,

Millard Commends Federal Decision toDeny I-80 Tolling

Good news was delivered to Columbia County and communities all acrossPennsylvania’s Interstate 80 corridor when the Federal Highway AdministrationFHWA) denied an application by the Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionPTC) to toll the highway.is message illustrates that government offi cials do listen to the people andcan make the right decision. It would have been inherently unfair to allow theolling and further damage our struggling economy. By denying this application,he FHWA has told the Turnpike Commission that it cannot impose tolls on anarea of the state that will not directly benefit from them. Essentially, PennDOTand the Turnpike Commission cannot rely on poor public policy to continuesending money to failing mass transit systems and congested highway systemsour residents will never use.e Federal Highway Administration considered the application to toll I-80as part of the Interstate System Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program.is was the second time the PTC submitted its full application. In late 2007, theFHWA returned the proposal seeking additional information, and in September2008, the application was denied by the Bush administration. Whether the denial was based on a questionable market valuation, the in-creasingly suspect Turnpike Commission or a failure to appropriately addresshe strict criteria of the pilot program, the agency evidently understood thathere were more reasons to deny the tolling than to approve it. I am pleased theFHWA has not succumbed to the pressures of politics inside the Washington,D.C., Beltway and have really listened to those who will be most affected by his decision.e governor has convened a special session of the Legislature to developother alternatives for transportation funding needs, but we can be confident thathis plan to toll I-80 has reached a dead end.

I have been investigating alternative ways to communicate with youhat are informative, environmentally friendly and cost effective. Although constituents tell me they are worthwhile, newsletters canbe costly to mail. Using improved technology, electronic communica-ion is an effective tool to keep you informed. Via e-mail and the web,I am able to communicate with you at a greatly reduced cost.To accomplish this goal, I am offering you the option of receivingall future newsletters from my offi ce in an online format. If you’d likeo make the switch, please take a moment and log onto my website at

RepMillard.com

and click on the e-newsletter” icon. A simple form will be there for you to complete.If you choose to do nothing, you will continue to receive my futurenewsletters in the mail.To receive additional news, if you’re on Facebook, make sure tofollow me at

Facebook.com/RepMillard

In order for me to provide the best representation in Harrisburg for our district, I want to know what your opinionsare on the issues. Could you please take a minute and complete this brief survey so I can learn your opinion on legislationbefore the House of Representatives. I look forward to reading your responses. Fill out the questions here, or save time anda stamp by ﬁlling it out online at

RepMillard.com

Tell Me What You Think

ConstituentSurvey

1) Do you support or oppose the governor’s proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax?Support Oppose 2) Do you support or oppose merging PennDOT with the Turnpike Commissionto save on administrative costs and reduce government overhead?upport ppose 3) Do you support or oppose the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-ownedliquor stores?Support Oppose) Do you support or oppose all new home construction being required to include aﬁre-suppression sprinkler system?Support Oppose5) Do you support charging an extraction tax on natural gas if the money raised is sentto Pennsylvania’s General Fund to replace $5 billion in lost revenue? Or if the money raised is used to ensure industry regulation and enforcement by DEP and theconservation districts?General FundEnforcement/RegulationDon’t support tax6) Do you use any of the following social networks on at least a weekly basis?Facebook TwitterYouTubeAdditional Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________anks so much for your replies! If you’re mailing your answers in, please send them to my Bloomsburg oﬃ ce: 605 West Main St., Bloomsburg PA, 17815. Remember, you can answer online at

RepMillard.com

A Look at the Pennsylvania State Budget

As you may have seen in news reports, Pennsylvania has a state budget forhe 2010-11 fiscal year. e appropriations bill was passed in the House and theenate by the constitutionally mandated deadline of June 30; however, Gov. EdRendell signed it about a week later.ough I’m pleased that Pennsylvanians didn’t have to endure a saga likehe 101-day late state budget in 2009, the final plan failed to earn my supportfor several reasons:- is budget relies on more than $2.7 billion in stimulus funding fromhe federal government. At the time of the budget passage, the numbers only worked if Pennsylvania received $850 million that had not yet been authorizedby Congress. In recent weeks, Congress passed a bill that will bring at leastsome of those funds to the Commonwealth, but the total will be at least $200million short of what had been expected. In other words, it was balanced onhe premise of money that we do not have.- e budget does not meet necessary fiscal obligations to fund state pen-sions (see more on this issue in the pension article in this newsletter), thereby potentially setting up more future problems.- e “balanced” budget is predicated on financial commitments from anas-of-yet not instituted tax on natural gas income from the Marcellus Shale.Basing financial practices on income that does not yet exist is simply not soundplanning.

House Approves Public Pension Reforms

e House recently approved a public pension reform bill that would fulfillhe state’s obligations to current workers and retirees while taking steps to reducehe long-term burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers.e legislation aims to smooth out what has become a potentially cripplingcrisis resulting from Act 9, a 2001 law that increased pensions for state workersand school employees but left taxpayers on the hook for a bill that would comedue in 2012.e reforms are aimed at two pension systems: the Public School Employ-ees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System(SERS). ese pension systems are funded primarily through three sources:employee contributions, employer contributions and investment returns. estate makes the employer contribution for the state workers’ pension system. estate and local school districts make the employer contribution for the publicschool teachers’ pension system.Due to a combination of investment downturns and the global economiccrisis, as well as increasing benefits and a cost-of-living adjustment for retiredemployees, the state and local school districts are facing a sharp increase inemployer contributions to the pension funds in the next few years.e changes included in House Bill 2497, the bill that recently passed inhe House by a vote of 192-6, would “smooth out” those increases (similar to ahome re-financing) while also implementing pension benefit reforms, resultingin short-term relief and long-term cost reductions for taxpayers.House Bill 297 would not reduce pension benefits for these current em-ployees and retirees in the two systems. In actuality, the U.S. Constitution andhe Pennsylvania Constitution prohibit making changes to pensions for existing workers and retirees due to contractual law.Furthermore, the House bill also would implement pension reforms forfuture state workers and teachers. ese reforms include increasing the amountof time a teacher or worker must be employed before they are entitled to certainpension benefits. It also increases the amount of time they must serve beforehey can retire.Together, these reforms stand to benefit taxpayers and protect current pen-sion plan participants.If something is not done to address this looming crisis, Pennsylvania familiescould be facing a massive tax increase. While House Bill 279 will not solve allof the problems facing our state pension systems, I support it because I believeit is an important first step toward keeping the systems healthy without placinga greater burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers.e bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.