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Rep. Matt Baker
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 432
ECRWSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER
2010-11 State Budget Completed On Time
am happy to report that the 2010-11 state budget was ap-proved by the House of Representatives prior to the June 30deadline. This makes the first time under the Rendell adminis-traton tat as appene.commend the legislative leaders and governor for workingtogether to get a budget done within a reasonable timeframe.I think it’s important for the people of Pennsylvania to see thatwe can put our partisan differences aside and work to achievea common goa.No state budget is perfect and no one gets everything theywant; owever, ouse epucans were nstrumenta n reuc-ing the governor’s original budget spending number by $1 billion,ending up with a 28 billion state budget; and we were able tohelp eliminate a host of new and increased taxes as suggestedby Gov. Ed Rendell.For more information on the 2010-11 state budget, go to mywebsite and click on “State Budget News.”
Rep. Matt Baker (R-Bradford/Tioga) honored the late Marine Lance Cpl.Michael Plank, who was killed on June 9 in Afghanistan during OperationEnduring Freedom, with a House condolence resolution. Baker received specialpermission to have a United States flag placed on each member’s desk tomemorialize and amplify the patriotism and special tribute of Lance Cpl. Plankpaying the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Pictured left to right are Baker;Marine Gunnery Sgt. Richard Delacruz; Plank’s mother, Kathleen Parker;aunt Christine Davis; cousins Stephen Jeffers and Dominique Bogaczyk; auntJessica Bogaczyk; and Marine Pfc. David Odojewski.
Continuing Fight for Rejectionof Federal Health CareMandate in Pennsylvania
est assure, am contnung my ca or pas-sage of the Health Care Freedom Act in Penn-sylvania, which would ban governments fromforcing people to have health insurance or facefines and penalties. In August, a similar measurepassed by an overwhelming 71 percent of votersin Missouri.y egsaton, ouse , protects our 10th Amendment rights provided in the Unitedtates onsttuton rom te amaare manateand allows for individual choice and freedom of states to reect an unconsttutona manate topurchase health insurance they may not be ableto afford.Specifically, House Bill 2053, the “Health CareFreedom Act,” would uphold states’ rights to notmandate enrollment in a government-run healthcare plan, would preserve the doctor-patientreatonsp to mae eat care ecsons ansupport individual rights to pay directly for healthcare servces an nsurance.A similar proposal passed the Missouri Housean enate wt partsan support an was paceon the Aug. 3 primary ballot. The Health Care Free-om ct as een ntrouce or announce nstates. The legislation has already been enacted instatute form by the Virginia, Idaho, Arizona, Geor-gia and Louisiana legislatures, and constitutionalamendments will appear on the November ballotn aoma, rzona an ora.My legislation is part of the House Republi-can ocy ommttees eat are as orcealternatives. House Bill 2053 is currently in theennsyvana ouse nsurance ommttee.
F ME INTN, VST ME ONLNE
Appointed toNew Health CareersLeadership Council
am appy to announce tat wasrecenty apponte y epucanLeader of the House of Representa-tives Sam Smith to serve on the newlycreated Health Careers LeadershipCouncil.s carman o te ouse eatand Human Services Committee, Ihave developed a passion for workingto improve the health care industryin Pennsylvania, and this council willprovide me with yet another avenueto ncrease te eectveness anavailability of health care in Pennsyl-vana.The council is designed to overseethe Pennsylvania Center for HealthCareers, which will work to improvework force issues for those in theeat care e an ep ncreasethe capacity of nursing education inorder to advance the Commonwealth’soverall health care system.The Health Careers LeadershipCouncil will specifically:•etermne te organzaton,procedures and priorities of te center.•Develop initiatives, programsand projects for the center toaddress the health care workorce nee o teommonweat.•Apply for grants and seekother revenue sources,including the General Fundappropriations.•Submit an annual report tote enera ssemy yJan. 31 of each year.
Castle Doctrine Provides Law-Abiding Citizenswith Right to Defend Themselves
Every citizen deserves the right to defend themselves and their family inthe face of an imminent attack without fear of criminal charges or civil liability.That is among the reasons why I support House Bill 40, known as “The CastleDoctrine.”The bill would clearly allow for the right of self-defense to be used by our citizens in the face of an imminent attack, and not give undue protection tocrmnas. ur resents ave een orce to secon guess weter te awwould recognize their right to self-defense, and then, face a civil lawsuit as aresut o eenng temseves an ter ames. e rgt o protecton soube sacrosanct.s egsaton creates a presumpton tat an attacer or ntruer ntensto do great bodily harm, and therefore force -- including deadly force -- may beused to protect oneself, family and others in the face of an attack while in thehome or within an occupied vehicle. That presumption also applies if a personis trying to unlawfully remove an occupant, against the occupant’s will, from ahome or vehicle.The presumption would not apply if the person entering a home was:•Another resident of the home. •aw enorcement o cer. •A parent, grandparent or other guardian removing a child fromte ome or vece.n addition, the presumption would not apply if a person was using their homeor vehicle to further criminal activity.This bill eliminates the duty to retreat before using lethal force outside of your home if the attacker displays or uses a lethal weapon. However, a citizen wouldhave to demonstrate a reasonable belief that they were in imminent danger inorer to use eta orce.The bill also offers specific protection against civil liability for the lawful useo orce n se-eense. our ome s your caste, an te same sou appyto your occupied vehicle. I find it unacceptable that the criminal should havea o te avantages, an t s ong past tme to put tese soutons an rgtsinto law.House Bill 40 has garnered approval from the House Judiciary Committeeand currently awaits a full debate on the House floor.
Deadline to Apply forProperty Tax/Rent Rebate Program Extended
would like to let residents know that the deadline to apply for the state’sProperty Tax/Rent Rebate program for 2009 has been extended to Dec. 31,.Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rentor property taxes pa n . e program ene ts ege ennsyvananswho are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and thoseyears or oer wt sates.Eligibility income limits for homeowners are set at the following levels, exclud-ing 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and RailroadRetirement 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) Residents are reminded to provide all the necessary income, property tax or renta normaton requre to process cams qucy an accuratey.Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available by contacting my districtoffices or by visiting my website at
RepBaker.com
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272 is New Overlay Number for570 Area Code
e area coe currenty servng our area is expected to be exhausted sometimen 2011. In expectation of this, the Pennsylva-nia Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved anoverlay plan to provide service relief in the 570area code. The North American Numbering PlanAdministrator (NANPA), a neutral third-partyarea code relief planner for Pennsylvania,announced that the new three-digit areacoe numer w e .Once implemented, 10-digit local dial-ng wou ten appy to a teepone cas(area code plus the seven-digit telephonenumber), as required by the Federal Com-munications Commission.
Two Free Senior Crime Prevention Seminars
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 20102:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.Wellsboro Fireman’s AnnexEast Avenue, Wellsboro
2010 Senior Expo a Success!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all thevendors who participated in my Senior Expo at Wells-boro Area High School in June. The expo was a greatsuccess and we were able to provide a great deal of information about services and programs available for older adults to more than 850 senior citizens acrossthe district.Also, “thank you” to all who attended and helpedmake the day fun, as well as informative!
Rep. Baker andhis staff pose for a photo followingthe senior expo.Pictured left to rightare Wendy Nason,Rhoda Grabowski,Dottie Gardiner,Baker and WendyRibeca.
Rep. Baker enjoyed speakingwith Dick and LavernaVargeson during the expo.
It was a great turnout at this year’s senior expowith more than 73 vendors participating.
Presented by the Office of the Attorney General, topics covered during the seminar will include identity theft, homemprovement rip-offs, foreign lottery schemes, telemarketing fraud and sweepstakes scams.
Seating is limited, please RSVP to Baker’s district office at (570) 724-1390 by Sept. 22.
*Event sponsored by Rep. Baker and Elder Services Work Group of the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health
Ca l l to R e se r ve Yo u r Sea t Toda y !
Fire, Ambulance Services Eligible forGrant Funding
Volunteer fire and ambulance services throughout Bradfordan oga countes are once agan ege to appy or unngthrough the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer AmbulanceServices Grant Program.irst established in 2000, the program provides grants tosupport construction or renovation of a unit’s station, the pur-chase or repair of equipment, training or debt reduction.Maximum grants are $15,000 for volunteer fire companiesand $10,000 for volunteer ambulance services.Applications will become available no later than Sept. 7, andmust e sumtte y p.m. onOct. 22. The grant program isamnstere y te ceof the State Fire Commis-soner.
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