Fall 2010

TATE REPRESENTATIVE

BRIAN ELLIS

The 11

District’s Voice in Harrisburg

RepEllis.com

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO 432

Dear Neighbor:

The past year has presented manychallenges locally, statewide and across thecountry, but Americans continue to standtogether through these difficult times.With a national recession still gripping oureconomy, state government must continueto rein in spending and use your tax dollarsefficiently and effectively.It’s important to me to hear from youon issues and policies under considerationin Harrisburg.For your convenience, I maintaina legislative website where you candownload state forms, obtain informationon legislation under consideration by thestate Legislature, read news and findrelated information regarding the General Assembly and state government. Youcan also sign up to receive e-mail newsupdates from my office. Take some timeand visit my online office at

RepEllis.com.

If you have any questions or concerns,please do not hesitate to contact me.Sincerely, Brian Ellis11th Legislative DistrictButler County

Lack of Fiscal Control Leads to ‘NO’ Vote on State Budget

Te na state uget pan, wic I vote against, wasigned into law in early July and totals $28.04 billion, which is anincrease o $207 miion, or 0.74 percent, over ast years uget. Atoug tis uget incues no tax increases, it reies on neary$3 billion in federal stimulus funding that will not be available inte 2011-12 state uget. Tis resuts in an immeiate $3 iione cit or next year.Tis uget oes mae some minor reuctions in statepending but uses federal stimulus money to backﬁll these areas.Tis wi require state government to n an aternate means ofunding for next year’s budget when the federal stimulus revenueuns out.In aition, tis uget reies on $850 miion in eera moneytat as yet to e approve y Congress an appears uniey.I believe this budget spends too much and is not a reﬂectionwat amiies trougout te 11t District ave struggewit uring te past year. Atoug te na spening pan oeseduce spending in some areas, it does not go far enough torotect te nancia eat o Pennsyvania. Eac mont, amiiesn sma usinesses ave mae an continue to mae toughoices to live within their means and state government is noierent. I recognize tat many say to cut spening; owever,te option next year wi e to eiter signi canty cut governmentpending or raise taxes. The latter is not an option.As a memer o te House Appropriations Committee ans a usiness owner, I eieve it wou ave een more pruentto rein in state government spening tis year in preparationfor next year’s budget. We cannot continue this out-of-controlpening mentaity in Harrisurg tat as seriousy arme teommonweats uture economic viaiity.Tough choices will have to be made next year, but I amonvince it is necessary to protect te taxpayers o Pennsyvania.

House Passes Ellis’ Changes to Whistleblower Law

Te state House passe House Bi 2108, wic I autore, tat wou exten protections o Pennsyvaniaswhistleblower law to employees of the General Assembly and non-profits/private sector companies who reportwaste o puic oars y teir empoyer or services or wor.Tis i wou aow sta memers to participate in an cooperate wit investigations invoving teir empoyerfor misuse and abuse of taxpayer dollars without fear of retaliation. There must be assurances in place to weedout corruption an iega activities invoving puic uns.In aition to te group o empoyees covere uner tis egisation, te proposa wou aso impose severeenalties on elected officials who violate its provisions. Elected officials found guilty would face a fine of $10,000(currently $500) and would be suspended from public office for a period of seven years (currently six months) forreventing iscosure o crimina activity.In addition, the bill would require the courts to award attorney and witness fees to employees who prevail in acivil action.State government must wor on restoring te puics trust in teir eecte o cias. We ave a ong way to goto attain tis goa; owever, y taing te appropriate measures, tis can e accompise.I’d like to thank my colleague, vice chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee Marc GergleyD-Aegeny, or is support on getting tis i troug te egisative process.Te i is uner consieration in te state Senate.

Persian Gulf Conﬂict VeteransReminded to Apply for Bonus

Veterans wo serve onactive duty in the Persian Gulf War uring Operations DesertSie an Desert Storm areeminded to apply for theersian Gulf Conﬂict Veterans’ onus.Te Pennsyvaniaepartment of Military and Veterans Aairs oers teennsyvania Persian GuConﬂict Veterans’ Bonus toveterans wo serve on activeuty, incuing moiizeational Guard and Reserveersonne, etween Aug. 2,1990, an Aug. 31, 1991,with a payment of up to $75er mont or every monto active Gu War service. Veterans who received aSoutwest Asia Service Meaan were ega resients oennsylvania at the time of their service are also eligibleor te ene t. An aitiona onus o$5,000 is available to survivingamiies o tose ie in actionuring te same perio.For more informationon te Persian Gu Con ict Veterans Bonus, visit mywebsite at

RepEllis.com

and

cic on Persian Gu Con ict Veterans Bonus.

Visit my Website at RepEllis.com

ep. Brian Ellis is pictured withichael Ranko, son of Jacquianko and a student at CenterTownship School, who won thecoloring contest for What Americaeans to Me in 2009.ep. Brian Ellis presented a House citation toutler High School Tennis Coach Dave Hartzell inecognition of the team winning the 2010 PIAA State Championship. Although not pictured,citations were also presented to team membersatt Slamecka, Evan Kowalski, Will Nesbitt, ZaccCafferty, Stefan Kemp, Emil Kemp, Kemper May,atrick Fitz, Zach Cavaliero and Tyler Bickford.The team’s record was 23-1.

Castle Doctrine Advances in State House

egisation tat wou permit Pennsyvania citizens to een temseves wie in teir omes or occupieveices was recenty approve y te House Juiciary Committee.This legislation, of which I am a co-sponsor, received broad bipartisan support in the committee. It wouldrovie aw-aiing citizens te aiity to exercise teir Secon Amenment rigts to een temseves aneir amiies. Many Pennsyvanians ave ace crimina prosecution an civi awsuits y eening teirives and this should not be happening. This legislation would ﬁnally give our residents the right to protectemseves in teir own omes. House Bi 40 wou aow us to stan our groun.House Bi 40, oten cite as te Caste Doctrine, wou create te presumption tat an attacer or intruerintends to inﬂict bodily harm, and therefore, deadly force may be used to protect oneself, family and othersie in teir ome or an occupie veice. Tat presumption aso appies i a person is trying to unawuyemove an occupant, against is or er wi rom a ome or veice.The presumption would not apply if the person entering a home was another resident of the home, a lawnorcement o cer, a parent, granparent or oter guarian removing a ci rom te ome or veice. Inition, tis egisation wou not appy i a person was using teir ome or veice to engage in criminactivity.I commen my coeague, Rep. Scott Perry R-YorCumeran, or rating tis i in support o ouronstitutiona rigts to eep an ear arms. Tree oter egisators an I originay oere very simiaregisation, ut we witrew our is an ace Scotts wen e was epoye to Iraq in 2009. Law-aiingesidents must have the ability to protect themselves and their families from being attacked or threatened ineir own omes. I ave aways een a proponent o citizens eing awuy arme to eter crimina activityrom taing pace in teir neigoroos. I urge my coeagues in te House to support tis egisation.This bill is now pending for further action by the full House.

ep. Brian Ellis is picturedith area representatives whoarticipated in the 2010 Keystonetate Boys civic education programt Shippensburg University inumberland County.

DeadliTax/Rent

The deadline to apply for the state’s Pro2010.Eligible participants can receive a rebatrogram ene ts eigie Pennsyvanians w18 years or oer wit a permanent isaiitEigiiity income imits are set at te oecurity Income, an Rairoa Retirement Ti• $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate• $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 recessary ncome, propery ax or rena normaonequire to process caims quicy an accuratey.Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms arevaiae y contacting my o ce at 724-283-5852.orms can also be downloaded online by visiting mywesite at

RepEllis.com.

Taking a Stand Against Illegal Use of Public Beneﬁts

I ave joine many o my coeagues y caing on te cairman o te House State Government Committee toonsider legislation that would require individuals to show proof of citizenship in order to receive public benefits inennsylvania.Our puic ene ts are eing ause y tose wom I eieve o not ave a ega rigt to receive tem.ennsyvania citizens wor ar or te tax oars sent to Harrisurg, an as suc, tey sou not e aware tohose living here illegally. We must put an end to the burden placed on our benefit system and ensure that only U.S.itizens receive assistance.House Bi 1359, autore y Rep. Ron Marsico R-Daupin an wic I am a co-sponsor, wou require anindividual 18 years of age and older who applies for public benefits to provide a valid driver’s license or identificationar issue y te Pennsyvania Department o Transportation, anoter state agency or te eera government; avai U.S. passport; or anoter orm o o cia ienti cation issue y te oca, state or eera governments. Tis ias been held up in the House State Government Committee since April 27, 2009.Aitionay, Marsicos egisation wou e ne puic ene ts as any weare; eat; isaiity; puic or assisteousing; postseconary eucation; oo assistance; unempoyment ene t; or simiar ene ts provie to anindividual, household or family by a local or state government agency.A simiar proposa, approve in te Senate y a vote o 41-9 on Apri 1, 2009, as aso een otte up in teouse State Government Committee since Apri 3, 2009. Senate Bi 9 was introuce y Presient Pro Tempore Sen.Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and would require identification of lawful presence in the U.S. as a prerequisite to receiveublic benefits.Neary $730 miion in taxpayer oars is use to pay or ousing, eat care an oter puic ene ts or testimate 140,000 iega immigrants iving trougout te state.This issue is extremely important to the economic health of the Commonwealth because we cannot continue torovie unimite support to iega immigrants.I want to mae one ting cear: I am in avor o peope immigrating to te U.S. or a etter ie an enancepportunities; however, they must do it legally, just as millions before them have done.

New Website Available for Electric Consumers

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is offering a one-stop shop website for residential, commercialand industrial customers.The website includes information about electric shopping, what it is, how to shop and which suppliers areavailable, as well as the PUC’s list of competing suppliers and the Ofﬁce of Consumer Advocate’s Shopping Guidepricing information. A ZIP-code search feature is also available so consumers can see all suppliers and offers servinga given area.For a link to the website and further information about electric rate information, visit my website at

RepEllis.com.

ep. Brian Ellis recently visited the Butler Senior Center inyndora and spoke with seniors on issues that are important tothem.