State Representative Warren Working For You

Summer 2011

Kampf

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 432

Dear Friend,

A MoRe ReSponSible budget, 2011-2012

For nearly a decade we watched Pennsylvanias spending and borrowing grow at unsustainable rates. The new budget, however, recognizes the financial burdens weve placed on our families and reverses these trends by reducing spending and rejecting tax increases when people can least afford them. The $27 billion budget passed by the legislature and signed into law on time on June 30th also places a top priority on education by restoring many of the cuts the governor first proposed and implementing bipartisan reforms, especially to the Department of Public Welfare. although i agreed that we needed to spend less both because we had less and because spending had increased at twice the rate of inflation in the last eight years, i also said from day one that we could do a better job prioritizing the budget than the governor had in his proposal. We have. Local schools will receive millions of dollars more than first proposed. For example, we were able to restore $1.276 million to the tredyffrin-easttown School District alone. The four school districts that make up the 157th house District will receive $3.7 million more in the final budget than from the Corbett budget plan. This is a budget that is responsible to both the taxpayer and our children. Please dont let anyone tell you otherwisemore state dollars are going to K-12 education than ever beforeit is the federal stimulus money that is gone. But we have also put a check on the ballooning local School District budgets. now, School Boards will need to go to the voters every year for tax increases above the rate of inflation, unless state pensions or special education are the reasons for the increases. More than half our sister states use these referenda, and it is time we did too. We have also reduced a number of mandates that School Districts labor under, which should help in these tough times. i look forward to eliminating more mandates as the house session continues. in addition, the new budget i worked to create reduces Department of Public Welfare spending by $400 million. Pennsylvanias own auditor general has been saying for years that this Department, which spends $27 billion in state and federal dollars, is rife with waste, fraud and inefficiency. in the last few months, the State house in which i serve passed several significant reforms to tighten up on this waste. This budget does nothing more than implement the auditor generals well-documented findings, and the taxpayers deserve no less. Please bear in mind, there are many financial hurdles coming our way. We owe $800 million to the MCare Fund, which helps offset our medical communitys malpractice costs, because the prior administration raided it to balance the budget. We owe another $3.7 billion to repay our obligation to the federal governments unemployment compensation fund. We must also tackle the long-term solvency of our states pension funds, which are estimated to be underfunded by 25 percent, or more than $30 billion. We are paying $1 billion every year in debt service for the other enormous debts racked up by the Commonwealth. This budget is a good beginning, but much work remains.

i first want to thank you for the honor of representing you in harrisburg, especially during this period of challenge and opportunity. Like all families across Pennsylvania, state government is learning to do more with less. as the new budget illustrates, we are at the crossroads of reform and restoration. My challenge as your legislator is to find the right reforms. i believe in the first six months, i have. We have taken our limited resources, prioritized them, used them with greater efficiency, cut waste, and shored up our finances. But we have been cautious to eliminate the excessive and unnecessary, while protecting programs that benefit Pennsylvanians and strengthen our workforce. as the session moves along, i will update you on our progress through my website, RepKampf.com, and you can follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/RepKampf. Please take a few moments to read through this newsletter. it contains important information on developments in harrisburg, on our offices services and legislation on which i am working.

u p C o M i n g

e V e n t S

FireFighterS/eMS grant Writing SeMinar July 20 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Paoli Fire Company 69 Darby road, Paoli, Pa 19301

State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann will conduct a Fire Company and Emergency Responder Grant Seminar for local volunteer firefighters and personnel with local EMS companies.

SeniOr LiVing exPO September 8 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tredyffrin township Building 1100 Duportail road, Berwyn, Pa 19312

A one-stop information source for seniors, their families and caregivers.

PeCO energy ChOiCe august 10 Begins at 7 p.m. Schuylkill township Building 111 Valley Park road, Phoenixville, Pa 19460

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Utility Commission and PECO will discuss shopping for electric suppliers, energy saving tips as well as current PECO programs and rebates.

Veterans and their families can learn about the services that are available for them.

VeteranS exPO november 17 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Freedoms Foundation 1601 Valley Forge road, Valley Forge, Pa 19482

tRAnSpoRtAtion neWS
StAnding AgAinSt 422 tollS
On Monday, June 6, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe hoeffel introduced a proposal to toll route 422. i have been consistent in my belief that tolling is just another name for a tax on the people affected. The people that drive 422 deserve our best effort in mitigating the traffic and infrastructure problems without overburdening them any further financially. The taxpayers have already paid for the construction and upgrading of route 422 with their gas tax and motor licensing fees. to date, there are over $234 Million in improvements programmed into the PennDOt system for route 422 that should happen without one dime of toll money. We are continuing to work on solutions that will alleviate route 422 congestion. i will keep you updated as more information becomes public regarding this issue.

Kampf joins his colleagues during a press conference to denounce a plan to toll Route 422.

ConStRuCtion updAteS
route 202 reconstruction The current widening work is part of PennDOts larger $180 Million project to widen route 202 from north Valley road to the route 30 Bypass. This project is scheduled to be completed in 2015. During all upcoming work on route 202, PennDOt will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction during periods of heavy use to minimize the impact of construction on users of this busy commuter route. you can access the full 202 project plan at www.US202-300.com. turnpike route 29 Slip ramp The Pennsylvania turnpike Commission (PtC) has begun work on the installation of an all-electronic interchange linking route 29 to the Pa turnpike. This slip ramp is scheduled to be operational by late 2012. More detailed information can be found at http://www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/ r29ramp/ in 2013 the turnpike also plans to begin a widening project for the six miles of roadway between the King of Prussia exit and the new route 29 slip ramp. This includes a third lane for each direction. information regarding the PtCs 320 project can be found at http://www.paturnpike.com/ConstructionProjects/ mp320to326/

bRinging ReAl RefoRM to HARRiSbuRg

When i was sworn in, i vowed to focus on transforming harrisburg into a place with more openness. i am proud that among my first votes was a package of reforms that included: house Bill 15, which creates an online database of all state government expenditures so the public gets a chance to see exactly where their tax dollars are being spent without ever leaving their own homes. This was signed into law by the governor. This passed as act 18. house Bill 103, which increases penalties on those in violation of the Lobbyist Disclosure act. house Bill 104 and house Bill 105, which extend whistleblower protections to state employees and those under contract with state government. house Bill 107, which bars an individual working for state government and who has been employed by a prospective contractor within the last two years from participating in the evaluation of contract proposals. house Bill 109, which prohibits members of the general assembly from creating or maintaining non-profits that receive public funds. in passing this package of reforms, we told the public that we heard their calls for change, and that business-as-usual is unacceptable.

Helpful ContACtS autism hotline: 877-695-8495 ChiP: 800-986-5437 PennDOt: 800-922-4600

Pa Dept of Labor & industry Unemployment Compensation: 717-787-3547 Mortgage assistance: 800-342-2397 PaCe: 800-225-PaCe
157th Legislative District

STATE REPRESENTATIVE WARREN KAMPF

HaRRiSbuRG office: 429 irvis building Po box 202157 Harrisburg, Pa 17120-2157 717-260-6166 Paoli office: 42 east lancaster avenue, unit a Paoli, Pa 19301 610-251-2876 / 610-640-2357 (fax) Monday - friday 9 aM - 5 PM

audubon office: 2812a egypt Road audubon, Pa 19403 610-631-2865 / 610-631-2867 (fax) Monday & Weds 9 aM - 5 PM, fri 1-5 PM

in tHe CoMMunity
KaMPF ViSitS SChUyLKiLL SChOOL CeLeBrating BUSineSS

Kampf had the pleasure of teaching a lesson in government to second-graders at Schuylkill Elementary School.

Kampf helps Gail Warner and Regina Strobel cut the ribbon on their shop, Bridge Street Chocolates, in Phoenixville.

VaLLey FOrge SChOLarShiP StUDent

PatriOt Day

Kampf congratulates Joseph Giampietro on earning a scholarship to Valley Forge Military College.

Kampf, (center) joins Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell (left) and Rick Loughery, (right) assistant to Farrell, during Patriot Day, in Phoenixville.

CAReeR SeeKeR dAy

nearly 100 people wanting to improve their job-hunting skills took part in my Career Seekers workshop at Franklin Commons, 400 Franklin ave., in Phoenixville. They came away with new ideas, resources and tips for helping to advance their career. We received great feedback from those in attendance. i hope everyone who came out learned something that will improve their job search. This is a challenging period for those looking for employment. i hope we played a positive role in moving people closer to meeting their career goals.

Web: RepKampf.com
Mobile officeS: Phoenixville library 183 Second avenue Phoenixville, Pa 19460 2nd fri of the month 10 aM to noon Phoenixville Senior center 153 church Street Phoenixville, Pa 19460 4th fri of the month 10 aM to noon

Facebook.com/RepKampf
Shannondell community center 1000 Shannondell drive audubon, Pa 19403 3rd fri of the month 10 aM to noon

fAiR SHARe RefoRMS to SAVe JobS

i voted to pass a critical measure aimed at keeping employers and jobs in Pennsylvania, saving tax dollars, and helping hospitals remain open. The legislation, known as The Fair Share act, was signed by gov. tom Corbett. it reforms the states joint and several liability law by ensuring that any defendant found negligent or liable for an injury is responsible for only their share of the damages. My priorities in the State house include helping make Pennsylvania an easier place to do business, to create jobs and to spark economic growth. Thats why i am pleased to have supported this lawsuit abuse reform legislation that will help businesses grow and create jobs, as well as help end the flight of doctors from our state. Business and job-creation groups across Pennsylvania have clamored for the Fair Share act for years. They know the way the system works now is unfair and unreasonable. Job creators have enough obstacles and certainly do not need to be afraid to expand for fear of becoming the target of frivolous lawsuits, or being forced to pay 100 percent of a lawsuit award even though they were only 5 percent responsible. By passing this common sense reform, the Fair Share act, we are telling employers that Pennsylvania is open for business and they can operate in a fair environment. Perhaps no group in Pennsylvania has been more adversely affected by lawsuit abuse and frivolous lawsuits than the medical community. in fact, the lack of common sense lawsuit reform over the past several years has caused doctors to leave our state, and others to stop practicing in high-risk specialties, like obstetrics. The results have been disastrous for patients. Lawsuit abuse reform is all about jobs: keeping them, creating them and attracting more of them by making our state friendlier to employers. Lawsuit abuse reform can reduce the cost of doing business and practicing medicine within the Commonwealth.

My pReVAiling WAge RefoRM

at a time when funding to education is critical, i introduced house Bill 709 to reduce costs for school districts across Pennsylvania by exempting them from the states prevailing wage requirements for public works contracts, unless they choose to opt into those requirements. its called the School Construction Cost reduction act. School districts today face crippling financial burdens. Forcing them to pay an inflated rate for public contracts is both fiscally unwise and burdensome to taxpayers, particularly to those on fixed incomes who face annual increases in property taxes. Prevailing wage rules require public agencies to pay contractors a wage set by bureaucrats, which usually equals the local union rate. in some cases, that inflates wages well above what that contractors work is worth in a particular location. My bill would exempt school districts as a public entity required by state law to pay prevailing wages. it allows individual school districts to vote to pay their contractors a prevailing wage if they wish to. requiring our public agencies to pay higher wages makes no sense, especially at a time of financial hardship. School districts are struggling to balance their budgets. Forcing them to pay wages to contractors well above what the private sector pays places an excessive burden on schools and taxpayers. This must change.

iMpRoVing pRopeRty tAx lAWS

in my continuing effort to protect the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, i voted to limit the exceptions a school district can use to avoid a voter referendum before raising property taxes above the rate of inflation. This law prevents school districts from unreasonably hiking property taxes without going to the voters except for carefully restricted cases. This will give taxpayers a stronger voice in their local communities and still provide school districts the ability to budget and operate efficiently and effectively while also dealing with special circumstances that may arise. The new law requires school districts to seek voter approval for any property tax increase above the state-set inflationary index, while still providing districts with the ability to seek an exception for special education expenses, grandfathered debt, electoral debt, or pension costs; each of these items are among the most often cited by local districts as cost drivers. i view this legislation as part of my on-going effort to help control property taxes. along with this vote, i am the sponsor of legislation which would allow school districts to opt-out of prevailing wage requirements that artificially increase construction costs, and i continue to work for mandate relief which will help reduce costs for school districts. This legislation is a step forward in reining in property tax hikes, and reduces the opportunities for a school district to avoid referendum. This legislation also empowers school districts to increase property taxes for any purpose above the state-set index by winning the endorsement of the voters. This will make school districts more accountable to the voters.

iMpACt feeS foR MARCelluS SHAle WellS

to address the environmental and infrastructure impact of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry, i have cosponsored legislation designed to add an impact fee for the life of each completed Marcellus Shale natural gas well. Known as the Shale impact Mitigation Policy for Local, environment and roads (SiMPLer), it creates a reliable revenue stream for environmental funds, and the local and state infrastructure impacted by this industry. The bill would send 50 percent to local governments, 5 percent to county conservation districts, 25 percent to both the environmental Stewardship Fund and the hazardous Site Cleanup Fund, and 20 percent to the Motor License Fund to address state roads and bridges. We are seeing economic benefits from the Marcellus Shale gas industry, but it is important that we generate revenue to offset costs of this activity.