Pennsylvania Senate Republican News Brief

"The cut-and-restore funding process these groups have to go through each year gives the misleading impression that their efforts are low in value. The reality is quite different. In nearly every case, these are proven programs, filling important gaps in education, health care, and economic development. They are unfortunate victims of a budget game that has been played by governors and budget secretaries of both parties."

-- Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), chairing a special hearing to take testimony from more than a dozen groups that saw funding cut or eliminated in Gov. Rendell’s proposed state budget.

SENATE POISED TO ADD POLITICAL ROBO-CALLS TO
DO-NOT-CALL LIST

Legislation that would give Pennsylvanians the ability to eliminate political automated telephone calls from their homes is expected to come up for a Senate vote next week.

Senate Bill 820, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), would allow Pennsylvania residents to opt out of political robo-calls in the same way that they can opt out of telemarketing calls, by signing up for the state's Do-Not-Call List.

On Monday, a public hearing will be held to examine a constitutional amendment which would define marriage in Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 1250, sponsored by Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster). The hearing will be held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery).

COMMITTEE HOLDS SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS

Institutions and the programs that again fell victim to the governor’s budget cuts were given the chance Monday to publicly detail their contributions to the commonwealth.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster), took testimony from more than a dozen groups that saw funding cut or eliminated in Gov. Rendell’s proposed state budget. Science in Motion, New Choices/New Options, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine are notable examples of affected programs and institutions.
- Sen. Armstrong
- Hearing

The Senate approved six bills Tuesday targeting predatory and other questionable mortgage lending practices in Pennsylvania.

The mortgage reform bills, sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), are based on the findings of a mortgage industry study mandated by House Resolution 364, adopted several years ago. The measure directed the Department of Banking to study residential lending practices in Pennsylvania, examine trends in foreclosures and document lending practices that are harmful to consumers.

Senator Browne said: "While Pennsylvania has fared better than many states as a result of the collapse of the housing market, we have many, many families suffering as a result of predatory lending and other questionable mortgage practices in the past. It is incumbent upon us to adjust our banking codes and other codes to try to better protect consumers in one of their most important decisions, and that is taking on a mortgage to secure a primary residence."

The bills were sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. (For more on the mortgage reform bills please see In the Spotlight, below.)

SENATE VOTES TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO MILITARY FAMILIES

The Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would provide an educational leave of absence to the spouses of Pennsylvania National Guard members and reservists who are called to active duty.

State law already provides for educational leave of absences for those who are serving on active duty. Senate Bill 1199, sponsored by Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), would extend that option in cases where a spouse must relocate. It would require educational institutions to refund tuition or fees paid or credit the costs to the next semester or term after the termination of the educational military leave of absence at the option of the student. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives.

Senator Baker said: "This bill would ensure that if a spouse of a soldier is required to leave an educational institution because of deployment, he or she would not lose academic credits, scholarships, grants or other fees paid. Being called to active duty can disrupt a spouse’s education and be a financial hardship for the entire family."

SENATE GAME AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE EXAMINES DEER MANAGEMENT ISSUES

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks), held public hearings Tuesday to examine deer management issues and receive the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s annual report.

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe said that Pennsylvania has the second-most hunters in the nation and leads the nation in the number of days afield with 16.86 million. Hunting is a $3 billion-a-year industry and generates $214 million in state and local taxes. The director also reported that Pennsylvania had its safest hunting season in state history last year, and said the Game Commission would increase emphasis on communicating deer management information to hunters in the future.

Senator McIlhinney said: "These hearings offer us an opportunity to learn more about how we are working to provide a healthy, sustainable deer herd across the commonwealth. Managing our deer population effectively is essential so our state can continue to provide a healthy habitat for deer and abundant opportunities for sportsmen."
- Part 1
- Part 2

Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland) introduced two bills during the General Assembly’s Special Session on Energy that would provide tax breaks for individuals and businesses that take steps to improve their energy efficiency and reduce pollution.

Senator Regola noted that the development of alternative energy sources and related technology is hampered by current laws limiting the ability to timely deduct from corporate tax liability for net losses, particularly for new or small businesses. Special Session Senate Bill 43 would increase the deductibility of a net operating loss (NOL) from 12.5 percent to 50 percent of taxable income, up from a maximum of $3 million to $12 million.

Special Session Senate Bill 44 would establish energy efficiency and pollution prevention tax credits for businesses and individuals. The tax credit would be for up to 50 percent of the cost associated with the acquisition or upgrade of equipment which results in at least a 10-percent increase in energy efficiency or in pollution reduction.

Senator Regola said: "These bills are intended to reward consumers and companies that take steps to invest in new technology that result in energy savings and greater efficiency. This is a win-win situation for consumers and companies that will receive tax breaks while we improve and invest in the environment."

Senate Bill 483 would reduce the number of loans subject to prepayment penalties – a penalty imposed on an individual if they pay off their mortgage early – by eliminating the penalty for loans of $200,000 or less.

Senate Bill 484 would permit the Department of Banking to publicly release information on pending enforcement actions and fines levied against mortgage bankers and brokers, and whether a broker license application submitted by any person or corporation has been denied.

Senate Bill 485 revamps the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers, giving the panel authority to deny, suspend or revoke a certificate, and increasing the maximum civil penalty for violations of the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act from $1,000 to $10,000.

Senate Bill 486 would require lenders to send copies of foreclosure notices to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency so that mortgage foreclosures can be monitored on a statewide basis. It also reduces the interest rate on Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program loans from 9% to the interest rate calculated under Act 6 of 1974 (6.5% as of March 2008).

Senate Bill 487 would create a new licensing category for individual “mortgage originators” – an individual not licensed as a mortgage banker, mortgage broker or loan correspondent who deals directly with the consumer by soliciting, accepting or offering to accept mortgage loan applications or negotiating mortgage loan terms. Senate Bill 488 would do the same for originators of secondary mortgage loans.

PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

Anticipated June 2008 Game Fund balance: $32 million
General Fund appropriations: $0
Primary Funding Sources: hunting and furtaker license sales; State Game Lands timber, mineral and oil/gas revenues; and a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
Staff: more than 700 full-time employees, thousands of part-time help and volunteers
Days afield by Pennsylvania hunters: 16.86 million (most in U.S.)
Second-place Texas: 14.6 million
2006-07 deer harvest: 135, 290 bucks and 226,270 antlerless