PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 432

Dunbar Measure To Protect Taxpayers Against Unexpected Penalites Enhances 2012-13 Tax Code

July 1st marked the start of the new fiscal year, and I am pleased to report that the General Assembly once again approved a new budget before the deadline.

Originally introduced as House Bill 1333, my legislation to exempt state taxpayers from unanticipated income tax reporting penalties imposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue was adopted as part of the 2012-13 state budget’s tax code.

This measure offers not only consistency, but guarantees immediate protection and relief to taxpayers who fail to make estimated state tax payments on an unexpected one-time increase in taxable income.

As a certified public accountant, I can personally attest that many taxpayers have found themselves in a situation where a budget-breaking financial penalty has been imposed on them through no fault of their own.

For example, taxpayers could be penalized for not reporting a one-time sale of a family asset simply because they were unaware of a specific aspect of the ever-changing and increasingly complicated tax code.

In order to qualify for exemption, the taxpayer’s prior year’s tax liability must be zero or the same as the previous year.

Fall 2012

Read more about the 2012-13 State Budget on Page 2.

Supporting Our Hometown Heroes

Visit me on the Web at RepDunbaR.COM

On July 23, I co-chaired a Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee public hearing and roundtable discussion at the North Huntingdon Townhouse to examine issues facing Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighters and emergency responders.

Volunteer recruitment remains one of the biggest challenges due to the time involved in fundraising, training and, especially, responding to emergency calls. It is estimated that volunteer fire services save taxpayers as much as $6 billion annually.

Earlier this year, I voted in favor of legislation (Act 78 of 2012) that was signed into law to extend the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant program for an additional four years and increasing total funding for the grants from $25 million to $30 million.

Since 2003, this funding has gone a long way toward helping our local emergency responders address

many essential financial obligations from debt service and facility renovations to paying for life-saving equipment and training.

Rep. Dunbar co-chaired a Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee public hearing and roundtable discussion at the North Huntingdon Townhouse featuring State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann and representatives from many local volunteer fire departments and emergency responders. Watch this hearing online at RepDunbar.com.

Use your smartphone to scan the barcode and link directly to RepDunbar.com

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Pennsylvania’s New Budget: Living Within Our Means

The Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Tom Corbett were able for the second year in a row to pass an on-time and balanced budget for the Commonwealth. You can learn more about the main points of the $27.656 billion budget below.

Spending: Most importantly, the 2012-13 fiscal

year budget matches total spending with available revenue to provide our state with a truly balanced budget. During the course of raising my four daughters, one thing I became very good at was saying no. This was never a popular choice, nor did I enjoy saying no, but as a parent it was the responsible thing to do. This year’s budget is a lot like that.

Surely, we would like to fulfill everyone’s request for more funding, but as stewards of your tax dollars, this year we had to once again do the responsible thing and say no to excess spending. In fact, I would have preferred to spend slightly less than we actually voted for.

Increased Funding for Local School Districts: Adequate funding for education at all levels was a major priority for this year’s budget. Every public school district in Pennsylvania will receive at least as much funding as last year in this budget, and many will see an increase in funding. Total 2012-13 funding levels for Westmoreland County public schools located in the 56th Legislative District are as follows:

• Jeannette City School District - $9,055,758, an increase of $502,781. • Norwin School District - $20,050,254, an increase of $887,590. • Penn-Trafford School District - $17,629,310, an increase of $716,304.

The Legislature was also able to secure both a funding increase for and expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC).

EITC is a proven program that provides choices to Pennsylvania students to help them achieve academic success by partnering scholarship organizations with businesses that receive a tax deduction for donations.

The final budget package increases available EITC tax credits for these donating businesses from $75 million to $100 million, increases the maximum household income limit for students and provides additional money for opportunity scholarships for children residing in the lowest-achieving 15 percent of school districts.

Finally, the Legislature won the fight to level fund Pennsylvania’s state-owned and state-related colleges and universities, which would have seen a

20 percent to 30 percent cut from the governor’s original budget proposal. We are continuing to work with these institutions to hold down tuition increases. The affordability of higher education is an important issue for us all.

Substantial Tax Reforms With No Tax Increases: The 2012-13 state budget does not contain any new or increased taxes; however, it does contain several important tax reforms benefitting employers, nonprofit organizations and family farmers. In addition

to continuing the phase out of Pennsylvania’s job-killing Capital Stock and Franchise tax, this year’s budget increases incentives for employers to hire unemployed workers. Among the most notable tax code changes is one that exempts the transfer of family farms and other agricultural properties to a surviving child or sibling from the state’s inheritance tax. Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations will also benefit because they are now permanently exempt from the state’s sales and use tax.

Jobs: Reducing unemployment and helping Pennsylvanians get back to work remains a focus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The final budget package included many initiatives to help the private sector create and retain jobs, including the new Keystone Works law, which allows employers to provide an unemployed individual with up to 24 hours of unpaid training per week for up to eight weeks. Businesses would be permitted to offer a permanent paid position to participants and would receive incentives for hiring a worker involved in the program.

If you have any questions about the budget or any state-related matter, please contact me.

lINkS ARE AVAIlABlE AT RepDunbar.com

New Welfare Reforms Are Working

Legislation I Like

I have been busy fighting for fiscally conservative proposals to protect taxpayer dollars by ensuring public assistance funds target only the neediest citizens.

I am pleased to inform you that the welfare reform laws enacted last summer to cut waste, fraud and abuse from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) are beginning to produce significant results.

Since July 2011, more than 100,000 ineligible welfare recipients have been removed from the state’s Medicaid program. Those cases were closed simply by enforcing current rules and regulations that were ignored under Gov. Ed Rendell.

The department also plans to work with the auditor general’s office in curbing abuses within the department’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card system.

A recent audit found that EBT cards, which are similar to debit cards, were being used for out-of-state purchases, some as far away as Hawaii.

To that end, legislation I support to disallow usage of EBT cards for the purchase of tobacco or tobacco paraphernalia (House Bill 1254) is awaiting full House consideration. I have also signed on to House Bill 800 which would prohibit welfare benefits from being used to buy alcohol, tobacco products and lottery tickets.

More work remains to be done on this important issue that impacts the financial health of the Commonwealth. Welfare is designed as a safety net for those truly in need of assistance. The days of tolerating welfare fraud, waste and abuse must come to an end.

Legislation to Make it Easier for Veterans to Land Jobs Marches Through House Unopposed

A U.S. Department of Labor report found that the unemployment rate of post Sept. 11, 2011, veterans 10 years later was about 12 percent, compared to the unemployment rate of 8.2 percent for non-veterans in Pennsylvania.

In response to these alarming statistics, on May 23 the state House unamiously voted in favor of House Bill 2231 to require state government agencies to strongly consider a veteran’s military experience, training and education, for the purpose of receiving

possible waivers from requirements for professional credentials, such as a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

House Bill 2321 is currently awaiting consideration in the state Senate.

Pennsylvania’s servicemen and servicewomen have sacrificed so much for us during our country’s greatest times of need. We should do everything we can to help ease their transition back into civilian life. This legislation is just one way we can do that.

Rep. Dunbar’s Veterans Resource Expo helped to connect Westmoreland County veterans of all ages with a wide variety of employment opportunities, benefits, programs and services available to them through local, state and federal agencies.

Rep. Dunbar was honored to be the featured speaker at the Jeannette American Legion’s Memorial Day Ceremony held at Jeannette Memorial Cemetery.

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Office Contact Information

Visit me on the Web at REPDUNBAR.COM or FACEBOOK.COM/REPDUNBAR

HARRISBURG: PO Box 202056 / Harrisburg, PA 17120-2056 / Phone: (717) 260-6132

PENN TOWNSHIP: 2090 Harrison Ave. / Pine Center, Suite 4, Lower Level / Jeannette, PA 15644 / Phone: (724) 744-0305

NORTH HUNTINGDON: 12591 Route 30 (across from Spitz Auto) / North Huntingdon, PA 15642 / Phone: (724) 863-1585

EMAIL: gdunbar@pahousegop.com

Coffee & Conversation With George

Thursday, Sept. 66 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Shakespeare’s Cafe9225 State Route 30, Irwin

Have your coffee with me and discuss your most important concerns both at home and in Harrisburg.

4th Annual Westmoreland Health Expo

Sponsored By Rep. DunbarOrganized By Baldock Health Care Center

(724) 864-7190

Thursday, Sept. 1310 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Norwin Community Health Center231 Jenny Drive, North Huntingdon

This annual Health Expo features information for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, personal and family caregivers, and the general public. Learn more about the services available to improve your health and enjoy a better quality of life.

Children’s Health & Safety Expo

Saturday, Sept. 2911 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Magee Avenue Parking Lot, Jeannette

A wide variety of state agencies will be on hand at this FREE family-oriented event with giveaways and valuable information for children and parents, including dental hygiene; healthy eating information; various athletic and safety demonstrations; plus much more.

Serving the 56th Legislative District

On July 28, Rep. Dunbar honored nearly 50 local World War II and Korean War veterans with a special luncheon and recognition ceremony at Irwin Moose Lodge 236.

Rep. Dunbar cut the ribbon to officially open the Norwin Community Resource Center for local senior citizens.