rep. ross oct. 2009

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  • 8/14/2019 Rep. Ross Oct. 2009

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    The

    Rosseport

    PRSRT STD

    U.S. POSTAGE

    PAIDHarrisburg, PA

    PERMIT NO 529

    Inside This Issue:

    Fall 2009

    Finally a Budget for Pennsylvania

    House Acts to Discourage Distracted

    Drivers

    New Law to Help Consumers

    Report Poor Road Conditions on

    Road Damage Hotline

    Internet Program Features Electronic

    Recycling Proposal

    Solar Energy Rebates Available

    Consumers Able to Verify Contractor

    Registration

    How Do I Obtain a Disability Parking

    Placard?

    FREE Weatherization for Energy

    Savings

    Sharing the Road Safely

    Finally a Budget for Pennsylvania

    Passing a state budget in Pennsylvania is never easy, but this year the Gov-ernor and Legislature got caught up in the bitterest deadlock in many years.Adapting to the twin realities of a sudden $3.2 billion drop in revenues and afierce resistance to increased taxes, we were left with the need to make difficultcuts to popular programs.

    While I voted for a lower spending budget earlier this year, I could not sup-port the final version, ultimately signed by the Governor. Since reporting aboutthe budget has been sketchy at best, I want to explain my concerns to you insomewhat greater detail.

    It is hard to exaggerate how significant the change in circumstances for thebudget negotiations was this year. Year in and year out the basic budget wascreated by giving an across the board increase to nearly all the programsfunded in the previous year.

    This year we actually cut spending below last years levels. Significant andpainful as this was, I believe that we have only begun to address our fiscalproblems. Revenues were expected to be flat, matching last years reducedlevels, but we are already $140 million below that target. If collections continueat this rate, we will be short $1 billion by fiscal years end.

    House Acts toDiscourage

    Distracted Drivers

    The House of Representativesrecently passed an amendment toHouse Bill 67 to penalize distracted

    driving resulting from activities suchas using a phone, eating, drinking orputting on makeup. The amendment,which I sponsored, was approved by avote of 179-16. House Bill 67, whichalso makes changes to the statesgraduated licensing system, mustnow be voted upon by the Senate.If approved, distracted drivers couldface a $50 fine in addition to penaltiesrelating to the primary traffic offense

    Sharing the RoadSafely

    Recently, I was quoted in a newsarticle as being in favor of bicyclesafety on our roads here in Ches-ter County. In the context of thearticle, I am afraid that it may haveseemed that I was favoring bicycle

    enthusiasts over motorists. I wantto point out that I meant that weshould focus on developing goodrelationships between motoristsand bicyclists.

    Historically, Chester Countysroads were primarily designed forhorse-drawn vehicles. This cre-ates a challenge now because theroads are ill-equipped to accom-modate cars and trucks, let alone

    Continued on page 2

    Continued on page 2

    Winners of the 2009 One Vote Counts! PosterContest were recently honored in Harrisburg.Pictured front row L-R, are Thea Toocheck,Upland Country Day School; Jessica Cestare,Uwchlan Hills Elementary School; Olivia Donia,New Garden Elementary School; DaniellaAlvarez, Caln Elementary School; JessicaBrain, Brandywine Wallace Elementary School;and Kyra Lunkins, Hillendale ElementarySchool. Pictured with the students are Rep.Chris Ross and Rep. Curt Schroder.

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    www Re

    This years budget was balancedby using more than $2 billion from ac-counts set aside to support parks andlibraries and funds reserved to offsetdoctors high medical malpractice in-surance. Just as when an individualempties his savings account to payhis monthly bills, this tactic only delays

    the tough choices needed to achievea sustainable balanced budget.Since our budget problems were

    aggravated by the sudden downturnof the economy, economic recoverywould ease some of this pressure.Unfortunately, two other problemscloud the horizon. The federal stimu-lus dollars, which have helped coverMedicaid and basic education costs,disappear after next year. At the sametime, state contributions to the pen-sion system must increase steeply tomeet contractual obligations as baby-boomers retire.

    The only way to deal with this on-coming fiscal train wreck is to havea serious and detailed debate aboutspending. What do we as a peoplereally value? What can we do with-out? Once we agree on what our stategovernment should be doing, then weneed to find ways to deliver these ser-vices more efficiently. How can we getmore value for our tax dollars?

    While I am glad that we finallypassed a budget, we have only begunthe process of making the tough choic-es ahead. I am committed to pressingforward to tackle these choices andsettle the budget on time next year.

    Budgetcontinued from page 1

    Internet Program FeaturesElectronic Recycling Proposal

    To help Pennsylvanians recycle more easily, I havesponsored House Bill 708 which creates a statewide elec-tronic waste recycling program to help meet that goal. I

    have detailed my proposal on a five-minute video programthat you can watch by visiting my Web site and click on theYouTube video.

    The measure is designed to recover and recycle elec-tronic waste, mainly computer equipment and televisions.In many cases, recycling events are held only a few times ayear and transporting items to these events can be trouble-some. A comprehensive state program is needed becausea recycling program has not been enacted on the federallevel.

    House Bill 708 has been approved by the House Environ-mental Resources and Energy Committee and is currently

    in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill may comebefore the full House by the end of the year.

    New Law to Help Consumers

    Recently, the Governor signed Act 42 of 2009 (House Bill 222), which re-quires convicted identity thieves to pay restitution to their victims to help offsetinvestigation and legal expenses. Identity theft is a growing problem in Penn-sylvania, costing businesses and consumers millions of dollars every year. Thisact takes effect Nov. 17.

    Another bill which would help consumers is House Bill 312. This legislationhas been passed by the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. If enacted,

    this bill would enable consumers to more effectively compare facilities whenshopping for long-term care services by requiring the availability of informationrelating to licenses, certifications and any enforcement actions. This bill is cur-renlty in the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.

    Report Poor RoadConditions on Road

    Damage Hotline

    To report potholes and other prob-lems with state roads, motorists maycontact PennDOT on a toll free hotline,1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623).Callers are encouraged to:

    Report the county and munici-pality where the problem is located.

    Report the state route number,which can be found on the small white-and-black signs posted along stateroads, where the problem is located.

    Describe familiar landmarksnearby in order to help PennDOTcrews locate the problem.

    In addition to reporting potholes,motorists may also report missinghighway signs, shoulder drop-offs,roadway washouts and other potentialhazards.

    equestrian, bicycle, and pedestriantraffic. Redesigning existing roadsis extremely expensive, so we willneed to be creative in thinkingabout ways to accommodate dif-ferent types of traffic safely. Many

    municipalities are working on long-range plans to create a separatetrail network for pedestrians andbicycles. Also, new traffic-calmingplans can sometimes incorporatebike lanes into their designs.

    Because most of our roads donot have marked bicycle lanes,bicyclists are forced to ride inlanes that are open to all traffic.Often, this can create dangerousconflicts between motorists thatare traveling at a higher rate ofspeed and bicyclists, particularlyon hilly and twisting roads. Toensure the safety of both motoristsand bicyclists, it is imperative forus to develop good relationshipswith one another on the road. InPennsylvania, bicycles are definedas vehicles and are subject to the

    Sharing the Roadcontinued from page 1

    laws in the Vehicle Code, as arecars, trucks and other motor ve-hicles. I believe that it is importantthat all vehicles follow these rulesand regulations.

    Recently, a resident asked a

    question that I did not know the an-swer to, and I thought that it wouldbe useful to share the answer withyou. The person asked if therewere any regulations regarding theoperation of bicycles at night. As Ilearned, bicyclists are required toride with a headlight on their bikebetween sunset and sunrise. Thisregulation helps make bicyclesmore visible to motorists, as wellas improves bicyclists awarenessof hazards on the road.

    If you would like more informa-tion, are interested in seeing otherparts of the Vehicle Code as itpertains to bicycles, or would likea Bicycle Safety Manual, pleasecontact my district office at 610-925-0555 or visit my Web site atwww.RepRoss.com.

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    District Office Location:692 Unionville Road / Willowdale Town Center / Kennett Square(At the Corner of Routes 82 and 926)

    Telephone: (610) 925-0555

    District Office Mailing Address:P.O. Box 835 / Unionville, PA 19375

    Harrisburg Office:House of Representatives / P.O. Box 202158 / Harrisburg, PA 17120-2158

    Telephone: (717) 783-1574

    Web Address: www.RepRoss.com

    E-mail Address: [email protected]

    OFFICE INFORMATIONPlease contact my office if I can be of assistance.

    Meet the StaffWhen calling or visiting my office, you can expect to speak with one

    of my staff. I am pleased to have a dedicated staff that is willing to assistyou with your questions and concerns.

    Please contact my office

    if you would like copies

    of these publications:Fishing and Boating Map

    Pennsylvania Road Map

    Personal Estate Inventory

    Information on Creating aLiving Will

    Benefits & Rights for OlderPennsylvanians

    How Do I Obtain a

    Disability Parking

    Placard?

    Disability Parking Placards, also knownas handicapped placards, are permits issuedby PennDOT which allow individuals withvarious disabilities to park in areas reservedfor the handicapped in any state in the U.S.

    They are not just for those who have perma-nent disabilities, but also include people whoare recuperating from an injury or surgery,or possibly have a condition which restrictswalking long distances.

    The placards are available, free ofcharge, from PennDOT. You must have yourdoctor complete and sign a portion of theform and then have it notarized. Be certainnot to sign the form until you are in front ofa notary. I have a notary in my office, avail-able for residents in the 158th Legislative

    District. I encourage people to call aheadto make sure that the notary is available.Please bring a valid, government-issuedphoto I.D. with you.

    To obtain an application for a handi-capped placard, please call my office at610-925-0555.

    FREE Weatherization for Energy SavingsThe Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit company from Lancaster County, is offering a FREE Weath-

    erization Assistance Program (WAP) service to qualifying families in Chester, Lancaster and Lebanon counties.To be eligible: You must live in one of these counties.

    Your residence must not have been weatherized in 1994 or later. Your gross annual income can not exceed:

    1 person ........... $21,660 5 persons ........... $51,5802 persons ........... $29,140 6 persons ........... $59,0603 persons ........... $36,620 7 persons ........... $66,5404 persons ........... $44,100 8 persons ........... $74,020

    Typical services include: air sealing to reduce drafts, attic insulation, floor insulation, pipe and/or duct insulation,and evaluation/service of your heating system.

    Call 1-800-732-3554 or 717-509-8034 today to get on the WAP list or get more info at www.hdcweb.com/weath-erization.htm.

    District Office Staff: L-R:

    Cathy Zeiner, Wynne Wharryand Virginia Gregory

    Harrisburg Office Staff: L-R:Dixie Minnich and Rita Markle