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Winter 2009

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

HARRISBURG, PA

PERMIT NO. 529

Keystone Works Plan Seeksto Lower Pennsylvanias

Unemployment Rate

Like the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania is enduring a difficult economicrecession that has left thousands of people jobless. Pennsylvanias unemploymentrate has nearly doubled over the last two years and while it is lower than the national

average, something must be done to improve it.The House Republican Policy Committees task force on Business and

Economic Policy is currently developing a package of legislation called KeystoneWorks. These bills are designed to create incentives for employers to hire byreducing the costs associated with filling job vacancies and pairing unemployedPennsylvanians with employers who are actively seeking to hire.

The Keystone Works package includes: Keystone Works I -- I will introduce this bill, which will allow people collecting

unemployment benefits to work for selected businesses up to 24 hoursa week for eight weeks at no cost to the employer. Employers will be required tocertify that they intend to immediately hire for the position and follow upwith a performance evaluation, whether they hire the worker or not. A similar

program has been implemented in Georgia and is seeing great success. Keystone Works II This bill is similar to mine, but will target public

assistance recipients who are seeking to return to employment. Teen Employment Incentive Tax Credit Teen unemployment

in the United States is at a record high of 27.6 percent. This legislation wouldprovide tax credits to businesses which provide jobs to teenagers(ages 14 to 17).

These bills are currently being drafted and will be introduced in the nearfuture.

Dear NeighborAs we approach the half-way mark in the 2009-10

legislative session, I want to thank you all again for theprivilege of representing you. I also want to update you onlegislative developments in Harrisburg as well as my work onyour behalf here in the 94th District.

Perhaps the biggest issue we dealt with this year wasthe state budget, which was not passed until October morethan three months past the legally mandated deadline. I ampreparing to introduce legislation that will switch Pennsylvania

to a performance-based budgeting model under which fundingdecisions will be based on a programs ability to meet statedgoals.

This newsletter outlines how school districts in the 94thdistrict fared in the final 2009-10 budget as well as importantinformation on the House Republican agenda to create jobs,fix Pennsylvanias health care system, and reform the waybusiness is done in Harrisburg.

Please take a few minutes to read this newsletter. If youhave any questions or would like to discuss an issue in furtherdetail, please feel free to contact my office at (717) 244-9232,(717) 382-4595, or toll free: 1-800-3SAYLOR (1-800-372-9567). Also, be sure to visit my Web site at RepSaylor.comfor important news and updates.

Sincerely,

Stanley SaylorState Representative94th Legislative District

District Office15 South Main Street (Second Floor)

Red Lion, PA 17356Phone: 717-244-9232

717-382-4595Toll-Free: 1-800-3SAYLOR (1-800-372-9567)

Fax: 717-246-2387Hours: M- W 8:30- 4:30, Th 10:00 - 6:00, F 8:30 - 12:30

Satellite OfficesCapitol Office

Building: Main Capitol BuildingRoom Number: Room 414

Phone: (717) 783-6426Fax: (717) 783-7655

Delta Senior Center5 Pendyrus StreetDelta, PA 17314

Hours: 1st and 3rd Wednesday ofeach month 9-Noon

Hopewell Township Municipal Building3336 Bridgeview Road

Stewartstown, PA 17363Hours: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of

each month 9-Noon

Visit my Web site: www.RepSaylor.com

Office InformationOffice Information

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www.Rep

Pennsylvania School DistrictsSee Funding Increase

While I have some concerns about the levels of spending and taxation in the final 2009-10 budget, I am pleased that the plan providesevery school district in Pennsylvania with an increase in their education subsidy. The chart below details the subsidies for school districtshere in the 94th Legislative District.

PATH Proposals Aimed atRestoring PennsylvaniansFaith in State Government

Recent developments in the investigation into the use of taxpayer dollars forcampaign purposes have clearly demonstrated that major changes are neededin the way state government operates.

The misuse of taxpayer dollars, whether it be through the so-called pay-to-play practice of awarding campaign contributors with good-paying government

jobs and/or lucrative contracts or through the use of legislative staff and resourcesto campaign at the taxpayers expense, are wrong and must stop. Pennsylvaniansfaith in state government is at its lowest level in many years and we must takesubstantive steps to earn back their trust.

House Republicans have offered a series of legislative initiatives aimedat strengthening the publics trust in government. These proposals, known asPennsylvanias Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg (PATH), will go a long way towardrestoring the trust Pennsylvanians have in their elected officials and ensuringthat the peoples business is conducted ethically and openly.

Among other things, the PATH proposals would: Bar legislative staff from campaigning for the organization for which

they work during scheduled work-day hours. Using government-ownedequipment would remain illegal, day or night.

Prohibit public officials from starting nonprofit organizations while in office. Require full reporting of all campaign contributions, lobby disclosure

and ethics statements within two weeks.

Require the creation of a searchable online database detailing allstate spending. Strengthen whistleblower protections for all state employees in all

three branches of government. End the pay-to-play mentality in Pennsylvania by enacting state

contracting reform.

Electricity RateCaps Set to Expire

Dec. 31, 2010In 1996, Pennsylvania placed caps on the rates

retail electricity suppliers can charge customers as partof an effort to protect consumers during the transition tofull competition in the electricity market. Those caps areset to expire on Dec. 31 and consumers will likely seean increase in their electric bills as a result.

While some are urging lawmakers to extend thecaps beyond their scheduled expiration date, existingcase law prevents any continuation of the caps. Giventhat fact, any attempt by the Legislature to extend the

caps would likely result in the electric utilities prevailingagainst the Commonwealth in a legal action.

In an effort to help consumers adjust to thehigher rates, I am supporting legislative efforts aimedat softening the impact on consumers when the capsare lifted. One proposal, House Bill 20, which has beenapproved by the House Consumer Affairs Committee,would enable consumers to pay any initial rate increaseover a period of at least three years so that individualscan avoid a large increase in their electric bills. A similarmeasure, House Bill 1212, would also provide this optionto consumers.

It is also important to remember that the removalof rate caps will provide consumers with the opportunityto shop for an electricity supplier who provides the bestrate. So, as the rates caps are lifted, I urge consumersto shop around for the rate that works best for them.

School District

Dallastown Area

Eastern York

Red Lion Area

South Eastern

Increase Over2008-09 Basic

Education Funding

$1,475,475

$1,217,697

$2,260,152

$1,810,373

Percentage IncreaseOver 2008-09 BasicEducation Funding

14.3%

13.9%

13.8%

19.5%

Total 2009-10

$11,775,669

$9,957,849

$18,666,380

$11,080,883

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House Republicans Offer Health Care SolutionWithout Mandates, Tax Increases

Nearly everyone agrees that our nations health care system is in need of reforms that will increase access for the uninsured and reducecosts for everyone. But, there is a great deal of disagreement about how to get there.Democrats in Washington, D.C. favor a government-run health care model. Their plan of mandates and higher taxes targets Americans

at the most vulnerable moment of their lives and forces them to rely on the government to provide vital medical services.Congressional Republicans have taken a more reasoned approach to health care reform. Instead of assuming that Washington has all

the answers, they understand that state governments have a better understanding of the problems facing their health care systems. They haveoffered a plan that would exempt states from the mandates and higher taxes that a federal plan would impose if a state can demonstrate that ithas taken steps to increase access to care and lower costs.

Here in Pennsylvania, the House Republican Caucus has developed a plan that would do just that. Earlier this year, as chairman of theHouse Republican Policy Committee, I created a number of task forces to examine key issues facing Pennsylvania. I asked the task force onhealth care to craft a package of legislation designed to lower costs and expand access for the uninsured. The task force developed a packageof proposals aimed at accomplishing those objectives.

Unlike the government-run health care models we have seen from Democrats in Harrisburg and Washington, our plan relies on the principleof free market competition to lower health care costs. Instead of imposing a mandate forcing employers to provide health insurance, the House

Republican plan would provide a $1,000 per employee tax credit to small business owners who provide health insurance to their employees.Our plan also seeks to reduce Pennsylvanias uninsured rate by providing an affordable, low-cost insurance product and expanding ac-

cess to Pennsylvanias adultBasic program. And, we would invest in the expansion of Federally Qualified Health Centers and other communityhealth centers to increase access to primary and prenatal care.

We would keep costs low by re-enacting the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and requiring it to publish the medicalcharges and reimbursement rates for Medicaid, CHIP, and adultBasic. This will maintain competitiveness in the marketplace and allow consum-ers to make informed decisions about their health care.

House Republicans still cherish the ideals of freedom, personal responsibility and limited government, and we have crafted our healthreform with those ideals in mind. It is my hope that any federal health care legislation will recognize that states can craft innovative, effectivesolutions to our health care problems without intervention from Washington.

Bills Would Address

Fraud and Abuse at DPWIn recent months, Auditor General Jack Wagner has issued several

reports highlighting inefficiencies and abuse in the Department of PublicWelfare. The potential fraud and abuse identified in these audits could costtaxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Clearly, something must be done tostop this abuse and ensure that our limited resources are being used tohelp those truly in need.

The House Republican Policy Committees Budget and EconomicPolicy Task Force has developed a series of reforms designed to bring aboutgreater accountability and efficiency within DPW. Among other things, ourlegislation would:

Provide for a comprehensive audit of DPW, which includesprovider and recipient sampling to identify fraudulent actions

in the department. Establish a computerized Income Eligibility Verification System that

would cross check 19 different federal and state databases on aquarterly basis to ensure that applicants are eligible for the benefitsthey are claiming.

Reform the special allowance program by limiting the types ofassistance permitted under the program, changing the way DPWdistributes special allowance program funds, and requiring countyassistance offices to retain documentation for payments made underthe special allowance program.

Require that residency be a prerequisite for receiving assistance.Residency would be established when an individual resides in theCommonwealth for at least 90 days.

Require applicants between the ages of 18 and 65 to take andpass a test for illegal drugs as a condition for receiving benefits. Prohibit the purchase of alcoholic beverages with welfare dollars.House Republicans have offered reasonable, commonsense solutions

to the problems outlined in the auditor generals reports. I strongly urgeHouse leaders to bring them to the House floor for consideration.

Eliminating PLAs in

State Contracts WillSave Taxpayer Money

Pennsylvania finished the last fiscal year with a deficit ofmore than $3 billion. Revenue collections for the current yearare already more than $160 million below predicted levels. Giventhese troubling facts, it is more important now than ever that gov-ernment get the most out of every taxpayer dollar it spends.

That means we must find ways to save money whereverpossible. One way to save taxpayers millions of dollars is toeliminate the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) in statecontracting.

PLAs are a form of mandatory unionism where contractsare drafted requiring all contractors, whether they are unionizedor not, to subject themselves and their employees to unionizationin order to work on a government-funded construction project.

PLAs discourage competition by unfairly excluding a largesegment of qualified contractors, and that drives up project costs.There are countless examples of how competition helps ensurethat prices remain low. The same principle should apply whentaxpayer dollars are being spent.

Quality and cost should be our main considerations whenspending taxpayer dollars, and if a non-union contractor can pro-vide high quality work at a lower cost to taxpayers, that contractorshould be able to bid on the project. With that in mind, Rep. JohnBear (R-Lancaster) and I introduced House Bill 2010 to eliminate

the unfair and anti-competitive PLAs from state contracting.By eliminating PLAs, we will guarantee that everyone has

the same opportunity to bid on state contracts and we will ensurethat Pennsylvania taxpayers are getting the best possible valuefor their money.

Saylor.com

Policy Committee Update

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Around the 94th District

Rep. Saylor joined representatives of the Pennsylvania Cable andTelecommunications Foundation to present a check to the St. Josephs Schoolin Dallastown. The funds were provided under the Educational ImprovementTax Credit program, which gives tax incentives to businesses to make thousandsof dollars in scholarships available to families across Pennsylvania.

Reps. Saylor and Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) met with a group of 7th and 8thgrade students from Eastern York Middle School during their recent visit tothe Capitol.

Rep. Saylor welcomes Michael Saylor to the House floor. Michael served as aguest page during a recent legislative session.

Rep. Saylor recently welcomed Devyn Goldstein to the House floor. Devyn isthe winner of the 2009 National American Miss Preteen Pageant.

New License Plates HonorPennsylvanias Military

VeteransLast year, at the request of a constituent, I contacted PennDOT about

creating a special license plate honoring the service of our military veterans.I am pleased to announce that PennDOT is ready to begin issuing this newseries of military license plates honoring veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force,Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

The new plates feature the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors

of blue, white and yellow along with the applicable branch of service emblemor logo on the left side of the plate. Pennsylvania is printed at the top of theplate, with the name of the applicable branch of service at the bottom.

To obtain one of these plates, honorably discharged veterans mustcomplete and mail Form MV-150, Application for U.S. Military Veteran Regis-tration Plate, to PennDOT and include a certified copy of their DD-214, alongwith a $20 fee.

For more information on the new license plates, please contact myoffice.

2010 House CalendarsWill Not be Printed Due to

Budget ConcernsAs state revenues continue to come in below predicted levels, it is es-sential for state government to make every effort to get the most value fromthe funds available. Like families across Pennsylvania, we must make cutswherever we can to ensure that funds are available for the essential serviceson which so many Pennsylvanians depend. With that in mind, we have decidednot to print House calendars for 2010.

www.RepSaylor.com

Property Tax/RentRebate Application

Deadline is December 31The deadline to file for the states Property Tax/Rent Rebate

program is Dec. 31, 2009.Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to $650

based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2008. The programbenefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older,widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years orolder with permanent disabilities.

Eligibility income limits for homeowners were expandedlast year to the following levels, excluding 50 percent of SocialSecurity, Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retire-ment Tier 1 benefits:

$0 and $8,000, up to $650 rebate (Homeowners and renters) $8,001 to $15,000, up to $500 rebate (Homeownersand renters)

$15,001 to $18,000, up to $300 rebate (Homeowners only) $18,001 to $35,000, up to $250 rebate (Homeowners only)

Residents are reminded that along with their application,they must submit a copy of their property tax bill stamped paidby the tax collector. Several tax collectors have indicated that

they will no longer FAX copies of the tax bills, and residents mustpick up a copy from the office.Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available in my

district office or on my Web site at RepSaylor.com. In addition toapplication materials for the rebate, individuals can also check thestatus of an existing rebate claim,by visiting my site and clickingon Wheres My Property Tax Refund?