Rep. Evankovich Summer 2011 Newsletter

8/4/2019 Rep. Evankovich Summer 2011 Newsletter

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PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PA

PERMIT NO. 432

PreK-12 Education

$9.34 billion

34%

Higher Education

$ 1.65 billion

6%

Public Welfare

$10.56 billion

39%

Debt Service

$1.04 billion

4%

All Other

$2.69 billion

10%

Corrections

$1.87 billion

7%

General Fund Spending: $27.15 Billion

2011-12 Stat Bdgt a Rtrn

to Fiscal Rsponsibility

SummeR 2011

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

eLI eVANKOVICH5 4 t h L e g i s l a t i v e D i s t r i c t

RepEvankovich.com

BuDGeT contind on pag 3...

Deciding how the state should spend your hard-earned tax dollars is our most important duty as law-makers. I voted in favor of the 2011-12 budget be-cause it is a responsible budget. Te $27.15 billionbudget decreases spending by 4 percent from the

previous scal year, which has only happened twoother times in the last our decades. We approvedthe budget on time, which never happened duringthe eight years of the Rendell administration.

I believe the priorities we used in developing ourbudget were simply the priorities Pennsylvania vot-ers expressed last November. We are trying to runthe state like we run our households. Tat meansthere is no reckless borrowing. Like you, we knowour obligations and must pay for them. Te most

important thing to remember is that we are stayingwithin our nancial means.

Dear Neighbor,I would like to rst say that it is an

honor to serve as your state representa-tive. Tis newsletter is just one way thatI plan to report back to you about what isgoing on in our Capitol and in our area.

Te start of my rst session has beenfull of learning, listening to our com-

munity, and beginning the process ofchanging Harrisburg. As we all know,our state is in desperate need of repair.

Te same old way of conducting business is not going toget us on a better track. We need reform and I unequivocallysupport those changes. All options are on the table because weneed to make Pennsylvania competitive again.

Although the budget process was dicult, I rmly believethat once the dust settles and life returns to normal in ourschools, universities, and with other budget stakeholders, wewill all realize that making those tough choices today was the

right thing to do for tomorrow.I take pride in holding to my pledge to have at least one town

hall or roundtable meeting per month. In fact, I have far ex-ceeded that goal with 13 meetings through July. In addition, mysta and I are making every eort to attend local governmentand school board meetings to better understand how we can bethe best advocates for your concerns. I will also be knocking ondoors throughout the district this summer and fall, so dont besurprised to see me at your door again.

Lastly, in my travels throughout the district I am often asked,Well, do you like it?

Te simple truth is that I have been given an opportunityto help make our state a better place, and I look forward to itevery day.

Please dont hesitate to contact me and I look forward toyour input.

Sincerely,

Rep. Eli Evankovich54th State Legislative District


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Voter ID Bill Approved by HouseIn June, the state House approved legislation tostrengthen voter identication and ensure the one man,one vote doctrine set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court.Te measure will next be considered by the state Senate.

House Bill 934 would: Require voters to present a photo identication

card every time they go to the polls to cast a ballot. Require PennDO to issue non-driver identifca-

tion cards, at no charge, to any voter who doesnot possess proo o identifcation.

Assure all voters are treated equally and airly. Prevent some voters from being singled out for

idencation while other voters are allowed to votewithout identifying themselves.

I voted in favor of the voter ID bill because it preservesthe integrity of one of our basic democratic rights. Tesimple fact is that Pennsylvanians want their votes tocount and this legislation makes sure that happens.

Lgislativ Wrap-upSince the beginning of January, the House has passed

136 substantive bills of which 89 have been signed intolaw by the governor. Many of these bills will translate intonecessary reforms and regulations that will enhance ourfreedoms and protect the citizens of our Commonwealth.Below is a brief summary of some new Pennsyvlania laws,which I proudly supported:

Welare Reormpackage includes measures that requirethe Department of Public Welfare to use an electroniccross-reference system to provide a 19-point check on anapplicants eligibility, create a standard raud detectionsystem and subject drug felons applying for benets or al-ready receiving them to random drug testing.

PennWATCH Reorm creates a public online databaseo all state government expenditures to promote greateropenness and transparency of state government to Pennsyl-vania taxpayers.

Unemployment Compensation Reorm includes

measures to improve and oer cost savings to the unem-ployment compensation system such as requiring thosereceiving benets to actively search for work and creatinga severance pay oset.

Controlled Substance Legislation reforms Pennsylva-nias Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and CosmeticAct to also ban the sale and use o bath salts as well assynthetic marijuana and Salvia Divinorum.

Liquor Code Reorm permits bar, restaurant and hotelowners to extend the length of time per day for happy hoursales from two to four hours and allows hotels and catering

companies to purchase an additional license that allows theestablishment to sell meals and alcohol for consumption ato-site, otherwise unlicensed premises.

Building Code Relie removes the requirement thatsprinklers must be installed in all new home constructionand amends the building code to prohibit the use olight-weight ooringin new home construction becauseof the risk that ooring poses to reghters.

Expanded Castle Doctrine claries state law allowingyou to stand your ground, removing the duty to retreat. Iliken it to allowing you to defend your home, even if it is

just to let your family escape.Property Tax Reorms giving citizens greater control

over property tax increases by requiring school districts toseek voter approval for tax hikes that outpace ination.

Fair Share Actrestores fairness when assessing penal-ties in liability lawsuits. Defendants would only be heldresponsible for his or her proportionate share of totaldamages awarded to compensate a plainti.

Facebook.com/RepEvankovich

Lgislativ Door-to-Door SchdlMany local folks are busy with their families, work,

school and other activities. While our district oces haveextended hours, your schedule may prevent you from tak-ing advantage of them.

For this reason, I travel door-to-door throughout ourdistrict to meet people. Te reason for doing this is sim-ple. If you cant make it to our district oce, Ill bring our

district oce to you.If you would like me to visit your home, please contact ouroce at (724) 387-1281 to schedule a time for me to stop by.I will be walking in our district on the following dates:

Wed., Sept. 14, Mon., Sept. 19, and Fri., Sept. 30City of Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell ownship

Turs., Oct. 6, Fri., Oct. 7 and ues., Oct. 11City of Murrysville, Export, Penn ownship

Wed., Oct. 12, Turs., Oct. 14 and Turs., Oct. 20Cities of New Kensington and Arnold

Fri., Oct. 21 and Sat., Oct. 22ownships of Cadogan, Gilpin, and Bethel

Fri., Oct. 28 and Turs., Nov. 3ownships of Allegheny and Parks

Rep. Eli Evankovich with Gov. Tom Corbett and Rep. Kerry

Benninghof (R-Centre/Miin) ollowing the signing o

the Fair Share Act.

Rep. Eli Evankovich hosted a Bipartisan Legislative Forum

at PSU-New Kensington. He and other lawmakers elded

questions o local and national concern.


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Rfors in th HosUpon gaining the majority in the House

for the 2011-12 session, with my support,House Republican leaders enacted severalimportant rules changes to send a clearmessage that the time is now to clean upthe legislative process and end the excess-es in order to restore trust and account-

ability to state government.Stricter reporting requirements for perdiem payments were implemented, includ-ing: 1) A requirement to substantiateovernight stays. 2) axpayer-funded leasesor state vehicles were phased out. 3) Forthe rst time ever, House members are re-quired to contribute toward the cost oftheir health care premium.

House leaders also voted to specicallylimit the work of the House Appropriations

Committee to strictly consider the scal as-pects of any bill which has already receivedsecond consideration on the House oor.

my Lgislation House Bill 1416 would require the Department of Environmental

Protection (DEP) to provide yearly nancial reports for certain re-stricted accounts. In addition, DEP must publish and maintain theinformation on its website. Te measure was passed in the House inJune and was sent to the state Senate for consideration.

Another piece of legislation I am working on would bring substantialchange to our public pension systems. Te measure would establish a

dened-contribution 401k style retirement plan for new members andemployees of the General Assembly after Nov. 30, 2012. Tese indi-viduals will not be permitted to join the existing State Employees Re-tirement System (SERS) dened-benet plan. I believe the legislativebranch must step up and address taxpayer concerns by serving as anexample or the rest o the public sector. I am currently seeking co-sponsors for my legislation and intend to introduce it in the near future.

I also plan to soon introduce legislation that will open doors for newjobs for Pennsylvanias unemployed workers. Known as the Returnto Work program, this measure pairs qualied displaced workers withinterested businesses seeking to hire for available positions. Tis pro-gram would allow a person on unemployment to continue to re-ceive unemployment benefts ater he or she secures a job and aull-time paycheck rom a participating business. Tose benetswould be gradually reduced over time until the employer is respon-sible for 100 percent of the workers wages. I am currently seekingco-sponsors for this important bill.

BuDGeT contind fro pag 1.

We consider education to be a major priority and it was funded at ahigher level than the governor originally proposed. Te 2011-12 budgetincludes $9.34 billion for basic education, which is the single largest ap-propriation o state unding or our public schools in Pennsylvaniahistory. But there is still a lot of pain at the local level in some areasbecause of the loss o the ederal bailout unds. I think most schooldistricts have come up with reasonable plans to compensate for that loss.

Heres a look at the state allocations for school districts in the 54th Leg-islative Districts and how it compares to funding levels from the 2010-11scal year:

Dstct Ttal State Ad Chage fm Last Yea Lss f BalutArmstrong $30.25million $1.16millionincrease $3.32million

Penn-Traford $14.64million $206,316increase $1.63million

Leechburg $4.31million $91,121increase $479,133

NewKen-Arnold $11.86million $80,195increase $1.3million

KiskiArea $16,05million $20,660decrease $1.83million

Burrell $6.01million $42,334decrease $671,180

FranklinRegional $7.44million $51,387decrease $797,730

During the budget process there was much debate about a $700 millionsurplus to fund education and other programs. Please understand that

the Commonwealth faces billions of dollars in looming liabilities. Teprudent thing to do is to plan for them now. Tose uture obligationsinclude $29.4 billion in pension liabilities, $12.9 billion in outstandingdebt, $4 billion owed to the federal government to cover unemploymentcompensation costs, and a possible $716 million court judgment involv-ing the MCare fund. We need to start thinking about those obligationstoday.

For the rst time in eight years, I believe we are starting to regain controlover state spending. Tis budget is a responsible, sustainable nancial blue-print that will help to make Pennsylvania more competitive for our children.

Rep. Eli Evankovich congratulates three

new teachers recently hired by Burrell

School District. Pictured let to right: Lau-

ren Myers, Karen Berzonsky, Patricia Kelly.

SEnior Expo

YouTube.com/RepEvankovichYouTube

Sponsored by Alle-Kiski Medical Center

Thusday, oct. 27

9 a.m. - 12 .m.

Cla Htel, new Kesgt

Hosted by

Rp. eli evankovich


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My district ofces are here to help you. Services my sta and I provide include: Drivers license and vehicle registration applications and renewals.

PACE and PACENE applications for senior citizens.

Property ax/Rent Rebate applications.

Free state maps, state park information, and PA Vacation Guides.

Copies of legislation.

ours of the state Capitol.

Referrals to agencies to resolve state-related matters.

I you need help with any o the above, or with any other state-relatedmatter, please do not hesitate to call one o my district oces. You also

may contact me through my website,RepEvankovich.com, or on Face-

book atFacebook.com/RepEvankovich.

Rep. Eli Evankovich helps to cut the ribbon during the

grand opening celebration or Roses, a retail shop located

in the Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lower Burrell.

Rep. Eli Evankovich reads to Ms. Kelly Tiberios kindergar-

ten class at Martin Elementary School in New Kensington.

Rep. Eli Evankovich takes part in Dr. Seuss Night at Bon Air

Elementary School in Lower Burrell.

Rep. Eli Evankovich is given an explanation o one o the in-

novative products that Alcoa has developed or airplanes

by Dr. Ralph Sawtell, division manager, Alloys Technology

and Materials Research.

DISTRICT OFFICeS:200 Leechburg Road

New Kensington, PA 1068

Oce: 72.33.2790

Fax: 72.33.269

68 William Penn Highway

Export, PA 1632

Oce: 72.387.1281

Fax: 72.387.129

HARRISBuRG OFFICe:

PO Box 2020Harrisburg, PA 17120-20

Oce: 717.260.6129

Fax: 717.772.9869

RepEvankovich.com

[email protected]

Facebook.com/RepEvankovich

Youtube.com/RepEvankovich

DISTRICT PHOTOS

DISTRICT OFFICe SeRVICeS

CONNeCT WITH me ONLINe

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Rep. Evankovich Summer 2011 Newsletter