Representative Saccone Autumn 2011 Newsletter

8/4/2019 Representative Saccone Autumn 2011 Newsletter

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By forcing state government to nally live within its means,this budget will move our state forward to a prosperousfuture. Thats why I voted YES! on this years state budget.

If you have questions, comments or concerns relating tostate government issues, please do not hesitate to stop by orcontact my Jefferson Hills district ofce. My staff and I arehere to work for you.

Serving the 39th District,

Dear Friends:

For just the third time in nearly 40 years, Pennsylvaniataxpayers nally have a balanced, on-time state budgetthat cuts $1.17 billion (4.1 percent) in excessivegovernment spending over last years budget.

Signed into law on June 30 and containing no taxincreases and no new borrowing, this years $27.1 billionstate budget also includes:

Historic Investment in Public Education: The$5.35 billion basic education subsidy representsthe single largest investment of state tax dollars

for public education in state history. Total PreK-12and higher education funding is $10 billion.

Welfare Reform: $404 million in HouseRepublican-initiated spending reductions to thegovernors originally proposed Department of Welfare(DPW) budget. DPW will receive $10.5 billion underthe new General Fund budget.

Restoration of the Capital Stock and FranchiseTax phase-out to provide Pennsylvanias job creatorswith approximately $70 million in needed tax relief.

Elimination or consolidationof nearly 100wasteful, non-essential or duplicative line itemsand government programs.

Absolutely zero-funding for so-called WAMs orwalking around money previouly made available tothe governor, the Legislature and politically connectedspecial interests.

Last and certainly not least, Pennsylvania taxpayers

now have the authority to approve or reject mostproposed school property tax increases throughvoter referendum.

Saccone Stands Up or Taxpayers by Voting orFiscally Responsible State Budget

Visit me on the Web at REPSACCONE.COM

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PA

PERMIT NO. 432

Nearly 50 District 39 residents who participated in Rep. SacconesReligious Liberties state Capitol bus tour were ofcially recognized onthe oor of the Pennsylvania House during legislative session.


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FOLLOW ME ON

The following is a list of legislative proposals I haveeither voted for or have co-sponsored.

Protecting Taxpayers

Passed unanimously by the House and signed into law onJune 30, House Bill 15 establishes the PennWATCH onlinedatabase to allow state taxpayers to conveniently monitorgovernment expenses and other statistical information to holdelected ofcials scally responsible and accountable.

Castle Doctrine

House Bill 40 makes Pennsylvania the 24th state toadopt the Castle Doctrine to fully restore the legal abilityof law abiding Commonwealth residents to use lethal forceto defend themselves against violent criminals. Signed into

law on June 28, the Castle Doctrine passed the House bya margin of 164 to 37.

Protecting the Right to Life

House Bill 574 would hold abortion facilities accountableto the same high standards as other health care facilities tomake sure patients who go to these clinics for abortionprocedures and other gynecological services are treated bytrained personnel in a safe and sanitary manner.

This legislation was authored based upon revelations by

the January 2011 Philadelphia County Investigating Grand Juryreport that brought the murder charges against Dr. KermitGosnell, the head of the Womens Medical Society in WestPhiladelphia. House Bill 574 passed the House by a marginof 148 to 43.

Lawsuit Abuse Reform

Senate Bill 1131 (Fair Share Act) reforms the statesjoint and several liability law by ensuring that defendants foundnegligent or liable for an injury are responsible for only theirshare of the damages. Aimed at protecting taxpayers, job

creators and the medical community from frivolous lawsuits,the Fair Share Act was also signed into law on June 28.

Combatting Voter Fraud

Modeled after Indianas photo identication law, whichwas upheld as Constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in2008, the Pennsylvania Voter Identifcation ProtectionAct (House Bill 934) would amend the state election codeto require voters to present valid photo ID before voting.House Bill 934 passed the House by a margin of 108 to 88.

Ending Mass Transit MonopolyHouse Bill 10 promotes mass transit competition

in Allegheny County by transferring regulation of privatecompanies and other regional transit systems to thePennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).

Once approved by the PUC, these transit agencies canoperate within Southwestern Pennsylvania without havingto go through the additional costs and time delay of waitingfor additional permission from the Port Authority. Thislegislation passed the House by a margin of 116 to 81.

Make Your Voice Heard atRepSaccone.com

Over the course of the next few months, there are manymonumental decisions impacting the future of our Commonwealththat need to be made.

To make sure your viewpoint is properly represented bothat home and in Harrisburg, I invite you to visit my website atRepSaccone.com and answer the following questions frommy Fall 2011 Legislative Survey.

1. Do you support or oppose a taxand/or impact fee on Marcellus Shaledrilling?

2. Do you support or oppose expanding

school choice in Pennsylvaniathrough vouchers?

3. Do you support or oppose theprivatization of Pennsylvaniasstate-owned liquor stores?

4. Do you support or oppose a stateConstitutional amendment to protectmarriage between one man and one

woman?

5. Do you support or oppose eliminatingunemployment, welfare and all othernon-medical emergency public

benetsforillegalaliens?

6. Do you support or oppose theelimination of school property taxes?

Legislation I Like

Rep. Saccone recently hosted a Joint Legislative Air and Water PollutionControl and Conservation Committee hearing focusing on MarcellusShale economic and health issues at the South Park Municipal Building.


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LINKS ARE AVAILABLE ATRepSaccone.com

Rep. Saccone joined members ofFirearms Owners Against Crime

for Gov. Tom Corbetts ofcial bill signing of House Bill 40. House Bill 40

makes Pennsylvania the 24th state in the nation to adopt the Castle

Doctrine to fully restore the legal ability of law-abiding citizens to use

lethal force in self-defense against violent criminals.

Saccone Takes On Top Citizen Priority: School Property Tax Reorm

Missions Accomplished

Aimed at protecting taxpayers, job creators and the medical community

from frivolous lawsuits, Rep. Saccone also participated in the bill

signing for the Fair Share Act (Senate Bill 1131). This legislation

reforms Pennsylvanias joint and several liability law by ensuring that

only defendants found negligent or liable for an injury are responsible

for only their share of the damages.

Castle Doctrine Now Law Fair Share Act Now Law

Saccone Legislation ScoresOverwhelming, Bipartisan DirectHit in War Against Property Taxes

My legislation to protect Pennsylvania property ownersagainst extreme tax hikes with a temporary, one-yearmoratorium on court-ordered countywide reassessmentswas overwhelmingly passed by both the PennsylvaniaHouse and Senate.

As I have said throughout this important and ongoingdebate,House Bill 1696represents the rst volley in therst skirmish in the war for comprehensive property taxreform during the 2011-12 legislative session.

Although later vetoed by the governor, the primary

purpose of my legislation was to prevent huge property taxincreases that can instantly tear apart a family budget orforce senior citizens into selling the family home they havespent their lifetimes building. Perhaps, most importantly,it would have forced individual counties to explore allavailable ways to reduce expenditures before imposinghigher property taxes through a backdoor, court-orderedcountywide reassessment.

Due to the overwhelming bipartisan supportHouse Bill 1696 received from the entire PennsylvaniaGeneral Assembly, I am encouraged that we have suchstrong support for reform among both Democrats and

Republicans.As the No. 1 priority identied by many local citizens,

I will continue to ght for property tax relief from everyconceivable angle. Theres no better place for real andsubstantive school property tax reform to begin than righthere at home in Allegheny and Washington counties.

SAVE HE DAE!

Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m.

Tomas Jeferson High School Auditorium

Jeferson Hills

Our eatured speaker will provide expert inormationon how to make necessary reorms to Pennsylvaniasschool property tax system.

ProPertytaxForum

Rep. Saccone recently hosted a surplus vehicle program at the Gill Hall

Community Center in Jefferson Hills that provided Elizabeth Borough with theopportunity to affordably purchase this 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty truck.Pictured from left to right are Elizabeth Borough Police Ofcer In Charge JohnSnelson, Elizabeth Borough Secretary Robin Stockton and Street DepartmentManager Rich Lewis.


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Bringing State Government To You

How My Ofces Can Help You

My staff and I are always ready to serve the needs of District 39 residents with a number of state-related matters, including

PennDOT paperwork, PACE and PACENET applications for senior citizens, 2010 Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms and many others.

Visit me on the Web at REPSACCONE.COM or

FACEBOOK.COM/REPSACCONE

HARRISBURG OFFICE: PO Box 202039 / Harrisburg, PA 17120-2039 / Phone: (717) 260-6122

DISTRICT OFFICE: 1002 Old Hickory Lane / Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 / Phone: (412) 653-1025 / Fax: (412) 653-1275

EMAIL: [email protected]

Morning Coffee & Conversation

Have your morning coffee with me and

discuss your most important concerns both athome and in Harrisburg.

Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m.Finleyville Borough Building

3515 Washington Ave., Finleyville

Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m.New Eagle Fire Company Social Hall

156 Chess St., New Eagle

Friday, Oct. 7, at9 a.m.Red Lion Restaurant

201 S. Second Ave., Elizabeth

2011 Senior Expos

Thursday, Oct. 13*

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Broughton Volunteer Fire Department

1030 Cochran Mill Road, South Park

Hosted by Senator John Pippy and myself

for seniors residing in Clairton, Finleyville

Borough,Jefferson Hills, Nottingham

Township and South Park Township.

Thursday, Oct. 27*

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Elizabeth Borough Fire Company

Social Hall107 Market St., Elizabeth

For seniors residing in Carrol Township,

Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township,

Forward Township, New Eagle Borough,

Union Township and West Elizabeth

Borough.

*Forinformationregardingushots,

please call (412) 653-1025 after Oct. 1.

Rep. Saccone briefed attendees on the 2011-12 state budget during hisMorning Coffee and Conversation Forum held at the Blue Flame Restaurant.

Saccone Works to Connect District 39Residents with Unclaimed Property

Did you know that each year, the Pennsylvania TreasuryDepartment receives millions of dollars in unclaimed property?The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bankaccounts, stocks and dividends, uncashed payroll checks, uncollectedutility deposits, unredeemed gift certicates and items in safe depositboxes.

By proactively conducting a search of the departments onlinedatabase, my staff and I have already reunited several District 39

residents with thousands of dollars in unclaimed property, includingone Clairton senior citizen with a check totaling $1,000 and anothersenior citizen from South Parkwith a check totaling more than$5,000.

If you think you may be entitled to unclaimed property, Iencourage you to begin your search at RepSaccone.com or call theTreasury Departments Bureau of Unclaimed Property toll free at1-800-222-2046.

More Than 2,000 Callers Dial In forFirst-Ever Saccone Teletown Hall

As your state representative, I strive to keep you informed abouthow I am representing you and our district in Harrisburg.

For example, on April 14, I hosted my rst-ever 60-minuteTeletown Hall Meeting which allowed me the exibility to interactwith approximately 2,023 Allegheny and Washington county residentslive from Harrisburg regarding the 2011-12 state budget and manyother important topics.

Through this innovative process, participants were able to askme questions regarding property tax reform, Marcellus Shale and theCastle Doctrine among other issues from the comfort of their homeor ofce via the telephone. In the coming months, I look forward

to hearing from you during my next Teletown Hall.

Documents

Representative Saccone Autumn 2011 Newsletter