Harrisburg, June 30, 2008 -- A no-tax-increase state General Fund budget was hammered out by negotiators early today, averting state employee furloughs and avoiding any interruption of state services, said Senate Democratic Whip Michael A. O'Pake (D-Berks).

While noting that the final accord was made more difficult this year because of the nation's economic downturn and a resulting dip in state revenues, "the good news for Pennsylvanians is that we've balanced the budget without reaching into the pockets of Pennsylvania's taxpayers for more tax dollars," O'Pake said.

The final agreement, which trimmed spending $545 million below what the Governor originally proposed, still provided for a significant additional investment in education, the Senator noted.

The race for PA-6 is just beginning

MALVERN, PA ñ Bob Roggio (D) today released the results of a poll conducted by Pete Brodnitz of Benenson Strategy group.  The results are clear.  Despite the misleading press release and poll results issued by the Gerlach team last week, Gerlachís seat is far from safe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. David Kessler D-Berks
www.pahouse.com/Kessler

Kessler fuel-saving taxi bill sent to full House

HARRISBURG, June 24 – A bill state Rep. David Kessler introduced to reduce Pennsylvania's dependence on foreign oil and cut air pollution is headed to the full House of Representatives.

Kessler's legislation (Special Session H.B. 49) would require at least 80 percent of taxis in Pennsylvania to be hybrid electric vehicles by 2016. To help operators make the transition, the bill also would provide a tax credit of $500 for each eligible new or used hybrid cab added.

Washington, D.C.
Friday, June 20, 2008 -

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the agreement between House and Senate leaders on legislation to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):

“I am opposed to the proposed legislation because it does not require a judicial determination that what the telephone companies have done in the past is constitutional. It is totally insufficient to grant immunity for the telephone companies’ prior conduct based merely on the written assurance from the administration that the spying was legal.

Friday, June 20, 2008
GERLACH POLL SHOWS 26 POINT LEAD
For Immediate Release:
June 20, 2008
Contact: Mark Campbell
O: 610-458-7374

GERLACH POLL SHOWS 26 POINT LEAD

Roggio Named by National Democrats as 4th Tier Candidate

(Glenmoore, PA) - Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6) today released the results of a poll conducted in late May showing a whopping 26 point lead over his opponent, Bob Roggio. Pollster Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies noted that the Congressman's favorable-unfavorable rating of 58-20% is the highest it has ever been since his first campaign in 2002. Newhouse noted that in contrast, President Bush's approval rating is at just 27%.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

Washington, DC – Following a vote in the House of Representatives sanctioning warrantless wiretapping and handing immunity to telecommunications companies for their role in domestic spying, the American Civil Liberties Union expressed outrage at representatives who voted for the unconstitutional legislation. The bill, H.R. 6304, or The FISA Amendments Act of 2008, passed the chamber by a vote of 293-129, and is expected to be voted on in the Senate next week.

The following may be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office:

Harrisburg, June 18, 2008 -- The Senate Republican Majority today voted (28-21) to approve a state budget bill (SB 1389) that would cut $415.8 million in funding from the "no-tax-increase budget" proposed by Governor Rendell in February.

Senate Democratic Whip Michael A. O'Pake (D-Berks) said he voted against the GOP plan "primarily because it slashes more than $117 million from what the Governor proposed in education subsidies to our school districts.

"If this were the final budget, it would translate into even higher local school property taxes on the backs of Berks County's already overburdened property owners," O'Pake said.

Harrisburg, June 18, 2008 -- In response to repeated written and verbal requests from Senator Michael A. O'Pake (D-Berks), the Senate Finance Committee today sent to the full Senate a proposed constitutional amendment (SB 404) that would pave the way for the complete elimination of the homeowner school property tax.

The committee-approved Senate measure that Senator O'Pake has co-sponsored is nearly identical to a bill (HB 1947) unanimously passed by the House January 17.

"This is a critically important provision to enable homeowner property tax elimination," said Senator O'Pake, the Senate Democratic Whip.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2008
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Education
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
CONTACT: Michael Race (PDE)
(717) 783-9802

PA SENATE GOP ACTION RISKS LOCAL TAX HIKES

Senate adopts partisan legislation to cut school funding, shift burden to local property taxes

HARRISBURG – Ignoring the results of their own Costing-Out Report, Senate Republicans today voted to increase local property taxes for homeowners by refusing to enact a significant down payment on a school funding formula that requires the state to pay its fair share of education costs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. David Kessler D-Berks
www.pahouse.com/Kessler

Kessler: Some seniors eligible for 50 percent higher Property Tax/Rent Rebate

OLEY, June 17 – State Rep. David Kessler is calling attention to a change in the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program that will help many seniors, and he's reminding anyone who may qualify for the rebate that the deadline to apply has been extended to Dec. 31, 2008.

The change takes effect this year for senior homeowners who are eligible for the program, whose income is less than $30,000 and whose property taxes paid in 2007 were at least 15 percent of their income. For those senior homeowners, their Property Tax/Rent Rebate will be raised 50 percent automatically, making their maximum rebate $975 instead of $650. No additional paperwork is required to receive the higher rebate amount.