PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO. 529

Winter 2009


2009-2010 State Budget Wrap Up

The office of state Rep. Nick Miccarelli reserve accounts. The Commonwealth
has made every effort to keep residents in- had built up a $755 million Rainy Day
Join Us Jan. 9 in formed of state government activity. As a Fund that is intended to help in the event
Welcoming Home continuation of that effort, we wanted to
provide you with a summary of the recent-
of unanticipated expenses or economic
downturn. Using all that money this year
Rep. Miccarelli ly agreed upon 2009-10 state budget. is a concern if state revenues don’t improve
As you may know, this year’s budget in the next few months.
The office of state Rep. Nick Mic- process presented unprecedented chal- The budget also calls for depleting the
carelli will be hosting an open house lenges due to the global economic down- $708 million Health Care Provider Reten-
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, turn. The General Assembly attempted to tion Account and taking $100 million from
Jan. 9, to welcome home Rep. Mic- craft a spending plan that struck a balance the MCare Fund. Both of these funds are
carelli from his tour of duty in Iraq. between providing essential services for designed to help defray the cost of medical
residents when they need them the most, malpractice insurance, as those skyrocket-
During the open house light re- and protecting the fiscal well-being of the ing costs have prompted many doctors and
freshments will be served and resi- Commonwealth by not overloading tax- specialists to retire early or take their prac-
dents will be able to learn about the payers with onerous spending commit- tices to other states.
many district office services available ments that current revenue streams may Furthermore, $150 million would be
to them. not be able to support. taken from the Tobacco Settlement fund,
Here’s an overview of the final plan: which receives money from a federal law-
Please join us for this wonderful suit and allocates those funds for tobacco
celebration! Tax Hikes prevention and statewide health care pro-
The budget includes a 25-cent-per- grams.
pack increase in the state tax on cigarettes
and creates a new tax on “little cigars” at Federal Stimulus Dollars
$1.60 per pack. The state spending plan After being sworn into office, President
also calls for a $374 million tax on Penn- Barack Obama and the Democrat-con-
sylvania employers at a time when the trolled Congress in Washington, D.C.,
Commonwealth’s workers and job creators acted swiftly to approve several bailout
are reeling from the recession. measures. One of those was the American
Due to the insistence of House Repub- Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),
licans, efforts to include an increase in the which, among other things, provided fed-
Personal Income Tax or the Sales and Use eral dollars to subsidize state budgets.
Tax as well as a severance tax on natural The Pennsylvania state budget includes
gas harvested in the Commonwealth were more than $2.6 billion in federal stimulus
defeated. money. Added to the nearly $25.2 billion
in state dollars in the final budget, this


Draining the Reserve Accounts means the Commonwealth will spend ap-
Budget negotiators balanced the state proximately $27.8 billion in the current
spending plan, in part, by draining several fiscal year.
Continued on page 2...

RepMiccarelli.net
 The Office of State Representative Nick Miccarelli
Proposals Aim to Reform State Budget Process
State Budget
contined from page 1 In the wake of the budget impasse of 2009, several ideas have been put forth to ensure
such a long stalemate doesn’t happen again.
Due in part to the extensive One proposal is to create a bipartisan Speaker’s Commission on Budgetary Reform.
use of federal dollars for educa- The commission would be charged with setting budget timelines and identifying appropri-
tion, school districts across the ate consequences if deadlines are not met. Performance-based budget principles would be
state received increases in funding adopted, and rank-and-file lawmakers would have more input into the final plan.
within the state budget. Other reform proposals are outlined below:

2010-11 Budget Process • House Resolution 460 would institute a Committee of the Whole process to
Negotiations on the 2010-11 resolve a budget impasse in the future. This would allow for open debate of
budget will begin in less than two various budget issues on the House floor.
months, and the Legislature must
follow its constitutional obliga- • House Bill 936 would automatically extend the prior year’s budget if no
tion to get a state budget passed new state budget is enacted by 12:01 a.m. on July 1.
on time. There are several legisla-
tive proposals currently being cir- • House Bill 937 creates a more definitive timeline for future state budgets.
culated that might help expedite If deadlines are not met in the House or Senate, the daily pay for each
the process and put measures in member in that chamber would be docked until action is taken.
place to hold the General Assem-
bly more accountable. Those ini- • House Bill 1629 proposes salary forfeitures by the legislature, as well as the
tiatives should be coming before governor, his cabinet and the secretary of the budget, when a budget
the House and Senate in the next impasse goes past July. Salaries would not be restored retroactively.
few months.
• House Bill 1751 would ban the act of leveraging roll call votes for promises
of legislative favors, hiring of staff, grant approvals and capital projects.

State Seeks Owners of $1 Million in Unclaimed

Property from the 162nd Legislative District
Residents are encouraged to check and see if the state’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property has money
for them.
According to the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, more than $1 million in unclaimed property
is waiting to be claimed by current and former residents of the 162nd Legislative District.
The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, stocks and dividends,
uncashed payroll checks, uncollected utility deposits, unredeemed gift certificates and items in safe
deposit boxes. In fact, unclaimed property is any financial asset that has been left inactive for a period
of approximately five years.
Officials are cautioning individuals to be wary of services or “finders” who charge fees to help locate
unclaimed property. Finders often charge the maximum amount allowed by law, up to 15 percent of
the property’s value, for using the same online-databases that individuals can use free-of-charge.
To check if you have unclaimed property, please call Miccarelli’s district office at (610) 534-1002
or go to www.PATreasury.com.
For more information on unclaimed property or for help processing a claim, visit Miccarelli’s dis-
trict office or call the Bureau of Unclaimed Property toll-free at 1-800-222-2046.

New PennDOT Service Provides Latest Travel Information

The Pennsylvania Department of and major airports. The service is avail- their text messaging plan.
Transportation (PennDOT) has launched able by dialing 511 from cellular phones or The 511PA roadway network includes
its 511 travel information system, 511PA. landlines or on the Web at www.511PA. all 1,759 miles of interstate, including the
The Federal Communications Com- com. Cell phone users may incur local Pennsylvania Turnpike, as well as other
mission designated 511 as the nationwide airtime or roaming charges from their pro- major roadways in Harrisburg, Philadel-
three-digit number for traveler informa- vider. phia and Pittsburgh. Real-time informa-
tion, and 35 states are already using the Users are also able to register online to tion will be available about traffic acci-
system. 511PA provides free, 24-hour in- receive personalized traveler alerts by e-mail dents, construction activities and winter
formation that includes traffic delay warn- and text message. Standard text messaging road conditions.
ings, weather forecasts, regional tourism rates may apply – participants should con- For more information, visit
information, and links to transit agencies sult their cellular phone provider regarding www.511PA.com.
 Apply Now for Take Precautions to Protect Yourself
Low-Income Home from H1N1
Energy Assistance Flu season is in full swing, and this year we are not only faced with the seasonal flu but
Program also H1N1, also known as swine flu.
H1N1 causes symptoms similar to seasonal flu and can include a fever over 100 de-
The Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home grees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is some cases, individuals with the virus may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
now accepting applications for cash grants. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from both types of
Crisis grants will be available on Jan. 4, flu:
2010. • Use a tissue to cover your cough and sneeze.
LIHEAP helps low-income people pay If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your
their heating bills through home energy sleeve instead of your hand.
assistance grants and crisis grants. Cash • Keep your hands away from your face, and
grants are awarded based on household in- don’t touch your mouth, nose or eyes.
come, family size, type of heating fuel and • Wash your hands often, using soap or an
region. Crisis grants are provided in the alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
event of a heating emergency, including • Keep frequently used surfaces clean.
broken heating equipment or leaking lines
that must be fixed or replaced, lack of fuel, Another step you may want to take is getting
termination of utility service or danger of the flu vaccine. There are separate vaccines for both
being without fuel or of having utility ser- seasonal flu and H1N1, so don’t assume you are
vice terminated. In most counties, assis- protected from both types of flu if you have only
tance with home heating crisis situations is received one shot.
available 24 hours a day. The Advisory Committee on Immunization
Applications are available at Miccarelli’s Practices (ACIP) has identified five targeted groups
district office or by contacting local coun- that should receive the H1N1 vaccine:
ty assistance offices in Delaware County • Pregnant women.
at 610-447-3099. Applications are also • Persons 6 months to 24 years of age.
available from local utility companies and • Health care providers and EMS personnel.
community service agencies, such as Area • Individuals caring for infants under 6 months of age.
Agencies on Aging or community action • Individuals under age 65 with underlying medical conditions.
agencies. Those who would like assis- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for children under 10 to receive
tance in processing the application, please two doses of the vaccine administered 28 days apart OR a minimum of 21 days apart.
contact the district office. LIHEAP cash Individuals over the age of 10 will receive one dose of the vaccine. The vaccine is an intra-
grant applications are available online at nasal vaccine spray. Parents are asked to check with their providers and/or schools, who
compass.state.pa.us. will be responsible for administering the vaccines.
Income eligibility for cash grants begins If you do get sick, you should stay home to avoid spreading the flu to other people.
at $33,075 for a family of four. The Department of Health recommends you stay home until you’ve been fever free for
For complete eligibility requirements 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication). Be sure to drink plenty of clear
and additional information on LIHEAP, fluids, such as water, broth and sports drinks to prevent dehydration, and get plenty of
visit the Web site at RepMiccarelli.net and rest. If your symptoms get worse, seek medical attention immediately.
click on “LIHEAP Information.” For more information on the flu and where to get vaccinated, contact the state Depart-
ment of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or visit RepMiccarelli.net.

Planning a Trip to
the State Capitol?
Tours of the state Capitol are offered
regular weekdays, every half hour from
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weekends and most holidays, tours are
offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3
p.m.
Rep. Miccarelli’s office is happy to help
arrange a tour of the Capitol for groups
interested in seeing what President Theo-
dore Roosevelt called the “the handsomest
building I ever saw.”
The office can also help arrange a tour
of the Pennsylvania State Museum, located
across the street from the Capitol.
Prospect Park fourth-grade students took a tour of the state Capitol this past May.

Serving the People of the 162nd Legislative District

Emergency Notification Safe Driving Reminders
System Available In order to help ensure greater safety on the roadways, there are
a few Pennsylvania state laws worth highlighting:
Residents wanting to receive infor- • Headlight Use
mation on their cell phone, through Motorists are required to turn on their headlights any time
e-mail or on their pager about severe their vehicle wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to
weather, health threats and other emer- weather or other conditions, such as fog or mist. Drivers who
gencies can sign up for AlertPA. Alert- fail to follow the law face fines and fees approaching $100 per
PA is an emergency notification system offense.
where users can choose the type of no- • Snow and Ice Removal
tices they want to receive, as well as how Motorists must completely clear snow and ice from their vehicles before driving or face
they want to receive them. severe fines if snow or ice they failed to remove causes injury or death to other motorists or
Simply go to www.pa.gov and click pedestrians. Drivers who fail to follow this law face fines of $200 to $1,000 per offense.
on Alerts & Advisories to sign up. • Steer Clear
Interested individuals are cautioned Drivers must move over or slow down when they come upon an emergency scene, traf-
to be fully informed of services the sys- fic stop, or disabled vehicle. The law applies any time an emergency vehicle has its lights
tem provides and any responsibilities flashing and where road crews or emergency personnel have tried to warn motorists with
placed upon them, such as the payment lighter flares or posted signs. Failure to follow the law carries a fine of up to $250, and fines
of text messages not included in their for other traffic violations committed in these areas will be doubled. If the violation leads
cell phone plan. to a worker being injured, a 90-day license suspension could result.

Volunteer Internship Senior Rally Day

Opportunities
Available
College students interested in an
unpaid internship with Rep. Micca-
relli’s office are encouraged to send
a resume and cover letter to Der-
ek Staccone in the district office at
[email protected].

Applicants should:

• Have an outgoing personality.

• Have a flexible schedule.

• Have an interest in the community During Senior Rally Day in Harrisburg on June 2, Frank Williamson and Dolores and John
and helping individuals with state Callahan from Glenolden stopped by Rep. Miccarelli’s office. They are with the Pennsylvania
government-related issues. Association of Senior Centers.

District Office Services

If you need help with any of the above or with any other
state-related matter, please do not hesitate to contact the of-
The district office of state Rep. Miccarelli is here to help you.
fice at:
Services provided through the office include:
605 East Chester Pike, Ridley Park, PA 19078
Phone: (610) 534-1002
 Driver’s license and vehicle registration applications
and renewals.
Office hours are:
 Assistance with PennDOT paperwork.
 Copies of birth and death certificates.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 PACE and PACENET applications for seniors.  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
 Property Tax and Rent Rebate forms and applications.  Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 Voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications.
 State tax forms. *Sharon Hill Mobile District Office available from 10
 Student aid applications. a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month. It is
 Free state maps, state park information, and PA located in the Sharon Hill Borough Hall at 250 Sharon Ave.
Vacation Guides.
 Copies of legislation. Or in Harrisburg, Monday -Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
 Referrals to agencies to resolve state-related matters. 406 Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202162
 Free notary service. Harrisburg, PA 17120-2162
Phone: (717) 787-3472
RepMiccarelli.net