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Liberty Index 2011 VETO and Appropriations Acts 1 to 14

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  • 8/3/2019 Liberty Index 2011 VETO and Appropriations Acts 1 to 14

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    LibertyIndex2011Veto

    Veto Enact. Date Bill Subject 1 Jul 8

    HB 1696 Property Tax Reassessment Moratorium Act WASHINGTON COUNTY

    ONLY

    Tier 1 -AGAINST LIBERTY: A yea will subtract 1 point to the grade and a nay

    vote will add 1 point from the grade

    Because this applies only to one county, it is very, special interest legislation.

    There is neither a Constitutional reason or a practical reason for this targeted

    exemption.

    HOUSE FISCAL NOTE: SUMMARY: Provides for a temporary moratorium FOR

    WASHINGTON COUNTY ONLY of court-ordered countywide reassessments. This

    legislation would take effect immediately.

    ^^^^^*****^^^^^

    Appropriations Acts of 2011 1 to 14

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    Act No. Enactment Date Bill No. Subject

    Appropriations Act 1 Jun 30 HB 1485 General Appropriation Act of 2011 -

    enactment

    For Liberty Tier 3: A yea vote will add 50 points to Legislators or Governors

    grade and a nay vote will subtract 50 points from the grade.

    This is the first budget in 40 years to reduce spending from previous year.

    House Fiscal Note Budget 2011 and Senate Fiscal Note Budget 2011 provide

    specific information.

    Commonwealth Foundations General Fund Spending in Budget Deal JUNE 30,

    2011:

    The FY 2011-12 budget deal includes $27.1 billion in General Fund spending, as

    part of the state's approximately $64 billion total operating budget. The deal

    represents a reduction of $3 billion from FY 2010-11thefirst reduction in theoperating budget in at least 40 years. This budget restores overall spending to

    pre-stimulus levels and includes no new taxes READ MORE.

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    Appropriation Acts 2 and 3 of 2011 : SERS and PSERS- The Pension

    Plans for State Employees and for Teachers Pennsylvania State PensionLiabilities June 16, 2011 Commonwealth Foundation The Act 120 of 2010 ( HB

    2497) kicked the can down the road and these two votes enable a bad financial

    situation to continue rather to confront the fiscal folly now by instituting a

    defined contribution rather than defined benefit which the public sector unions

    want.

    Appropriations Act 2 of 2011 Jun 30 SB 1055

    State Employees' Retirement Board

    Tier 1 FOR LIBERTY- ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE BOTH HOUSE AND

    SENATE will get one point added to their grade. This vote allocates money to

    operation of state employees pension fund and the amount allocated is less

    than last year and below rate of inflation as well.

    Senate Fiscal Note: For fiscal year 2011-12, there will be $27,320,000

    appropriated to the State Employees Retirement Board from the State

    Employees Retirement Fund.

    Appropriations Act 3 of 2011 Jun 30 SB 1056

    Public School Employees' Retirement Board

    Tier 1 FOR LIBERTY- ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE BOTH HOUSE AND

    SENATE will get one point added to their grade. This vote allocates money to

    operation of state employees pension fund and the amount allocated is less

    than last year and below rate of inflation as well.

    Senate Fiscal Note: For fiscal year 2011-12, there will be $44,107,000

    appropriated to the Public School Employees Retirement Board from the Public

    School Employees Retirement Fund.

    ^^^^^*****^^^^^

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    Appropriations Act 4 Jun 30 SB 1057 Funding for the operation Bureau of

    Professional and Occupational Affairs

    Tier 2 FOR LIBERTY Moderate Impact on Liberty: A yea vote will add 25

    points to grade and a nay vote will subtract 25 points from the grade

    Because this bill appropriated less than last years (FY 2010-2011 Gov. Rendells

    last budget) appropriation of $38, 800, 000, this is going in the right direction for

    taxpayers. There is evidence that the bureaucracy needs more money. Zero based

    budgeting might be appropriate. It is not clear how much benefit this bureaucracy

    provides to the public.

    Senate Fiscal Note: Senate Bill 1057 appropriates $35,552,000

    from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account to the Department of

    State for the operation of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs and

    the State Board of Auctioneer Examiners for FY 2011-12.

    The bill also appropriates the following amounts from restricted receipt accounts

    and the state Athletic Commission Augmentation Account for the operation ofvarious licensure boards and the State Athletic Commission for their operations

    during FY 2011-12.

    $6,665,000 State Board of Medicine

    $ 960,000 State Board of Osteopathic Medicine

    $ 189,000 State Board of Podiatry

    $ 509,000 State Athletic Commission

    This legislation makes appropriations for FY 2011/ 12 as recommended by the

    Governor.The appropriation from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account is

    $35,552,000, a decrease of $3,248,000 from 10/ 11.

    The appropriation from the restricted account of the State Board of Medicine is

    $6,665,000, an increase of $272,000 from 10/ 11.

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    The appropriation from the restricted account of the State Board of Osteopathic

    Medicine is $960,000, a decrease of $13,000 from 10/ 11.

    The appropriation from the restricted account of the State Board of Podiatry is

    $189,000, the same as 10/ 11.

    The appropriation from the State Athletic Commission Augmentation Account is

    $509,000, a decrease of $9,000 from 10/ 11.

    Appropriations Act 5 Jun 30 SB 1058 Appropriations from the Workmens

    Compensation Fund to Department of Community and Economic Development to

    administer the Workers Compensation Act, the Pennsylvania Occupational

    Disease Act and Office of Small Business Advocate.

    Tier 2 AGAINST LIBERTY - A nay will subtract 25 points from the grade and a

    yea vote will add 25 points to the grade.

    This Act increases the appropriation by $7, 039,000 over last year for Workmens

    Compensation Administration Fund as well as increase from FY 2009-10 and

    $4,000 for the Office of Small Business Advocate.

    HOUSE FISCAL NOTE: FISCAL IMPACT: For Fiscal Year 2011/ 12 there

    will be $81,990,000 appropriated to the Department of Labor and Industry from

    the Workmens Compensation Administration Fund an increase of $7,039,000

    from 10/ 11.

    For Fiscal Year 2011/ 12, there will be $194,000 appropriated to the Office of

    Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic

    Development from the restricted revenue account within the Workmens

    Compensation Administration Fund, an increase of $4,000 from 10/ 11.

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    Appropriations Act 6 Jun 30 SB 1059 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

    Tier 2 AGAINST LIBERTY - A nay will subtract 25 points from the grade and a

    yea vote will add 25 points to the grade.

    This Act increases the appropriation by 5.2% over last year, a $2,895,000 increase

    for the bureaucracy paid for by the productive taxpayer or business who wonders

    how much the benefit is worth.

    Senate Bill 1059 appropriates $58,898,000 in state funds from a restricted

    revenue account within the General Fund and $3,900,000 in federal funds to the

    Public Utility Commission (PUC) for its operations for fiscal year 2011-12.

    The FY 2011-12 federal appropriation of $3,900,000 consists of $1,501,000 for

    natural gas pipeline safety, $1,888,000 for motor carrier safety, and $511,000 for

    electric regulatory assistance under ARRA.

    Senate Bill 1059 reflects the Governors recommended FY 2011-12 budget of

    $58,898,000 for the PUC. This is a $2,895,000 increase (5.2%) over the FY 2010-

    11 appropriation of $56,003,000.

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    The PUC is funded by assessments of public utilities. Subject to budgetary

    approval, the Public Utility Commission may assess up to three-tenths of one

    percent of gross intrastate revenues to cover the cost of regulation.

    Appropriations Act 7 Jun 30 SB 1060 Office of Consumer Advocate

    Tier 2 FOR LIBERTY Moderate Impact on Liberty: A yea vote will add 25

    points to grade and a nay vote will subtract 25 points from the grade

    This Act appropriates $11,000 less than last year. The Governor and General

    Assembly have reduced the cost of bureaucracy to the benefit of The Forgotten

    Taxpayer.

    House Fiscal Note $5,189,000 This bill makes an appropriation of $5,189,000

    from the restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of the

    Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General for general government

    operations for the fiscal year July, 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. This appropriation

    represents a decrease in funding of $11,000, or 0.2% from the current year.Funds in the restricted revenue account are derived from assessments on utilities

    regulated by the Public Utility Commission

    Appropriations Act 8 Jun 30 SB 1061 Office of Small Business Advocate -

    House Finance Note $1, 092,000

    Tier 2 AGAINST LIBERTY - A nay will subtract 25 points from the grade and a

    yea vote will add 25 points to the grade.

    This represents the second year in a row that Office of Small Business Advocate

    got an increase.

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    HOUSE FISCAL NOTE: This bill makes an appropriation of $1,092,000 from the

    restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small

    Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic

    Development for general government operations for the fiscal year July, 1, 2011,

    to June 30, 2012. This appropriation represents an increase in funding of $31,000,or 2.9% from the current year. (And an increase from $1,029,000 in FY 2009-10 )

    Funds in the restricted revenue account are derived from assessments on utilities

    regulated by the Public Utility Commission.

    It is not clear why, in addition to elected representatives, and the large staff in

    General Assembly along with Governors Budget office, there is even a need for a

    business advocate. Isnt this what businesses and lobbyists do. Isnt this a conflict

    of interest, the government representing a private person or business? How does

    the productive taxpayer who works, saves and invests benefit? Or businessesthemselves? Who would notice if this office disappeared?

    Appropriations Act 9 Jun 30 SB 1062 Pennsylvania Gaming Control

    Board, Department of Revenue, Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General -

    operations related to gaming

    Tier 3 AGAINST LIBERTY - A yea vote will subtract 50 points from the grade

    and a nay vote will add 50 points to the grade.

    The Liberty Index sent a Key Vote Alert for SB 1062 Appropriation Gaming

    Control Board appropriation vote. Vote NO on SB 1062 APPROPRIATION of $

    62, 823,000 to Gaming Control Board andHouse Fiscal Note Vereb (Schroder)

    Amendment Stripped Out by Senate.

    SB 1062 appropriates $62, 823,000 taxpayer dollars to The Gaming Control

    Board. These are casino receipts designed, originally, to go to property tax relief

    but now going to self-serving, government bureaucrats.

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    Good Guys Reps. Mike Vereb and Curt Schroder

    The purpose of the amendment was to separate the investigate and

    enforcement branch of gaming from the executive and policy making branch to

    separate powers as a check and balance to the some of the conflicts of interest

    found by Pennsylvania Grand Jury. In my opinion, this is common sense

    legislation, checks and balances, separation of powers, are keystone of limited

    and good government.

    Senate Fiscal Note: Senate Bill 1062 appropriates the total sum of $66,189,000 for

    fiscal year 2011-12 from the State Gaming Fund for the operations of the

    Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (board) and the operations of the

    Department of Revenue (department), the Pennsylvania State Police and the

    Attorney General, with respect to their responsibility and authority under Part II

    of 4 Pa.C.S., known as the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act

    (gaming act).

    The appropriation is categorized as follows:

    Attorney General - $976,000

    Department of Revenue - $9,501,000

    Pennsylvania State Police - $19,268,000

    Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board - $36,444,000

    ^^^^^*****^^^^^

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    Appropriations Act 10 to 14, Five Acts, Allocate Millions of Taxpayers Money

    Subsidize Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Billionaire Private Corporations In the

    Business of Education

    Appropriations Act 10 Jun 30 HB 1727 University of Pittsburgh - educationand general expenses and rural education outreach

    Against Liberty Tier 3: ALL MEMBERS

    50 points will be subtracted from grades of legislators and the Governor.

    Some Democrats voted nay because the subsidy was not big enough so rather

    than reward them for a nay, I graded this as ALL MEMBERS were equally

    penalized.

    Appropriations Act 11 Jun 30 HB 1728 Temple University - education and

    general expenses

    Against Liberty Tier 3: ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE

    50 points will be subtracted from grades of legislators and the Governor.

    Some Democrats voted nay because the subsidy was not big enough so rather

    than reward them for a nay vote for the wrong reason, I graded this as ALLMEMBERS were equally penalized.

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    Appropriations Act 12 Jun 30 HB 1729 University of Pennsylvania -

    Center for Infectious Diseases, veterinary activities and education and general

    expenses

    Against Liberty Tier 3: ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE

    50 points will be subtracted from grades of legislators and the Governor.

    Some Democrats voted nay because the subsidy was not big enough so rather

    than reward them for a nay vote for the wrong reason, I graded this as ALL

    MEMBERS were equally penalized.

    Appropriations Act 13 Jun 30 HB 1730 Lincoln University - education and

    general expenses

    Against Liberty Tier 3: ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE

    50 points will be subtracted from grades of legislators and the Governor.

    Some Democrats voted nay because the subsidy was not big enough so rather

    than reward them for a nay vote for the wrong reason, I graded this as ALL

    MEMBERS were equally penalized.

    Appropriations Act 14 Jun 30 HB 1731 Pennsylvania State University -

    education and general expenses and Pennsylvania College of Technology

    Against Liberty Tier 3: ALL MEMBERS UNANIMOUS VOTE

    50 points will be subtracted from grades of legislators and the Governor.

    Some Democrats voted nay because the subsidy was not big enough so rather

    than reward them for a nay vote for the wrong reason, I graded this as ALL

    MEMBERS were equally penalized.

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    $29,000,000 to UPENN and

    $146,823,000 to Temple U

    $142,796,000 UPITT

    $238,792,000 Penn State

    Total 558,411,000 more than billion taxpayer dollars to private tax exempt

    corporate billionaires. What was the result? Higher Tuitions

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