State Representative Warren Kampf (R-157) is calling on lawmakers and the public to take a broad approach to responding to the Connecticut school shootings that left 20 children and six adults dead last Friday. In an editorial sent to Patch, the newly re-elected State Representative says "I do not believe we can rush into a course of action.  For one thing, all of the facts about the Newtown shootings are not yet available.  To take action without the correct facts is to risk making decisions that do not meet our common goals and would waste our collective will on weak or useless measures." …

As we enter the FY2012-13 budget process, I was hopeful that our state would already be seeing revenue form the sale of the state-run liquor store system and on-going revenue from the operation of privately owned-stores.  Instead, getting the state out of the liquor business has run into the many disparate forces of Harrisburg aligned for their own parochial concerns. With a majority of Pennsylvanians supporting it for the convenience, lower costs, and—let’s face it—common sense, passing a comprehensive liquor privatization plan should have been easy.  Unfortunately, forces afraid to …

Faced with massive budget deficits, the loss of billions in temporary federal stimulus funding and the possibility of having to return $1 billion in MCare Fund money raided by previous legislatures, the Governor last year proposed a 2011-2012 budget that trimmed more than $1 billion in state spending from a state budget grown out of control.  However, the Governor's proposed budget focused on the wrong priorities and suggested reductions to education that were too deep.  In fact, his proposed reductions went beyond even the temporary federal stimulus funding that the previous legislature had …

All across Pennsylvania, homeowners are facing property tax increases or potential reductions to services like police protection in response to a single cost driver facing local governments and school districts: the spiraling cost of meeting pension obligations. No longer is there a question of whether these pensions are placing a crushing burden on our cities, counties, townships and school districts.  Elected officials—Democrats and Republicans alike—have made it clear that the elaborate pension plans granted to public employees, specifically defined pension plans that guarantee a set …

When session came to recess in July, we had committed the most state funding (dollars) to education in the Commonwealth’s history and delivered the first on-time, balanced budget in eight years.  We did this by reducing spending and ending the borrowing binge that had been the crutch of the Capital in previous years. While there was positive feedback on what was accomplished, I and my colleagues know there is more to do.  With the House back in session, I wanted to take a moment to let you know what you can anticipate on the fall agenda.  During this important fall session, we will tackle …

Over the past decade, Pennsylvania has been a leader in promoting educational excellence through the creation and advancement of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.  Since its inception, the EITC program has expanded educational options for low- and middle-income families by giving them a way to escape ineffective, and often dangerous, schools they are forced to attend by the luck of their street address.  It has also helped to save the state hundreds of millions of dollars in education funding.  The EITC is a unique partnership that has succeeded in getting businesses more…

The recent debate over our nation’s debt ceiling has had at least one positive result: it has helped bring this often overlooked issue into stark relief for taxpayers.  That’s why I thought now would be a good time to discuss the issue of Pennsylvania’s debt. Currently, Pennsylvania owes more than $4,000 for every man, woman and child in the state.  What makes up this figure?  Many things. The state’s pension liability, due to the chronic underfunding of state worker pensions, stands at $29.4 billion.  That is $2 billion more than the total expenditures of the state budget passed in June. …

Each time a film like “Rocky,” “Witness” or “The Sixth Sense” used Pennsylvania as a backdrop, local painters, hardware suppliers and restaurants experienced such a spike in revenue that the legislature funded the state’s Film Tax Credit to lure even more production. Others soon followed. “The Village,” “Marley & Me,” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” all used Southeastern Pennsylvania as a setting to take advantage of the 25 percent tax credit.  Even “The Sopranos” shot in Bethlehem.  From 2002 to 2008, TV and film production almost doubled.   And that, in just the last three years, …

Imagine if you could select an electricity supplier that provided cleaner, greener energy, and saved you money in the process. As a Pennsylvanian, you can.  Pennsylvania is one of the states breaking the utility monopoly.  You can now choose among electricity suppliers who are fighting for your business by dropping rates and improving services.    But competition in electricity will only work if consumers take advantage of the choices offered.  By shopping among competing suppliers, you force each company to cut rates to lure you.  Others will offer the kinds of green or renewable energy …

Delivering a fiscally responsible budget this year was an important step in protecting taxpayers, but to actually change the way government works requires reforming the systems that alienate our citizens.  I am happy to say we are making progress on this front.  A WATCH on spending Taxpayers being able to see where their money is spent constitutes step one toward open government.  That’s why I voted for the Pennsylvania Web Accountability, Transparency and Contract Hub, or PennWATCH, which was signed into law June 30th. PennWATCH will allow citizens to go online and examine the state’s …