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Reforming State Government | Prison Reform | Animal Welfare | Protecting the Environment | Property Tax Relief | Reducing Crime and Cutting Costs Through Early Childhood Education and Intervention Programs | Protecting Pennsylvania's Jobs and EconomyReforming State GovernmentRight-to-Know LawEach year, state agencies and the legislature spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a variety of projects and citizens have a right to access this important information. Until very recently, government did not need to provide a reason for denying access to such records. In fact, citizens were required to prove to the government why a record should be made public. In 2000 I introduced legislation that would have reversed that burden of proof, requiring government agencies and the Legislature to prove to the people why a record cannot be made public. It was not until 2008 that a similar bill was approved and signed into law. Pennsylvania's updated Right -to-Know law places the burden of proof on state government and has created a clearing house for records known as the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The legislation was the first expansion of the state's Right-to-Know Law in over 50 years. This legislation has created a greater trust between citizens and state government. As well, the Office of Open Records will allow journalists more in depth coverage of state issues. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the Office of Open Records and review the process for obtaining government records.
Access the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records Recent ReformsThe work of all government officials and elected members of the Legislature should be easily accessible to the public. Democracy works best when there is a high level of trust between the citizens and those elected to represent them. Over the past several years, the State Legislature has focused on reforms making Harrisburg more transparent and accountable. The Senate adopted several reform proposals in the 2007-2008 legislative session—important first steps towards bringing greater transparency to the Senate. The reforms include:
Lobbying DisclosureLobbyists, whether representing industry, professional associations, or non-profit organizations, play a significant role in state government and the public should be able to see who is lobbying elected officials. In 2006, The Senate passed landmark legislation requiring lobbyists to file regular reports detailing who is lobbying the Legislature and the Governor's Office and which issues they are supporting. Act 134 of 2006 (House Bill 700), as amended by the Senate, states that every lobbyist, lobbying firm and the groups that hired them are required to register and disclose their spending each quarter. The reports must include a list of funds spent on communication, gifts, hospitality, transportation and lodging. These reports must then be filed with the Department of State, which will provide a directory to the public of all registered lobbyists by May 1 of each odd-numbered year. Random audits will be conducted on the registrations every two years. Lobbyists who violate the law will be subject to civil fines of up to $2,000 and the possibility of being prohibited from paid lobbying for up to five years. Groups that retain lobbyists and intentionally violate the law could receive a fine of up to $25,000. To read the Department of State's annual lobbying disclosure report, visit www.pasen.gov and select "Department of State Lobbying Disclosure" under the heading "Topics of Special Interest". EthicsDuring the 2010 legislative session, I have signed on to Senate Resolution 228, the Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct. The Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct include:
Any alleged violations of the Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct would first be investigated by the Secretary of the Senate. If a more detailed investigation is warranted and the subject of the report is a senator, the matter will be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Official Conduct. If the subject of the report is an employee, an independent party will conduct the investigation. Sanctions for violations by an employee can range from a warning to termination of employment, depending on the circumstances. Sanctions for violations by a senator can range from a warning to requiring restitution and any other sanction provided for under the Pennsylvania Constitution. Current Reform LegislationEfforts to change the culture of state government are ongoing. Several pieces of legislation are underway to restore confidence in state government by making it more open and accountable to its citizens. During the previous legislative session, 9 out 10 bills focused on reform passed the Senate, but failed to gain final legislative approval. These bills have been reintroduced in the 2009-2010 legislative session:
Prison ReformWhen I began my career in the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1976, the two previous decades saw the rise of America's drug culture, and an increasing public awareness of drug abuse. By the 1980's America's largest urban areas were experiencing a narcotics epidemic, especially the widespread use of crack cocaine and heroin. Faced with controlling this problem, legislators could only see one logical course of action: if a criminal activity was increasing, then tougher penalties were needed to repress that crime. It was seemingly obvious that Pennsylvania's laws were too lenient, and we needed to get tough on crime. A "get tough" movement was underway across the country as most states and federal authorities were rewriting drug laws to be tougher and guarantee that offenders were more sufficiently punished. Longer, mandatory sentences passed with wide margins, and everyone confidently waited for a corresponding reduction in drug crime. Now, after nearly 30 years of the tough on crime punishment model, we cannot construct prisons fast enough, hire enough police, or sufficiently staff courts to keep pace with the onslaught of drug and property crime offenders entering the system. These low level offenders that have overrun the system pose the least threat to public safety, but take up the most resources of law enforcement and corrections departments. Sixty percent of Pennsylvania's inmates do not have a history of violence or any significant drug dealing activity. Four out of five drug arrests in the state are for possession of illegal substances, while only one out of five drug arrests were for sales. There is simply no prison sentence long enough or tough enough to stop drug users as is evidenced by the nearly half of released offenders returning to prison within months of parole. Non-violent drug offenders are hopelessly caught in a revolving door of incarceration that costs billions to maintain with little positive results. With over half of current U.S. prisoners convicted of a non-violent crime, too few resources are left to effectively prosecute and detain criminals who are truly dangerous and must be removed from society. As well, technical parole violators are driving up the state's prison population. 3,000 Technical Parole Violators (TPVs) were re-incarcerated in 2008 alone for violations such as breaking curfew or failing to report to their parole officer. These TPVs spend an average 14 additional months in prison without having committed an actual crime. This long sentence for a parole violation has no real affect on recidivism over those diverted for shorter periods. Most Pennsylvanians have been unaware of the crisis that has been quietly mounting in our state's prisons. Pennsylvania's inmate population has increased by 522.6% between 1980 and 2009 (from 8,243 in 1980 to 51,326 inmates in November 2009). Pennsylvania's total state population increased by only 6.2% between 1980 and 2009 (from 11,863,895 in 1980 to an estimated 12,604,767 in 2009). Between 1940 and 1980, the state's inmate population averaged between 5,000 and 8,000. Over the past decade, little more than 2 percent of the increase in inmates is attributed to violent offenses. Fifty five percent of growth is due to nonviolent drug and property crimes. In Pennsylvania, we have 27 state prisons. Twenty-five years ago there were only nine. Approximately 1 of out 273 Pennsylvanians are in state prisons. There are an additional 30,000 inmates in Pennsylvanians county jails. These numbers correspond with enormous cost. In FY 1980-81, the Commonwealth spent $110,388,000 on Corrections. In FY 2009-10, state funding for Department of Corrections is budgeted at $1,785,240,000. This represents a 1,517.2% increase between 1980 and 2009. According to the Department of Corrections, the State prison population grew by 28% over the past ten years. The prison population is expected to grow another 24% over the next five years. At this rate of growth, the State will be required to build three new prisons by 2012 at the cost of $600 million as well as an additional prison per year after 2012 at the cost of $200 million per prison. Each prison has an annual operating cost of $60 million. Prisoners who are 65 or older cost between $65,000 and $100,000 per year for medical care. Pennsylvania citizens annually pay about $40,000 for each state prisoner and about $18,000 for those in county prisons. It costs about $3.42 per day for probation to $7.47 per day for parolees or $1,250 to $2,750 per year, respectively. We know now that punishment without rehabilitation is a failure. While we have earnestly sought to incorporate rehabilitation into the punishment process, too few inmates are receiving the needed programming. Programs such the State Intermediate Punishment Program (SIP) are underutilized. As well, many inmates do not receive parole because of a backlog of those waiting to complete programs before the end of their minimum sentence. Once inmates have been released, they easily lapse into criminal behavior because of their inability to find employment and living with the stigma of incarceration. In addition, family ties are broken during incarceration, separating inmates from what is often their only means of support. The children of incarcerated parents are seven times more likely to be incarcerated themselves. Many of the state's non-violent offenders would be better served completing treatment or other sanctions in a community based setting rather than in a state prison. This would better enable these individuals to reestablish healthy, crime free lives while they continue to support their families. As well, this would save Pennsylvania's prison space for dangerous criminals who must be confined. Since November of 2009, I have introduced several pieces of legislation that I believe will help to keep non-violent offenders out of prison help communities hard hit by the cycle of incarceration. Senator Greenleaf's Prison Reform Package:
SB 1145: Risk and Needs Assessment
SB 1161: Short Minimum Cases
SB 1193: HOPE Program
SB1198: The Safe Community Reentry Program
SB1275:
SB1298:
SB1299: SIP is an intensive drug treatment program involving incarceration in state prison initially followed by community-based treatment. Currently the district attorney must request that a defendant be referred to the Department of Corrections for an assessment that will determine whether SIP is appropriate. The defendant must agree to be referred. Once the assessment takes place, the district attorney and the defendant must agree to the commitment. The legislation removes these requirements so that the judge may refer the defendant for assessment and the judge may commit an eligible offender to SIP. *On April 13, 2010, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported Senate Bill 1299 from committee. On April 20, 2010, the Senate re-referred Senate Bill 1299 to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Animal WelfareFor far too long, Pennsylvania has earned the distinction of the Puppy Mill Capitol of the east. This has recently started to change with the passage of reforms to stop the inhumane breeding of dogs in the state and put an end to the ill gained profits of unscrupulous breeders. My efforts began in 1997 with the passage of the Puppy Lemon Law which allowed dog owners to pursue reimbursement from sellers of dogs that were unhealthy and required medical attention. This was instrumental in forcing many sellers to demand healthy pets and stop doing business with breeders who were not willing to breed healthy animals. In 1998 I was successful in amending language into a bill which made clear that no live animal may be sold in conjunction with the operation of a lottery or contest. My legislation prohibiting the sale of fur, skin or hair of a dog or cat or its use in a product was signed into law in 2001. I also successfully amended language into another bill in 2004 which made it a misdemeanor of the first degree for a person to hold, conduct or operate a greyhound race for public exhibition and for monetary remuneration. During the last legislative session, I was very pleased to see the passage of HB 2525 providing for a comprehensive overhaul of Pennsylvania's Dog Law. Despite some revisions to the bill, I believe this measure will set a higher standard for commercial kennels in Pennsylvania and ensure that dogs living in commercial breeding operations are provided with a humane and healthy environment. This measure is supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs. In addition, I have supported legislation in the past that that would ban the inhumane practice of pigeon shoots and have sponsored bills in the past to prohibit canned hunts. I also introduced legislation in a prior session to prevent the utilization of bull hooks to control or punish elephants. For the past two sessions I have introduced legislation, currently SB 50, making numerous revisions to the Puppy Lemon Law as suggested by the Attorney General's Office which will further strengthen the law. I am also sponsoring SB 214 which would prohibit simulcasting of a greyhound race for commercial purposes. I regularly hear from my constituents concerning these issues, and I continue to advocate in Harrisburg for the needed reforms to Pennsylvania's animal welfare laws. Over the years, I have been proud to receive the recognition of several organizations for my work including the Humane Society and The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. I look forward to continued success in creating better environments for out domesticated animals. Protecting the EnvironmentToday, wilderness and natural areas are often thought of as far off destinations. As more Pennsylvanians now live in urban areas, nature seems increasingly remote and difficult to find. But even for those who live in the heart of the city, every Pennsylvanian has surprisingly easy access to parks, forests, and game lands close to home. The opportunities for enjoying the Pennsylvania outdoors are only as limited as one's willingness to explore its mountains, rivers, and woodland trails. To this end, I authored the Rails-to-Trails Act of 1990 which authorized DCNR to acquire abandoned railroad rights of way for public recreational trails. Despite Pennsylvania's long and storied history as a producer of timber and coal, our state abounds with state parks and forests—many that remain unbroken wilderness areas. Many state residents would be surprised to learn of herds of elk that roam certain areas of the northern tier, or of the state's large black bear population. Pennsylvania's 2.1 million acre state forest system is one of the largest expanses of public land in the eastern United States. Despite its size, this only represents 12% of the total forested area of the state. This doesn't include the many state parks, game lands, and the 512,998 acre Allegheny National Forest. However, it only has been through many mistakes that we have learned the value of conserving out natural treasures. We are still seeing the effects of early industrial activity on our streams, rivers and forests. Currently, natural gas drilling has become a booming industry in much of our state. While this drilling of the Marcellus Shale for natural gas will provide jobs and help our nation meet its energy needs, we must ensure that the environment and groundwater is protected. The deep drilling uses millions of gallons of water to break open the gas deposits in the Marcellus Shale. Much of this water will flow back out of the wells, and must be properly treated to remove harmful chemical additives used in the drilling process. In order to make sure that proper regulations are in place, and that state officials are well equipped to oversee the drilling, I have cosponsored a bill in the Senate to place a 5 year moratorium on the drilling of new Marcellus Shale gas wells. Already, 2/3 of our State Forest land (725,000 acres) has been leased to natural gas companies, many of which are multinational organizations, based out of state. Of the remaining 1/3, 70% is protected from leasing because it contains fragile wetlands or prime wildlife habitat. Because of the uncertainly of the environmental impact of drilling, and in order to protect important wildlife habitat, our drinking water, and recreation, I have signed on as a cosponsor of legislation that will place a 5 year moratorium on leasing state lands for drilling. As we are reminded daily of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, we should be all the more committed to ensuring that natural gas drilling and all other natural resource extraction in Pennsylvania is done safely and held to the highest standards. I hope that all Pennsylvania residents will recognize and value the beauty of our state and help conserve and protect our environment. I urge all outdoor enthusiasts to share their passion for the outdoors with others so that we may all come to know, and strive to protect what we enjoy. Take the time to introduce a young person to the outdoors so that we can instill an ethic for conservation in future generations. In recent years, the Pennsylvania Senate has worked to pass a number of initiatives to ensure clean air and water, clean up abandoned coal mines, upgrade polluting public sewage systems, and protect open space. Senate Environmental Initiatives: Growing Greener Abandoned Mines Funding Growing Greener Bond Water Supplies and Recycling Alternative Energy Investment Act Alternative Energy Research It also boosts funding of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $100 million and provides rebates for the purchase of hybrid vehicles. The measure invests a total of $650 million over 10 years, funded by anticipated growth in the state gross receipts tax, and includes no new taxes. Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund Solar Energy Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding Act 77 of 2007 would fund the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act through 2010-11 without raising taxes. Funding for HSCA, which finances cleanups at contaminated sites and the investigation of illegal hazardous waste disposals, was not included in the final state budget adopted by the General Assembly in July. The Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that the HSCA program will be shut down if a funding solution is not found. The measure provides $17 million for HSCA through the 2007-08 fiscal year. It earmarks $40 million out of the state Capital Stock and Franchise Tax for the following three fiscal years. Limiting Truck Pollution, Noise Act 124 of 2008 bars commercial diesel vehicles from idling for more than five minutes during any 60-minute period. Violators could face fines ranging from $50 to $150. The measure includes a list of exceptions to allow truckers to do their jobs. Eliminating Phosphate in Detergents Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Program PA Climate Change Act The advisory committee will be made up of members appointed by the governor and the General Assembly. The committee will issue a report on scientific predictions regarding changes in temperature and precipitation that could result from climate change, as well as the potential impact of climate change on health, the economy, wildlife, agriculture and tourism. The bill requires that the predictions reflect the diversity of views within the scientific community. The measure also requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to annually create an inventory of greenhouse gases in Pennsylvania. Within 15 months of the bill becoming law, DEP and the advisory committee will submit a climate change action plan that identifies greenhouse emission trends and evaluates cost-effective strategies for reducing or offsetting emissions. Comprehensive Mine Safety Law Act 55 of 2008 would create a new Board of Coal Mine Safety to keep Pennsylvania's mine safety standards regularly updated. The legislation also provides for greater legal responsibility for operators to ensure mine safety, and enables the state to establish a central database of mine maps. It also addresses responses to accidents, requiring mine operators to notify DEP within 15 minutes of an accident, and updates ventilation and roof support requirements. Reforming State Conservation Districts The bill also requires the General Assembly to provide one appropriation directly to the State Conservation Commission at a level sufficient to meet the 50 percent funding goal for certain district positions. It allows districts to receive advanced funding for certain programs and not be required to lapse unused funds. It recommends districts apply for DCED land use assistance grants, and requests that the Commission consider alternative funds, including possible fees to support the Nutrient Management Program. The measure also requires that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection develop a training program to certify inspection personnel and improve standardization of enforcement activities. Links to Outdoor Recreation in Pennsylvania: Trails
Outdoor Adventures Farm Stay Vacation Program Appalachian Trail PA Game Commission PA Fish and Boat Commission State Forests State Parks Property Tax ReliefProperty taxes continue to burden our region, especially during a time when so many are unemployed or underemployed. Over the years, I have heard many ideas for reducing or even eliminating property taxes. Elimination of property taxes would only trade one tax for another, as funding for education would simply have to come from somewhere else. The State Sales Tax would need to be increased to 14 percent or the Personal Income Tax could be doubled to replace the $10 billion that is generated by property taxes. I support a three part approach to property tax relief that includes 1.) Controlling costs and school district spending; 2.) Allocating a Larger Share of State Education Funding to our Local Schools; 3.) Direct aid to taxpayers. Controlling School District
Spending Allocating a Larger Share of State
Education Funding to our Local Schools Direct Aid to Taxpayers If you have not applied for the Homestead Exemption: Click here for more information in Bucks County Click here for more information in Montgomery County In 2006, my proposal expanded the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program that benefits the state's seniors, helping many stay in their homes. Most recently, in the Senate I have been working to pass the Senior Citizen Property Tax Freeze Act, legislation that would freeze property taxes at their current level for eligible senior citizens. School districts would be reimbursed for the lost tax revenue by the Commonwealth. For the Future August 31, 2009 - Senator Greenleaf discusses education funding
and property tax relief at a meeting at Upper Dublin High School. Reducing Crime and Cutting Costs Through Early Childhood Education and Intervention ProgramsDespite the ongoing ramifications of the recession, the Legislature was able to pass a $28 billion budget that reflects our current economic climate. Even though we were focused on closing this year's $1.1 billion deficit, the Legislature must look to reduce government spending in the long term. This is not always as simple as cutting costs and eliminating waste, though it is a good place to start. The fastest growing state departments are education, welfare, and corrections—budgets that cannot simply be cut. Investments in education are necessary and ongoing in order to ensure a competitive workforce and decent standard of living. However, unlike education, there is little return on the state's investments in welfare and corrections. A great portion of welfare spending goes towards federally mandated entitlement programs that cannot be eliminated. Corrections spending has skyrocketed in recent years due to 48 percent of released inmates returning to prison, and a high rate of non-violent drug crime. Welfare and corrections spending are not sustainable at their current rate of growth. We are already spending more on corrections than on higher education. While we cannot simply release inmates, or deny those who are dependent on public assistance, we must reach those who are at risk of becoming involved in both of these systems early in life. Research shows that early learning and intervention programs are highly effective at keeping at-risk children and youth on track. They are proven to reduce dependency on public assistance and involvement in the criminal justice system, reduce drug use, and increase high school graduation and college attendance. Many behavioral and learning problems can be identified early in a child's life and addressed before they have long term consequences such as truancy, delinquency, addiction, or violent behavior. The Pew Research Center reports that the number one predictor of behavioral problems is if a child cannot read by the third grade. The programs used are evidence based, meaning that they have been proven successful on a large scale with real life, measurable results. There are many programs that sound good, but are unproven, and a potential waste of time and money. A landmark study of the High/Scope Perry Preschool Program in Chicago tracked two groups of at-risk 3 and 4 year olds throughout their lives. By age 40, those who participated in the program were almost twice as likely to have earned an Associate's degree than those left out. By age 27, those at-risk children who had not attended the program were five times more likely to be chronic law breakers. Many programs do exist in Pennsylvania, but they are underutilized and underfunded. The state's current investment of $3,073 per child is well below the national cost of providing for high quality early learning programs which is $8,700 per child. The cost of high quality early learning programs is nominal compared to the $35,000 per year to house an inmate, also far less than the cost of public assistance. The non-profit organization, Fight Crime, Invest in Kids, estimates that one quarter of Pennsylvania's $1.8 billion Corrections Budget can be cut if early learning programs were fully funded—a savings of $450 million per year. While Pre-K Counts, Head Start, and other early learning programs have been working in Pennsylvania, thousands of eligible children are still denied access to early learning programs due to lack of funds. The federally-funded Head Start program for children in poverty serves only half of eligible children nationwide due to inadequate funding. Early Head Start serves about three percent of eligible infants and toddlers nationally. In Pennsylvania, state-funded pre-kindergarten programs like Pre-K Counts and state subsidized Head Start serve more than 60,000 at-risk Pennsylvania children from low-income families. That still leaves 65 percent of at-risk three- and four-year-olds who are not served according to Fight Crime, Invest in Kids. While it is effective, early education is only half the solution. Intervention programs are often needed for families in crisis with children at a greater risk of suffering life-long consequences as a result of their circumstances. While these children are often placed in foster care, some of Pennsylvania's foster placements have had poor success. Many children have lengthy stays in foster care, with multiple placements, often aging out of the system with little support from family or the community. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's Office of Children, Youth and Families is working to reverse the trend and train human services staff to keep children with their own families whenever possible. Their approach has been developed in conjunction with the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices. Plans for safely reducing the number of children in foster care are underway in 16 counties, which will hopefully be used as models for the rest of the state. The paradigm for dealing with families in crisis has changed dramatically over the years from a reliance on institutionalization to an acknowledgment that every family has assets. Professional counselors work to solve problems on a case by case basis, with a focus on keeping families together and bringing permanency to the lives of children. Special attention is given to meeting children's educational and emotional needs. They may address academic difficulties, truancy, or domestic violence and neglect at home. York County has experienced dramatic results using these principles. The county's child welfare system was reduced from 611 children in June, 2007 to 250 in June, 2010. The county has also been able to eliminate its juvenile detention facility, combining it with nearby Lancaster County. This is an enormous success, considering that a high percentage of all children involved in the child welfare system will end up in prison. Once allowed to languish in an institution, they rarely gain the skills necessary to function in society and resort to criminal behavior. According to county human services officials, many inmates are victims of some form of childhood abuse or neglect. The United States spends billions each year on neglect and abuse victims for special education, mental health treatment, juvenile justice, and the criminal justice system. This year's budget was certainly a challenge, but things will not be any easier in 2011. It is imperative that we begin to more aggressively implement evidence based programs that are proven to reduce the number of individuals that must be supported by the state or under its supervision. Not only can the state save money, but can realize a larger tax base and a more competitive workforce. It is better to invest in children early than spend millions of dollars on them over the course of their lifetime. As we look towards the next budget cycle, I will ask the Legislature to consider these findings and join me in supporting early education and intervention programs for children. Protecting Pennsylvania's Jobs and EconomyTwo years into the recession, economic recovery is still slow. The past two years have been among the most difficult for many local residents who have suffered the loss of a job or home. Today, it is critical that state government works to create a favorable environment for employers and consumers. My goals for bringing about economic recovery are 1.) Enacting sustainable state budgets that control spending with no broad based tax increases; 2.) Supporting emerging high technology industries; 3.) Provide a favorable environment for small businesses; 4.) Protect American business from the theft of intellectual property such as copyrights and patents; 5.) Prevent the hiring of undocumented workers through the E-verify system so more jobs are available for PA workers; 6.) Provide capital grants for projects that create local jobs. Enacting sustainable state budgets that control spending with no broad based tax increases The 2009 / 2010 state budget reduced spending by $467 million while maintaining services and programs without increasing the personal income tax or sales tax as some in Harrisburg proposed. The Legislature was faced with passing the 2010 / 2011 state budget with a $1.176 billion shortfall. Some had proposed a variety of new taxes such as an expansion of the state sales tax as a way to close the budget gap. These taxes would have only further strained family budgets and would have curbed consumer spending. I supported a spending plan with no broad based tax increases that was nearly revenue neutral with less than a one percent spending increase. These past two budgets have reflected the current economic climate, and are keeping Pennsylvania on a sustainable course. There are more creative and productive approaches to dealing with revenue shortfalls other than taxation. Supporting Emerging High Technology Industries Many of the careers of tomorrow will be in the high technology fields. High tech firms are attracted to Pennsylvania thanks to innovative state programs that are designed to provide the capital, infrastructure, and other resources to create high-paying, highly skilled technology jobs. Pennsylvania is home to some of the top university talent in the nation that leads research and development efforts in areas such as alternative energy and medical technology. Pennsylvania colleges and universities produce many of the new technologies that create new markets and jobs. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has created incentives for high technology businesses looking to expand or relocate to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology is one such statewide effort to make Pennsylvania a leader in nanotechnology research. Provide a favorable environment for small businesses Most new jobs in Pennsylvania are created by small businesses. Small businesses in Pennsylvania employ 49.98% of the state's private nonfarm workforce. The 234,540 small businesses in Pennsylvania produce over $77.4 billion in annual income, including benefits. It is important that we create an environment in which small businesses can thrive and continue to be the backbone of our economy. Avoiding broad based tax increases is critical to sustaining small businesses through a difficult economy. Also, legislation is now being considered in the Senate that would provide employers an alternative to layoffs. Senate Bill 1205 would allow employers who are facing the prospect of layoffs to implement a temporary shared-work program that would reduce employee hours and allow those employees to receive proportionate unemployment compensation benefits. We need to continue to partner with small businesses so they can continue to do business in Pennsylvania. Protect American business from the theft of intellectual property Intellectual property accounts for a great portion of the United States' economy, and is one of our most valuable assets. It is estimated that intellectual property crimes such as piracy and counterfeiting costs American business $250 billion each year and 750,000 lost jobs. Unfortunately, we are losing valuable assets because the United States is failing to enforce the laws that protect intellectual property such as copyrights and patents. Foreign competitors are getting away with stealing American ideas and reproducing our products. Laws are needed to better protect intellectual property beyond our borders and put Americans back to work. Prevent the hiring of undocumented workers Particularly during times of high unemployment, we must ensure that jobs are not awarded to undocumented workers. I support Senate legislation requiring the verification of all construction workers in Pennsylvania. The proposed Construction Project Verification of Employees Act would utilize E-Verify, a web-based system run jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration, which electronically verifies the employment eligibility of newly hired workers. Provide capital grants for projects that create local jobs Priority must be given to capital projects that create jobs and strengthen
the economy. As part of this year's budget package, a jobs bill was signed into
law that will invest $1.2 billion in the state's economy with the potential to
create 18,000 jobs. The legislation expands the Redevelopment Assistance
Capitol Program (RACP) which has supported nearly 1,000 projects and invested $4
billion into every region of the Commonwealth since 2004. The bill authorized a
$600 million investment by the state, and because of its match requirement, the
total investment will be $1.2 billion. I have supported several of these
projects in our local communities to create jobs and spur economic development.
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