Appropriations Committee begins 2008-09 Budget Hearings

Panel reviews department spending plans

The Senate Appropriations Committee wrapped up its first week of hearings on the state budget for the 2008-09 Fiscal Year, according to Senator Bob Regola (R-39), a member of the committee.  The Appropriations Committee heard detailed reports from several cabinet secretaries over the four-day period from February 25^th through February 29^th.

On Monday, the Committee heard from the Auditor General’s Office, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of State and the Office of the Budget.

During the hearing with the Department of State, Sen. Regola asked why the Department, which oversees the administration of elections, why it is opposed to strengthening the requirements for voter identification.  Secretary Pedro Cortés said that he believes that the current system of checking signatures is sufficient to prevent voter fraud.

In the hearing with Budget Secretary Michael Masch, Sen. Regola stated that General Fund expenses under Governor Rendell have outpaced increases in personal income.  He asked Secretary Masch, “How difficult would it be to live within the 3.29 percent (spending) limit set by the Taxpayer Protection Act?”  Sen. Regola is the prime sponsor of the legislation that would limit spending increases, through a constitutional amendment.

            Senator Regola also noted that while the spending increase is now at 4.2 percent for FY 2008-09, the figure could go higher since the Governor again -- as he has done in previous budgets -- cut vital state support for many important programs with the expectation that the Legislature would restore the funding.

During Tuesday’s budget hearing with the Department of Labor and Industry, Senator Regola requested a cost analysis of the Uniform Construction Code.  Acting Labor Secretary Sandi Vito told said that she would work with the Senator on his concerns about the Code.

Other budget hearings on Tuesday included the Department of Insurance; the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; and, Pennsylvania’s State-Related Universities (Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln).

During the budget hearing with Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario, Sen. Regola noted that the Governor is patterning his universal health care scheme after similar programs in California and Massachusetts.  Sen. Regola asked if the Governor would follow the example of those states and exempt small employers from state mandates for the coverage.  Sen. Regola also urged the Administration to work with the Legislature to provide state oversight on the proposed merger of Highmark and Independence Blue Cross merger to ensure competition in the market.

Budget hearings on Wednesday included sessions with Attorney General Tom Corbett, the State System of Higher Education, the state employees and school retirees system, and the  Gaming Control Board.  Sen. Regola commended General Corbett for requesting an overall funding increase less than the rate of inflation.  Sen. Regola also wanted to know how the Governor’s budget would affect the Attorney General’s efforts to crack down on illegal drugs.

The week’s budget hearings concluded on Thursday with sessions focusing on the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and Department of Corrections.

Noting that about 14 percent (6,000) of the 46,000 state inmates are convicted sex offenders, Senator Regola asked Secretary of Corrections Jeffrey Beard what treatments are provided to those convicts and their recidivism rate.  Senator Regola is the prime sponsor of legislation that would provide for the chemical treatment of sex offenders who commit their crime on a child victim who is under 16 years of age.  

Complete coverage of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s budget hearings, including audio and video, is available at www.pasenategop.com

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Contact:  Nate Silcox             (717) 787-6063