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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Volunteer Emergency Responder Law Celebrated
Last week, I participated in a ceremonial bill signing of my legislation to authorize local municipalities to enact earned income and property tax liability tax credits for active volunteers of a fire company or emergency medical service (EMS) company. Act 172 of 2016 gives municipalities the authority to offer active volunteers a tax credit of up to 20 percent of their tax liability. This new law is just a small way to say thank you to our volunteer emergency responders.
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Warner’s Bill to Base Budget Decisions on Performance Passes House
To help ensure tax dollars are used to their maximum benefit, the House passed my legislation, which would require performance-based budgeting. This type of budgeting uses performance matrices to determine whether each state department has met its goals and objectives, and bases future budget allocations on what was accomplished with the dollars given. Budget requests would include itemized expenditures for all activities required by state and federal statutes at minimum and current levels. This is another effort by the House to stand up for taxpayers and reinvent the way state government operates. House Bill 410 now goes to the Senate for review.
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House OKs Pension Changes for New Employees
In a major step forward in the effort to reform the state’s public pension systems, the House last week passed legislation that aims to slow the growth of pension liabilities, shift risk away from taxpayers and ensure the Commonwealth can meet its future pension obligations. Senate Bill 1, which received bipartisan support, establishes three new public pension plans from which state employees and teachers hired in 2019 or later can choose. Each offers a defined contribution component, similar to a 401(k) commonly offered to workers in the private sector. The plans provide future employees with retirement security and portability while also protecting taxpayers. Current employees will have the opportunity to opt in to a new plan or continue in their current plan, and retirees will not see any changes to their plans. I declined to become a member of the state pension system when I was elected. The governor is expected to sign the measure. For more information, click here.
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Tax Amnesty Ends June 19
Taxpayers who owe state taxes only have a few more days to take advantage of the latest tax amnesty period. The program, which offers incentives to Pennsylvanians to settle their delinquent tax accounts, is expected to generate as much as $150 million in revenue for the Commonwealth. The program does not “forgive” taxes owed but instead waives penalties, collection and lien fees, and half of the interest owed. All taxes owed to the Commonwealth administered by the Department of Revenue are eligible for the program. The delinquent taxes must have been owed as of Dec. 31, 2015. Any unpaid taxes, penalties and interest resulting from periods after Dec. 31, 2015, are not eligible for the program. The amnesty period runs until June 19, 2017. More information is available at revenue.pa.gov. For a video explaining the program, click here.
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Out and About!
Recently, I sponsored a Seniors for Safe Driving Seminar at the Connellsville Senior Center. Participants of the refresher course on driving skills received a certificate for at least 5 percent off their automobile insurance for three years. Thank you to all who attended.
In early June, I hosted the House Majority Policy Committee at Penn State Fayette for a hearing on welfare reform efforts in the Commonwealth. Topics included qualification and access to programs, as well as tackling waste, fraud and abuse. Soon I will be introducing legislation to bring further accountability to welfare by requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to develop electronic controls, oversight mechanisms, and follow-up procedures to detect and track fraudulent uses of electronic benefit transfer cards. Thank you to all of the testifiers and representatives from across the state who attended.
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| Office Locations |
| Capitol Office: Room B-11, Main Capitol Building, PO Box 202052, Harrisburg PA 17120-2052 | (717) 787-1540 |
| District Office: 1040 Eberly Way, Suite 250, Lemont Furnace, PA 15456 I Phone: (724) 437-1105 |
| Email: rwarner@pahousegop.com |
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