Monday, April 13, 2009

Rep. Petri plans town hall meetings

HARRISBURG - Rep. Scott Petri (R-178) is planning a series of town hall meetings over the next few weeks to update citizens on the status of the state budget negotiations and to hear what is on the minds of the people in the 178th district.

Petri, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is actively involved in discussions over the state budget and is seeking to ensure that federal stimulus funding is going where it is needed most.

"I welcome the opportunity to speak with residents of the 178 th legislative district and provide them with up-to-date information about key legislation and budget issues," said Petri. "The current state of the economy has people worried; I want to hear about these concerns and explain what I am doing to help address them."

Petri's Town Hall meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursdays on the following dates:

- April 16 at Southampton Free Library, 947 Street Rd., Southampton.

- April 23 at Northampton Free Library, 25 Upper Holland Rd., Richboro.

- May 7 at Village Library of Wrightstown, 727 Penns Park Rd., Wrightstown.

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Rep. Petri: Proposed bills would develop new energy, create jobs

HARRISBURG -- Rep. Scott Petri (R-178) has introduced two bills to rebuild the state's ailing infrastructure and develop new sources of energy while creating family-sustaining jobs in the Commonwealth.

At a public hearing at the state Capitol, Petri said House Bills 1117 and 1118 would clear the way for private investment in an Energy Independence Bond program and an Infrastructure Bond program.

"The two programs will allow the state to obtain funds that will be used to address our 21 st century energy needs as well as address the deficiency in the Commonwealth's transportation networks," said Petri. "The infrastructure bond program will also include funding for water and sewer improvements, which many Pennsylvania communities need. This will all be accomplished without raising the tax burden on Pennsylvanians -- now or in the future."

In the current state of the economy, Petri said many citizens are feeling frustrated and powerless. However, he said, his plan would give citizens a direct stake in the Commonwealth's recovery by giving them the opportunity to invest in their own communities and in projects that affect them directly.

"Much like the U.S. Savings Bond program that offers a guaranteed rate of return, under my plan, citizens would have the opportunity to buy bonds at their local bank in modest $100 increments," Petri said. "The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) would administer the program, accept loan applications and set interest rates, as well as provide assistance in overseeing the projects funded by the two programs.

"My legislation will assist in growing our economy and will both save jobs and create new ones," said Petri. "With these privately invested funds, no outsourcing should be allowed."

To see Petri's legislation, visit www.RepPetri.com and click on "Rebuild PA."

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Rep. Scott Petri's State Capitol Roundup

A weekly summary of important events on Capitol Hill provided by Rep. Scott Petri (R-178).

Proposals to increase health care accessibility road blocked

Three Republican-sponsored proposals that would have helped the uninsured obtain quality and affordable health care services failed in the Democrat-controlled House. Reps. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks) and Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster), who chair the House Republican Policy Committee's Health Care Task Force, expressed frustration that commonsense solutions are being road blocked. The measures included proposals by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) to offer grants to health care facilities for upgrading equipment that would reduce medical errors; Rep. Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny) to retool the state's AdultBasic Program by applying sliding income scales to cover more of the uninsured; and Rep. Tom Killion (R-Delaware/Chester) to offer an affordable, basic insurance policy.

Lawmakers push for legislative oversight of federal stimulus funds

House Republican lawmakers gathered this week to call for legislative oversight over the acceptance and distribution of more than $9 billion in federal stimulus funds. House Bill 993, sponsored by Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester), would require the Legislature to approve all highway and transportation projects using stimulus funds. Additionally, Schroder is authoring House Resolution 165 to require the House and Senate to approve or reject stimulus money slated for Pennsylvania. Other measures include House Bill 991 from Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver) to create a stimulus oversight council and House Bill 992, authored by Reps. Tim Krieger (R-Westmoreland) and Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland), to require that state agencies show the Legislature how stimulus funds are intended to be spent before the money is distributed.

House Republicans unveil 'Energize PA' proposal to tap Marcellus Shale

House Republicans have unveiled a comprehensive alternative to the job smothering "severance tax" on natural gas proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell. The "Energize PA" plan would open 390,000 acres of state forest land to drilling during the next three years, providing at least $260 million per year for state and local governments as well as conservation districts. Drilling companies would pay a minimum of $2,000 per acre under the plan, a percentage of which would be used to address the state's growing budget deficit. The plan also has the potential to create 7,300 new private-sector jobs in the state's emerging Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling industry, a stark contrast from the 53,000 jobs estimated to be lost if Rendell's plan is implemented. The Marcellus Shale formation has been estimated to contain enough recoverable natural gas to supply the entire country for at least two years.

Legislation to require ignition interlocks for DUI offenders reintroduced

Legislation recently reintroduced by Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks) to require ignition interlocks on vehicles of first-time DUI offenders was the subject of discussion in the House Transportation Committee this week. If passed, offenders would be required to operate their vehicles with the interlock device for a minimum of six months. Depending on the individual's blood alcohol content at the time of arrest, the period could climb to a maximum of one year. In 2007 alone, there were more than 53,000 drunk driving arrests on Pennsylvania's roads. The Pennsylvania State Police estimate that 535 deaths were caused by drunk drivers in that year. Current law in Pennsylvania requires ignition interlock systems for only second-offense DUI convictions.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Rep Scott Petri: Contractors must register with state

HARRISBURG - State Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) is reminding local residents that as of July 1, all contractors doing more than $5,000 of home improvement work annually must be registered with the state.

In an effort to provide residents with better information when choosing a contractor, details of the contactors' registration will be placed on contracts, promotional materials and business cards so that consumers may use the information to reference a statewide database of complaints. All contracts require a list of the contractors they intend to hire for the job.

Every year, thousands of Pennsylvanians file consumer complaints about home improvement contractors who take money and fail to perform satisfactory construction or repairs. These complaints typically increase during the spring, when homeowners are more likely to hire contractors to perform various projects.

There are several things consumers should look out for to protect themselves from disreputable or fraudulent home improvement contractors.

Unsolicited, traveling contractors who come to a home and point out specific problems should be met with caution. If they arrive in an unmarked truck or van and refuse to provide proof of insurance or references, it is safe to say they are not reputable contractors.

Frequently, these scams begin with a claim to have just finished a job, and then offer a great deal on leftover material. They also employ high-pressure sales tactics like limited-time offers.

When hiring a contractor, homeowners should obtain a written contract that includes a start and finish date and a three-day right-to-cancel notice. Penalty clauses for late completion have also proven helpful in ensuring timely projects. Individuals should never sign a blank contract or hire a contractor that does not have a business card or local phone number and address. Also, final payments should be withheld until work is finished and homeowners are completely satisfied.

More information on the registration program and the complaints database is expected to be available in the near future as the attorney general's office continues with the program's implementation. For more information on consumer protection, or to file a complaint with the attorney general's office, forms are available online at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 1-800-441-2555.

For residential contractors who want to learn more about the new law, you can check out the attorney general's Web site. You may also visit Petri's district office at 95 Almshouse Rd., Suite 303, in Richboro for registration forms.

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