Video from Monday's Capitol rally for Senator Folmer's SB 1182 The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act.

Senator Mike Folmer. A view from the right.

Senator Daylin Leach. And the left.

Representative Mike Vereb. And somewhere in between.

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A description of the bill.

From the Office of Senator Mike Folmer

Subject: The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act

In the near future, we will introduce legislation to allow physicians in Pennsylvania to recommend medicinal cannabis to patients who would medically benefit from such a treatment; 21 states and the District of Columbia already have similar laws.

Although we come from different perspectives, we both agree on the importance of helping those with medical challenges – especially children with seizure disorders who would benefit from a medicinal strain of cannabis. Some children suffer hundreds of seizures a day, making normal childhood development impossible and forcing parents to helplessly watch their children suffer. Prescribed narcotic cocktails of highly addictive and dangerous drugs have little effect on these disorder and often offer only a few weeks or months of pause in the decline of a child’s health.

A strain of cannabis very high in Cannabidiols (CBD), a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and very low in Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Called “Charlotte’s Web”, this strain has been used to treat disorders with dramatic results, as seen in this video showing the rapid, non-intoxicating, and free of side effects for children using this medicine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiShwotFJR8.

Our legislation would allow patients who have a recommendation from their doctor to purchase and use medical cannabis from licensed Care Centers. The entire process – from the growth of plants to the administration of the medicine to the patient – would be regulated and overseen by the Departments of Health and Agriculture. They will independently verify the system is secure and closed to those not in dire medical need. They will also rigorously test to ensure the cannabis used is of the type allowed under the law. We believe this will also produce health care savings by replacing high cost, high risk narcotics with a low cost, no side effect treatment – that is ingested and not smoked.

It is cruel and irrational to deny people medicine to help them feel better – especially when we routinely prescribe far more toxic medications for the same conditions. We hope you will join us in ensuring our sick friends and family members will have access to the best medicine available to relieve their pain and suffering. Thank you.

The Finance committee passed three bills Monday morning.

HB 2419.

From the Office of Majority Leader Mike Turzai.

Subject: Capital Facilities Debt Reduction Earlier this session, we passed legislation to reign in our debt spending by lowering the statutory debt ceiling on Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) by $600 million. In the near future, I will introduce legislation to continue this effort to control all of our capital debt obligations and annual debt service.

In Fiscal Year 2002-03 (the last fiscal year of the Ridge/Schweiker Administration), the Commonwealth’s General Obligation Debt (including non-highway capital facilities debt, voter approved debt and disaster relief debt) totaled about $6.5 billion and the annual debt service (the annual payment on our debt obligation) was $701 million. As you know, debt spending substantially increased during the Rendell Administration. An analysis of the Commonwealth’s General Obligation debt and debt service for the 11 years starting the year immediately prior to the Rendell Administration and ending with FY 2013-14 shows the following: Even though growth of our General Obligation debt slowed substantially under the Corbett Administration, our debt obligation for Fiscal Year 2013-14 is about $10.7 billion. That’s an increase of 64% in just 11 years since the beginning of the Rendell Administration.

Debt service increased by $400 million during this same timeframe to $1.1 billion this year. This is an increase of 52% since the beginning of the Rendell Administration.

This legislation amends the “Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act” to establish an annual spending limit on all types of projects under the “Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act.” Effective July 1, 2014, and each year thereafter, releases for new projects under the Act would be limited to the following:

Flood Control Projects would be capped at $25 million per year.

Highway Projects would be capped at $25 million in new projects per year.

RACP’s would be capped at $125 million per year in new projects.

Public Improvement Project annual spending could not exceed $350 million annually.

Transportation Assistance Project spending would be capped at $175 million per year.

This legislation also contains a carry-forward provision which allows any unused allocations for a project type (or half the amount allocated in that year whichever is less) to be carried forward to the next fiscal year. For example, if the administration released only $100 million in new RACP projects in a fiscal year, the remaining allocation ($25 million) could be carried forward. Similarly, if the administration did not release any projects in the Highway category (which has a $50 million annual cap), then $25 million could be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

These changes will decrease our debt load in real dollars – real dollars that could be better spent funding the core functions of government in these difficult economic times. I urge you to add your name to the list of cosponsors of this legislation.

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HB 2420.

From the Office of Finance Chair Kerry Benninghoff.

Subject: Further Reduction of Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects Debt Ceiling

Earlier this session, we passed legislation to reign in our debt spending by lowering the statutory debt ceiling on Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) by $600 million. In the near future, I will introduce legislation to continue this effort to control our capital debt obligations and annual debt service.

From 2002 through 2010, the statutory debt ceiling for RACP projects was increased five times. In 2002, the RACP debt ceiling was $1.45 billion. A short eight years later, that ceiling climbed to an astonishing $4.05 billion. Using an average inflationary rate during this same timeframe, the RACP debt ceiling should be about $2 billion.

During this same time frame, RACP project releases skyrocketed from an average of $245 million per year under the Ridge/Schweiker Administration to $547 million under the Rendell Administration. In his last year in office, Rendell released $1.025 billion in new projects. These projects are funded through borrowing – bonds amortized over a 20 year period.

In 2013, the debt ceiling was lowered to $3.45 billion. This legislation will further reduce the RACP debt ceiling by an additional $500,000,000. Beginning July 1, 2018 (the year in which the RACP debt under Rendell peaks), and each year thereafter, the debt ceiling would be lowered by $50 million increments until it reaches $2.95 billion (on July 1, 2027). These reductions will ensure that, as we to pay off the debt accumulated under the Rendell Administration, we maintain a leaner, more transparent, RACP program.

The rationale for this legislation is fairly simple: By limiting our borrowing, we decrease our debt load and debt service over time. As debt service decreases, our ability to fund core government services goes up.

I urge you to add your name to the list of cosponsors of this legislation.

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SB 1078.

From the Office of Senator Sean Wiley.

Subject: Amending the County Pension Law

In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that amends the County Pension Law (Act 96 of 1971) clarifying that when a county retirement board considers a cost-of-living adjustment the adjustment would not need to be calculated retroactively.

Currently some county retirement boards may be hesitant to approve a cost-of-living increase due to the understanding that an adjustment be retroactive to the previous approved cost-of-living increase. This retroactive effect has deterred some counties from approving a cost-of-living increase due to insufficient available funds.

My proposal would amend Act 96 to provide that a cost-of-living adjustment would not need to be retroactive since the time of the previous cost-of-living increase.

This legislation has already received the support of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), as well as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 13.

I hope you will consider joining these organizations and me in sponsoring this important legislation.

HB 2640 Introduced by Rep. Patty Kim was voted out of the Urban Affairs committee Monday morning, the bill would allow the city of Harrisburg to participate in the City Revitalization and Improvement Zones program (CRIZ)

Rep.Patty Kim A great economic development tool.

PRINTER'S NO. 4032 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL

2460 Session of 2014

INTRODUCED BY KIM, CLAY, ROZZI, V. BROWN, FREEMAN, McCARTER, J. HARRIS, McGEEHAN, DAVIDSON, HARHAI, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, SCHLOSSBERG, D. COSTA, FARINA, GILLESPIE, GRELL, COHEN, MURT AND CALTAGIRONE, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 AN ACT

1 Amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An

2 act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying

3 and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing

4 taxes thereon; providing procedures for the payment,

5 collection, administration and enforcement thereof; providing

6 for tax credits in certain cases; conferring powers and

7 imposing duties upon the Department of Revenue, certain

8 employers, fiduciaries, individuals, persons, corporations

9 and other entities; prescribing crimes, offenses and

10 penalties," in city revitalization and improvement zones,

11 further providing for definitions.

12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

13 hereby enacts as follows:

14 Section 1. The definition of "city" in section 1802-C of the

15 act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code

16 of 1971, added July 9, 2013 (P.L.270, No.52), is amended to

17 read:

18 Section 1802-C. Definitions.

19 The following words and phrases when used in this article

20 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

21 context clearly indicates otherwise:

1 ** *

2 "City." A city of the third class with a population of at

3 least 30,000 based on the most recent Federal decennial census.

4 The term shall not include a city that [has had], at the time an

5 application is submitted under section 1804-C(a) for a zone

6 within the city, the city is subject to a receiver appointed

7 under Chapter 7 of the act of July 10, 1987 (P.L.246, No.47),

8 known as the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act.

9 ** *

10 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

Photo/Natalie Cake file 2013