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Dear Friend, In an effort to keep you informed about state and local issues, I have developed this e-newsletter, which I will be sending out to residents of the 34th District. I think it is a fast, convenient and affordable way to get news out to area residents. I hope you find this e-newsletter useful and informative - and if you know of someone else who would like to receive it, please feel free to forward this email. I invite you to visit my website www.jakecorman.com for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of the page. If you would like to contact my office, please go to my website and click on the "contact me button". Please do not "reply" directly to this e-mail. Senate Approves Fiscally Responsible State Budget Increases education funding over Governor's proposal, holds line on taxes For the first time in eight years, Pennsylvania has a budget that was passed on time, includes no "gimmicks" and does not increase taxes. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am proud we were able to meet our constitutional deadline and pass a responsible and affordable budget that addresses basic needs without imposing any additional tax burdens on families or business. House Bill 1485, as amended in the Senate, represents a $1.1 billion reduction in spending from the current budget and does not increase taxes. The measure increases basic education spending by more than $250 million from Gov. Corbett's request, and provides substantial increases in funding for higher education over the Governor's original request. Funding for Pennsylvania's 14 State System of Higher Education universities is increased by $180 million over the Governor's proposal while funding for the four state-related schools (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Lincoln) is increased by $224 million. Working with the Administration we identified additional areas in the Department of Public Welfare where increased efficiency would provide significant savings. Additional savings were found in the Department of Corrections budget, including a reduction from the Governor's initial request for inmate health care. This budget opts to cut spending over increasing taxes. I strongly support that philosophy of fiscal restraint. We simply cannot tax our way to economic stability and prosperity. That can only come by reducing the tax burden on families and employers. We must stop the expansion of government bureaucracy at all levels and take every step possible to rebuild our economy and promote job growth. For more on the state budget, please visit my website. Governor Signs Senator Corman's Lawsuit Reform Legislation
In late June, Gov. Corbett signed into law legislation I sponsored to restore fairness to the judicial system by reforming the application of joint and several liability. The legislation passed both chambers with bi-partisan support. Known as the "Fair Share Act," the legislation is based on the premise that a defendant should only be responsible for paying his or her fair share of damages in a civil case. Our civil justice system is not supposed to be used as a lottery – it should be based on fairness, common sense and responsibility. The current system allows for abuse that has a significant impact on every individual in Pennsylvania through higher costs and lower economic opportunity. Under the joint and several system, defendants found liable in a civil suit could be required to pay the full verdict, even if they are minimally responsible. Act 17 of 2011 reforms the tort doctrine by disallowing joint liability in cases where a defendant is less than 60 percent legally responsible. Pennsylvania is one of nine states, and the District of Columbia, that had not passed this measure of lawsuit reform. This is a big step forward to helping employers in our state remain viable and bringing new jobs and opportunity to our state. Reforming the joint and several liability system in Pennsylvania provides fairness and predictability. Defendants in civil cases should be assessed according to their level of responsibility, not by how deep their pockets are. This legislation is long overdue. In 2002, the Fair Share Act was signed into law only to be struck down on a procedural court challenge. It was passed again in 2005, but was vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell. Castle Doctrine Expansion Legislation Signed into Law Law-abiding gun owners would have new protections under a new law that expands the Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania. The new law protects gun owners who act in self-defense by removing the "duty to retreat" clause when an individual is threatened by an attacker in any place that individual has a right to be, including their home or vehicle. The law also provides important protections against criminal prosecution or civil litigation for those who act in self-defense. Under Act 10 of 2011, an individual would need to demonstrate a reasonable belief that he or she was in imminent danger in order to use lethal force. The legislation ensures that the Castle Doctrine applies only to individuals who legally possess a firearm, and the legal protection for gun owners does not apply if used against a police officer. Law-abiding citizens should not have to fear prosecution when they protect themselves and their families from criminals. This measure will ensure that their Second Amendment rights are preserved. The General Assembly passed legislation expanding the Castle Doctrine in 2010 by an overwhelming margin, but then-Governor Rendell vetoed the bill. Corman Bill Providing Birth Certificates in Cases of Stillbirth Set to Become Law The Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously passed legislation which I sponsored to allow a parent to request a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth" from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The bill is now awaiting the Governor's signature. This issue was brought to my attention by a resident of my senatorial district, and I am proud that we were able to pass this bill out of the General Assembly. Stillbirths are a tragedy for parents, and often times they feel no sense of closure or healing because there is no documentation of their child's birth. Senate Bill 326 would provide parents with documentation when a child is stillborn, which can help families through the grieving and healing process. At least 28 other states have adopted similar legislation. At the option of the parent, the name of the child, names of the parents and birth place can be included on the certificate. The cost of a certificate would be covered by the parent and would be the same as a death certificate. The Governor is expected to sign this legislation, which will take effect in 60 days. |
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