Pennsylvania has the largest full-time state legislatures in the country and one of the most expensive, burning through $300 million taxpayer dollars every year. Are Pennsylvania residents getting their money's worth from the 253 state lawmakers and their nearly 3,000 staffers? Not exactly. If the job of the legislature is to get bills signed into law, then taxpayers deserve a refund. A great big refund!

From a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

With 253 members, Pennsylvania boasts one of the largest full-time legislatures in the nation - and though its members keep busy churning out legislation, few of those bills actually become law.

Of 3,998 bills introduced in the House and Senate during the 2013-14 session, 369 bills became law, or 9.2 percent.

So far in this legislative session, which began in January of last year, just 149 of the 3,265 bills introduced have been enacted, or 4.6 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Legislative Data Processing Center.

Less than 10 percent of bills become law in Pennsylvania. Is that worth $300 million?

Read the full story at the newspaper's website.

By Pa. State Senator David G. Argall (R-29), Pa. State Senator Mike Folmer (R-48), Pa. State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11), Pa. State Senator John Yudichak (D-14)

Despite renewed special interest attacks at the capitol in Harrisburg, the fight for eliminating the unfair school property tax begun by 79 grassroots taxpayer groups across the state is making some real progress.

Across the 11 counties we represent, the number one question we hear at our town hall meetings is: When will the legislature eliminate school property taxes?

Last year, we introduced a similar proposal drafted by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations. The Senate Finance Committee held a public hearing on this proposal and we asked for a nonpartisan analysis of the bill to provide detailed funding projections. The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) identified several problems in the original proposal. Special interest groups have used the report as a weapon against our efforts but we view it as a roadmap to achieve true property tax reform and we have moved quickly to amend the bill.

Last year's proposal garnered 13 co-sponsors, or 26 percent of the total state Senate.  This year’s proposal, Senate Bill 76, corrects the defects in the original bill, as detailed in the 80-page analysis provided by the IFO.  Even more importantly, as a result of the grassroots efforts of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations this year, 22 Senators have now co-sponsored the bill – 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats – an increase of 9 Senators from last year. We continue to forge new coalitions and pick up support from all corners of the state. Groups like the Western Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayers, the Wilkes-Barre City Taxpayers Association, and the South Eastern Tax Reform Coalition are leading the charge to eliminate this tax.

The Senate and House Finance Committees have asked the IFO to complete an updated analysis of Senate Bill 76 in the next few months. The issue of funding public schools is a $13 billion problem and we welcome their nonpartisan, professional analysis to ensure we provide a dollar-for-dollar match for basic education.

In the last few months, because of growing grassroots efforts across the state, support for the bill has grown from 13 to 22 State Senators. The number we need to achieve in the Senate is 26 votes for passage, and then it heads over to the House of Representatives, where we need 102 votes. Representatives Jim Cox and Mark Gillen have discussed this proposal with the Governor, and he is on the record with them stating he would sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

We look forward to continuing our bipartisan fight to advance this issue.  In our local newspapers, we frequently read about the thousands of sheriff’s sales that occur each year across the state. We hear this fundamental principle every day, from Marietta all the way to West Pittston: No tax should have the power to leave you homeless.

Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-25), president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate, has announced committee chairmanship assignments for the Senate's 22 Senate Standing Committees.

"We are fortunate to have members from various backgrounds and regions across our Commonwealth who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Harrisburg," Scarnati said. "Membership of committees will be announced prior to the reconvening of the Senate on January 22, 2013."

Republicans still control the Senate, but they will have a smaller margin for the 2013-14 session. The GOP lost 3 Senate seats in the November election, making the party breakdown for the next two-year session, 27-23 in favor of Republicans. 

Senate Standing Committee Chair Assignments:

• Aging & Youth – Senator Bob Mensch (R-24)
• Agriculture & Rural Affairs – Senator Elder A. Vogel, Jr. (R-47)
• Appropriations – Senator Jake Corman (R-34)
• Banking & Insurance – Senator Don White (R-41)
• Communications & Technology – Senator Randy Vulakovich (R-40)
• Community, Economic & Recreational Development – Senator Kim L. Ward (R-39)
• Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure – Senator Robert M. Tomlinson (R-6)
• Education – Senator Mike Folmer (R-48)
• Environmental Resources & Energy – Senator Gene Yaw (R-23)
• Finance – Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36)
• Game & Fisheries – Senator Richard Alloway (R-33)
• Inter-governmental Operations – Senator-elect Scott E. Hutchinson (R-21)
• Judiciary – Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-12)
• Labor & Industry – Senator John R. Gordner (R-27)
• Law & Justice – Senator Charles T. McIlhinney, Jr. (R-10)
• Local Government – Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (R-30)
• Public Health & Welfare – Senator Patricia H. Vance (R-31)
• Rules & Executive Nominations – Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9)
• State Government – Senator Lloyd K. Smucker (R-13)
• Transportation – Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. (R-44)
• Urban Affairs & Housing – Senator David G. Argall (R-29)
• Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness – Senator Lisa Baker (R-20)

Politicians make promises to labor unions in return for votes and campaign contributions, but the money to fund lifetime pensions for union retirees eventually runs out.

Watch Pennsylvania taxpayers get screwed again. It doesn't help that voters continue to return the same members of the permanent political class to Harrisburg every election.

From a report in Bloomberg by Romy Varghese:

Pennsylvania's two public pensions face a combined shortfall of $41 billion, and their costs will consume 62 percent of fiscal 2014 revenue growth, according to a report from the state budget office.

The State Employees’ Retirement System has 65 percent of assets needed to cover projected liabilities, and the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System is 69 percent funded, the report said. The plans cover 817,000 people.

Read more about the pension time bomb in Bloomberg.

In the last-minute flurry before adjourning for the summer, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a resolution by State Rep. Tom Quigley to set up a committee to study property tax reform. It's not the same as approving HB 1776 to eliminate school property taxes, but at least the issue will be kept alive in Harrisburg.

PA State Rep. Tom Quigley - House Approves Quigley Plan to Study Property Tax Solution

Governor Corbett Signs House Bills into Law

State Rep. Jim Cox raises an interesting question of fairness in the way Pennsylvania funds public schools. The burden is carried primarily by property owners, but only 4 million of Pennsylvania's 12 million residents are property owners.

A fairer way to fund public education is a combination of a sales tax and income tax, argues Cox.

Cox: Property Tax Independence Act creates ‘fair way’ to tax

Homeowners Rally for Property Tax Replacement at State Capitol

David Baldinger, administrator of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, has issued the following press release on an upcoming rally at the State Capitol in Harrisburg for push for the elimination of property taxes in Pennsylvania:

Monday, May 7, is a critical date for the Property Tax Independence Act.  On that day prime sponsors Rep. Jim Cox and Sen. David Argall, other members of the General Assembly who support our efforts, and taxpayers from across Pennsylvania will gather in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg for a rally to declare our independence from the tyranny of property taxes.

What: Capitol Rally for Property Tax Independence
When: Monday, May 7
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: The State Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg

This event is tremendously important to our efforts.  We need to demonstrate to the Governor and to the Harrisburg lawmakers, in the most passionate manner possible, that we have had enough of ineffective property tax “relief” measures and that we will only settle for the complete elimination of this onerous and unfair tax through the enactment of House Bill 1776 and Senate Bill 1400, the Property Tax Independence Act.

If you believe in and support the total elimination of the school property tax through the Property Tax Independence Act your attendance at this rally is vital!

This will be a major media event that will help to publicize far and wide the news of the Property Tax Independence Act.  Masses of taxpayers will make a huge impression, so please make every effort to be present for this historic rally.  Bring your friends and neighbors, arrange car pools, spread the word as widely as possible, and do all you can to show your support.  A flyer promoting the rally that you can print to post or distribute is available at the link below.

Some groups in various areas of the state have arranged for bus transportation at reasonable rates.  The list of bus trips and the areas they serve are available on the PTCC website at www.ptcc.us/arc042312.htm

We absolutely need you to attend!  Feel free to bring signs, too, but be sure to not attach them to sticks – they’re not allowed in the Capitol.

Join the letter-writing campaign to eliminate Pennsylvania property taxes.

Voice your support for property tax reform

Voters in Lehigh and Berks counties should be aware that the Planned Parenthood abortion-on-demand lobby is spending heavily to influence a state legislative race in an attempt to intimidate anti-abortion candidates.

Voters should be concerned that out-of-state special interests are running a propaganda campaign to prevent the Legislature from enacting tighter controls over abortions in Pennsylvania in the wake of the Philadelphia abortion clinic scandal.

Republican Ryan Mackenzie is the reform candidate for the 134th House District seat formerly held by Rep. Doug Reichley.

For more on Planned Parenthood's campaign, see Politico.com

For more information about Ryan Mackenzie, check out his campaign website, http://ryanforpa.com/

Tired of the lack of accomplishments by Pennsylvania lawmakers? Voters have themselves to blame.

If you're wondering why nothing changes in Harrisburg, here's an interesting fact reported by The Associated Press: 10 state senators and 85 state representatives face no opposition in the April 24 primary election, and the other 133 districts will in most cases be contested only in November. Just four sitting senators and 28 incumbent representatives have an opponent in the primary.

In Pa. legislative primary, good year for incumbents

Pennsylvania taxpayers need to get behind House Bill 1776 if they want to see school property taxes eliminated.

Voice your support for property tax reform

Lawmaker Apologizes For Voting For Bible Resolution - Video - WGAL The Susquehanna Valley

After 38 years, Pennsylvania State Rep. Camille "Bud" George has announced he will not seek a 20th term in the House.

George is the latest career politician to call it quits this year as the exodus from the Legislature continues.

George, 84, a Democrat, has represented Clearfield County in the state Legislature since Gerald Ford was in the White House.

George can now enjoy a lifetime pension (courtesy of Pennsylvania taxpayers) that could approach $100,000 a year.

Clearfield County lawmaker calling it quits after 19 terms

Lawmakers: Time right to revisit pay raise - Omaha.com

It's difficult to keep your nose clean when you're in politics this long.

Longest-serving Pennsylvania lawmaker goes on trial