Welcome to “Mike’s Memo,”
an update on what’s happening in the 48th Legislative District, the State Capitol, and the progress on my "Promise to
Pennsylvania,” a pledge to advance government reforms, enact meaningful lawsuit abuse reform, eliminate wasteful state
spending, and cut taxes. If you haven’t done so already, please take a few moments to visit my website at www.senatorfolmer.com
<http://www.senatorfolmer.com/> to learn more about issues that may affect
you and your family.
- Senator Mike -
Week of January 26, 2009
Report Proves Need for Reform
Auditor General Jack Wagner recently released a report <http://www.senaterepublicannews.com/news/archived/2009/StateCarsAudit.pdf> on the Department of General Services’ (DGS) management of state’s 16,637
fleet vehicles, which details the current system’s lack of accountability to Pennsylvania taxpayers. According to the report, “DGS
did not have mileage totals for all employees, much less a breakdown in miles driven for official use versus personal use.”
The report also indicated that DGS could not provide “sufficient, appropriate, and verifiable audit evidence to show
how state cars were assigned and used.” Perhaps the most staggering finding in the report is the fact that the lack
of central management of the state fleet costs taxpayers approximately $72 million a year!
This scathing report demonstrates an appalling disregard for taxpayers. More importantly, it proves the need for reform
and transparency in the management of state vehicles. Clearly, the time is right
to enact my Senate Bill 104 (formerly Senate Bill 1499 <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2007&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=1499> of the 2007-2008 Session), which would put common-sense restrictions on the use of
state vehicles and establish a much more transparent reporting system. Specifically,
the bill would:
*
Require employees assigned the use of a state vehicle to drive 1,200 miles or more per month on average on official
business (excluding travel to and from work);
*
Require state employees using a state vehicle to maintain a monthly mileage log;
*
Require DGS to post logs online with the employee’s name, his/her department, and the vehicle make and model;
*
Require state employees assigned a state vehicle to reimburse the Commonwealth for insurance and gasoline for personal
use; and
*
Require assigned vehicles to bear an “official use” license plate (unless the employee performs undercover
law enforcement duties).
Given the Auditor General’s report, we need to look for ways to strengthen my bill so we can establish strong
leadership in the way state vehicles are managed, establish more accountability, and better protect taxpayers’ interests
and dollars. Inaction simply cannot be tolerated.
Education Hearing Focuses on Improving
School Safety
The Senate Education Committee, of which I am a member, will hold a public hearing this Wednesday on improving safety
in Pennsylvania schools.
The hearing will be used to gather information on Senate Bill 55 <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0055>
, strengthening and expanding criminal background checks for public school employees, and Senate Bill 56 <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0056>
, expanding the duties of the Office for Safe Schools.
For more information on these issues
or other legislative and state topics, or if you are unable to open the bill links, visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly
website at www.legis.state.pa.us <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/> .
Please feel free to contact me at
any time on state-related issues that are of concern to you. I may be reached
through e-mail at mfolmer@pasen.gov, my website <http://www.senatorfolmer.com/connect.htm> , or any one of my offices
listed below.
Mike Folmer
