State Representative Keith Gillespie

PRSRT STD
47th Legislative District U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
Summer 2010 PERMIT NO. 432

Gillespie to Host Town Hall Meetings

Dear Friends:
As summer draws to a
close, I hope this finds you and
your family doing well and in
great health.
We are starting a fiscal
year on the heels of a budget
season that lasted significantly
shorter than its predecessor.
I voted against the budget
because once again excess
spending, expansion of various
programs and increased
borrowing in these turbulent,
economic times was blatently
apparent. As you do in your
own homes and with your
budgets in tough times,
Pennsylvania must do the
same.
In this newsletter, you will
find the results of our most
recent survey, as well as details
of several upcoming events
that I hope you will consider
attending.
Thank you for reading my
newsletter, as well as for the
honor of representing the
residents of the 47th legislative
district. It is a privilege that I
do not take for granted.
Sincerely,
On Thursday, Oct. 14, I will be hosting a series of town hall
meetings.....
• Manchester Township building - 3200 Farmtrail Road, York,
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Springettsbury Township building – 1501 Mount Zion Road,
York, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• East Manchester Township building – 5080 North Sherman
Street Ext., Mount Wolf, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We hope you can join us to take part in any or all of these
discussions that day.
York County House Members to Honor
Vietnam Veterans
Members of the York County
delegation to the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives are
planning a ceremony to honor
Vietnam War and Era veterans.
The event will be held at 1 p.m.,
on Thursday, Oct. 7, in the Toyota
Arena on the York Fairgrounds.
If you are a Vietnam War and
Era veteran or know someone
(living or deceased) who is,
please contact my district office
at (717) 840-4711 to submit the
veteran’s name. You may also
register a veteran through my
website, RepGillespie.com.
You must be registered to
attend the event.

District Office: 4188 Lincoln Highway, Suite B / York PA 17406 Phone: (717) 840-4711
Harrisburg Office: PO Box 202047, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2047 Phone: (717) 705-7167
website: RepGillespie.com
 Gillespie Budget Vote Favors Sound Fiscal Practices
While I applaud my colleagues for passing a budget in a time frame significantly more responsible than
last year, I could not support this year’s budget due to its three main shortcomings.
First, it spends more money than last year’s budget, even though the state’s coffers cannot support that
level of spending. This plan again relies on increased debt and one-time transfers as opposed to setting
responsible priorities.
Second, the budget’s passing was contingent on $850 million in federal money that we now know we
will not be receiving in its entirety. The more than $280 million shortfall will lead to unnecessary cuts and
potential job losses that could be avoided through better use of existing funds. Passing a budget based
on “hope” would be similar to making plans for a lavish spending spree that is predicated on winning the
lottery. State government needs to set a better example in using “existing” revenue streams, not “potential”
ones.
Third, it sets poor priorities by restoring walking around money or “WAM’s” to state government while
cutting many more important items. I don’t think it’s appropriate during this economy because other higher
priorities are not being met and people are continually calling for less spending.
While in office, my record has favored the hard-working Pennsylvania taxpayer and opposed the reckless
spending that has been a hallmark of this administration. My budget vote reflects that philosophy.

Gillespie Asks Rendell to Eliminate WAMs

Earlier this month, I was among 26 House members to sign a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell, asking him to
remove discretionary grant programs, often referred to as WAMs, from the state budget. The letter was
generated in reaction to Pennsylvania receiving less Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) funding
than was originally anticipated.
You have undoubtedly read and heard of the millions of dollars that were allocated for libraries for
deceased or retiring members of Congress as well as other areas that most folks have an issue with funding
particularly in these economic times.

Relieving the Burden of Property Tax

Not a day goes by that my office does not receive a letter, e-mail or telephone call expressing discontent
with Pennsylvania’s system of property taxes. The topic remains the number one issue on the minds of
constituents throughout the 47th Legislative District.
York County members in the General Assembly realize the burden placed on our citizens, and as a group
have been the most outspoken opponents of property taxes. Unfortunately, our collective voice has fallen on
predominately deaf ears in the General Assembly.
Hard as it is to believe, property taxes are not regarded as a major problem in many parts of the state.
People who reside in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania’s northern tier have concerns other than
property taxes. Further evidence of that is House Bill 1275, authored by state Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks),
where a mere 35 out of 203 House members signed on as cosponsors of the bill, commonly referred to as
the Property Tax Elimination Act.
With Rep. Rohrer retiring from office at the end of this term, someone will have to step forward and
carry the banner for the effort to address property tax relief. I will step into the breach and sponsor
legislation similar to HB1275.
York County continues to be a rapidly growing area of the state. Unfortunately, with the manner in which
we support our schools, this has become a tremendous liability. When it comes to funding education, we
stopped counting students back in 1991. As a result, growth areas such as southcentral Pennsylvania get
treated the same as areas of the state where population is declining, thus penalizing us for essentially being
an attractive place to live.
We need to undo the mistakes made in 1991. As a delegation, we fought for the costing-out study as a
step toward a fairer method of addressing Pennsylvania’s education needs. We are doing our best to keep
that ball moving forward, with the goal being more equitable use of school taxes to support schools and less
reliance on property taxes that have penalized our residents for the growth we have realized as a region.
I believe my bill will garner additional support as it addresses areas where the Rohrer legislation met
objections. I look forward to introducing it to my colleagues in the General Assembly.

F i n d o u t w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e 4 7 th
 os t
to H
y l o r
, S a p o
s i e
p ior E x
l l e
Gi Sen an Sayilllobe
r
p . St I w enior m.,
t e Re ) and ual S 10 a. ent
Sta d Lion r annm. to t Adv st
e u . a a
(R-Rsting oom 8 act. 22,1775 E
ho po fr ay, O rch, rk. d d
Ex Frid n Chu t, Yo riente d an
I recently welcomed members of the York Twinning on thera Stree ior-o n han ble.
Association to the state Capitol. The group included Lu arket y sen be o vaila with re
representatives from Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, M Man will l be a ister befo ur
with whom York has a sister city arrangement.
n d orsts wil e-reg on or rve yoto
ve sho st pr ffice rese ber ith
flu u mu rict o 15 to mem rd w
Thank you for your opinion! Yo y dist Oct. ase reare ca
m iday, . Ple edic
In order to better serve you in Harrisburg, I distributed a survey Fr shot our M
earlier this year. My office received more than 1,000 responses. flu ing y
Thank you for taking the time to either mail back the survey or answer br .
the questions online. you
Here are the questions we asked, as well as a tabulation of the results:

1)- Government is attempting to promote the selling of beer (six-packs) in supermarkets and convenience
stores. Do you support this policy?
Yes- 55% No- 38% Undecided- 7%
2)- Pennsylvania remains the only state in the nation that does not tax smokeless tobacco and is one of
only two states that does not tax cigars. Would you be in favor of the governor’s plan to tax these
products at 30 percent of their wholesale value?
Yes- 80% No- 17% Undecided- 3%
3)- A casino license could be offered to a group of investors a few miles from historic Gettysburg National
Park in Adams County. Do you support a referendum allowing the citizens of Adams County to vote
on this issue?
Yes- 77% No- 17% Undecided- 5%
4)- The governor is proposing a tax on natural gas extracted from the Marcellus shale. Opponents prefer
a land leasing deal with the revenues to be divided among the state, local governments and
conservation districts. Which do you prefer?
Extraction tax- 25% Leasing of land- 69% Skipped- 6%
5)- The major spending increases in the governor’s budget proposal occur in basic education, public
welfare, corrections and debt service. Which of these areas do you feel does NOT deserve an increase in
funding?
Basic education- 14% Public welfare- 38% Corrections- 24% Debt service- 21%
6)- Would you favor a proposal that would require Pennsylvania residents to prove their U.S. citizenship
before collecting state benefits such as Medicaid, welfare and in-state college tuition?
Yes- 94% No- 4% Undecided- 2%
7)- In addition to addressing property tax relief, which two of the following issues do you believe should be
the top priorities for the state Legislature?
Bringing jobs & business to the state- 25% Holding down the growth of state spending- 27%
Controlling the cost of health care & prescription drugs- 14% Improving roads, bridges & highways- 9%
Protecting the environment & preserving open space- 7% Welfare reform- 12% Other- 6%

legislative district at RepGillespie.com

 Gillespie Amendment Key Cell Phone Legislation
to Passage of Corruption of Update
Minors Legislation I think we can all agree that distracted driving is a
problem in our society. With that in mind, I voted in
Senate Bill 260, authored by state Sen. Lisa
favor of House Bill 67 when it first came to the floor in
Baker (R-Luzerne), states that Pennsylvania’s
April of last year. The bill prohibits use of
district attorney has the authority to investigate
interactive wireless communication devices
and institute charges for sexual abuse in the county
by junior drivers or those with a learner’s
and our attorney general shall have the separate
permit. Additionally, it prohibits a junior
authority to investigate and institute charges of
driver from driving with more than one
sexual abuse when the offense or series of offenses
passenger under age 18 for the first six
has occurred in more than one county or a county
months of licensure unless the
of the Commonwealth and another state. The bill
individuals are members of the
currently sits with the House Rules Committee.
driver’s immediate family, and three
In May, the House first took the bill into
passengers after the first six months
consideration, and passed it unanimously, having
unless members of the driver’s
toughened it thanks to an amendment I offered. My
immediate family.
amendment upgraded the offense of corruption of
The House passed the bill to the Senate,
minors to a felony of the third degree. I appreciate
which amended it by downgrading the violation
my House colleagues’ agreement with my opinion
to a secondary offense. When asked to concur in
that the bill needed more “teeth” and unanimously
the amendments, the vote was 126-71 against
concurring with my suggestion.
concurrence. Those of us who voted in the negative
I consider mistreatment of our children by this
did so because we believe the bill should be subject
course of conduct, often referred to as “grooming,”
to primary enforcement.
to be a serious problem in this day and age. As we
Our hope now is that a conference committee
approach the end of session, I will be vigorously
takes up the legislation prior to the end of session.
working to bring this legislation up for a final vote
and hopefully sent to the governor for his signature.
New Website Available for
Electric Customers
Pennsylvania consumers who are shopping
for a competitive electric generation supplier
can now access a Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission (PUC) website which offers a
one-stop shop for residential, commercial and
industrial customers.
The website includes information about
electric shopping, what it is, how to shop and
SAVE THE DAT H E D A T E!!!! which suppliers are available, as well as the
E!!!! SAVE T wn Hall PUC’s list of competing suppliers and the Office
Senior Expo To of Consumer Advocate’s Shopping Guide pricing
Oct. 14 s
Meeting ster
8 a.m. to 10 a information. A zip-code search feature is also
.m. available so consumers can see all suppliers and
Friday, Oct. 22 . – M a nche
9 a. m offers serving a given area.
lding
Advent Luther
an Twp. bui ttsbury Please visit my website, RepGillespie.com,
Church, 1775
East . m . – S pringe and click on Shopping for Electricity for a link
Market Street, 1p lding to the PUC website and further information
York Twp. bui chester about electric rate information. Anyone without
E a s t M a n internet access may call my district office at
7 p.m. – lding
Flu shots avail Twp. bui
(717) 840-4711 for assistance with shopping for
able electric rates.

Deadline to Apply for Property Tax/Rent

Rebate Program Extended
The deadline to apply for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for 2009 is being
extended to December 31, 2010. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years
or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with disabilities.
Please contact my district office at (717) 840-4711 for more information.