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Barrar Fights Corruption, Seeks Government ReformDuring my time in office I have always aimed to serve the people of the 160th District and the greater Commonwealth by supporting initiatives

that would return our government institutions to what they were intended to be a means to guarantee the people of Pennsylvania life, liberty andthe freedom to pursue happiness. I am disappointed that some public officials seem to have forgotten what the people elected them to do. Thatis why I am fighting corruption in all branches of government.

Recently, I introduced legislation calling for an investigation into the conduct of Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Willis W. Berry Jr. todetermine if he is liable to impeachment for misbehavior in office.

Berry admitted to running a private business from his taxpayer-funded office, using his taxpayer-funded staff. He was using his public office and

secretary to manage dozens of properties. Over a 10-year period, he was issued more than 70 citations by the City of Philadelphia for safety andcode violations. He also used his secretary to maintain tenant files, contact tenants, prepare lease agreements, file eviction complaints, appearat eviction proceedings, prepare advertisements for properties, and make utility payments and bank deposits.

he Court of Judicial Discipline found Berry to have violated the Pennsylvania Constitution by engaging in conduct so extreme that it bringsthe judicial office into disrepute. Despite the boards findings, former Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham decided not to prosecute the

judge for his conduct. Even the Philadelphia Bar Association is calling on Judge Berry to resign his post.am hopeful that if my resolution is adopted, it will not only bring Judge Berry to justice, but it will also send a message to other judges that this

type of behavior will not be tolerated. The people expect and deserve judges to be beyond reproach. Faith in our judicial system is a cornerstoneof civil society, and this judge, by his acknowledged actions, has shown his disregard for the publics interests.

f we are going to truly reform state government, we must certainly include the judicial branch in those reforms. When an officer of the court isinvolved in a breach of the public trust, there must be consequences.

Barrar Measure Would Assist Veterans AttendingPennsylvania Universities

Last spring, Rep. Barrar hosted a Veterans Benefits and ResourcesForum to honor those who have served by empowering them withvaluable information. Assisting the veterans who have preserved ourfreedom and democracy has been and will remain a priority for Barrar.

Barrar Takes On ACORNAs a watchdog for your tax dollars, it is my goal to ensure that state

funds are not allocated to organizations involved in alleged criminalactivity. That is why I am fighting to divest Pennsylvania funding in allforms from the Association of Community Organizations for ReformNow (ACORN).

n October, I fought to have language added to the budget that wouldprohibit organizations under indictment or that are subject to a Ceaseand Desist order from the Department of State, such as ACORN, from

receiving state funding. My amendment was approved by a vote of 157to 42, but was later stripped from the final bill that became law.will continue to fight for this measure that would ban any nonprofit

organization from receiving state funding if it:Is under indictment for violating any federal or state campaign financeor election law, including voter fraud.Fails to comply with federal or state lobbying requirements.Files a fraudulent form with any state or federal agency.Is the subject of a Cease and Desist order, as ACORN currentlyis, or any order from the Department of State to prohibit the solicitationof contributions.

n addition to my efforts to defund ACORN, I have also introducedHouse Resolution 426 to institute a formal request by the House of

Representatives for the state attorney general to investigate ACORN.Although the resolution was amended in committee by Rep. Mark

Cohen (D-Philadelphia) to highlight the many good works of theorganization and downplay its problems, I am still advocating for

this investigation. In fact, I have been in contact with the attorneygenerals office on several occasions to personally request the launchof an investigation into ACORNs actions and fundraising efforts inPennsylvania.

The legislation was added to the House calendar in January, and Iam hopeful it will come up for a vote soon. When it does, I will attemptto have the original language of the resolution reinstated.

At a hearing on House Resolution 426, Rep. Barrar discussed severalof the pending cases against ACORN in other states and its allegedcriminal activities in Pennsylvania.

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Governor Calls for Increased Spending,Taxes in Wake of 2009-10 Budget Fiasco

Spending:

Sales Tax Expansion:

What would be included in the governors sale tax proposal?

Budget Cuts

Budget Increases

Table Games Legalized in Pennsylvania,Despite Need for Further Reforms

As part of the 2009-10 budget negotiations, Pennsylvania haslegalized table gaming at slots parlors. The need for new revenuesources generated support for Senate Bill 711 (now Act 1 of 2010),but I believe the legislation does not go far enough to address severalconcerns with our current gaming laws.

I have long been a proponent of gaming reform and have proposed

legislation that would prohibit politicians from accepting contributions fromgambling interests. I believe doing so creates a conflict of interests, andmy legislation would impose penalties on any politician who knowinglyand intentionally accepts a campaign contribution from a casino owner orexecutive. Unfortunately, this and many other necessary improvementso our current gaming law were omitted from this bill.Another reason for my opposition to the table games legislation is its

disregard for Pennsylvania homeowners who are facing ever higherproperty taxes. I voted to allow slots parlors in 2004 because I believedin the need for property tax relief. Not only have homeowners not seen

he meaningful property tax relief they were promised, but this expansionof gambling provides them with no further immediate relief.

As written, the Property Tax Relief Fund will only start seeingdeposits from table gaming revenues after the Rainy Day Fundreaches a certain threshold. Considering the fact that the Rainy DayFund was completely exhausted this year, those deposits will likely

be a long time coming.Finally, in a year the Legislature passed a budget that did not

include WAMs, some legislators have found a way to hide money forheir pet projects in this bill, and I think it is a travesty. This legislationidentifies very specific earmarks, but this should not be the intendedpurpose of table games revenue. If we cannot provide all of themoney to homeowners for property tax relief, we should at leastsupplement the Property Tax Relief Fund with this revenue.

If you have any questions about Act 1 of 2010, contact myoffice.

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www SteveBarrar com

My offices get a lot of questions on issues that you too may wonder about, but you have never asked. As a feature of my newsletters, I am going to include a com-mon inquiry and provide you with the answer. Please feel free to contact my office with your questions for the Ask Steve section of my newsletter.

Question: Pennsylvania police officers, highway maintenance workers and tow truck operators are at great risk of being struck by oncoming vehicles in the perfor-mance of their jobs. Pennsylvania has a law requiring motorists to move over, but many people dont seem to know about it. How can we get the word out to keep thepeople who work along our roadways safe? Why doesnt PennDOT use its message boards to alert motorists?

Answer: Pennsylvanias Move Over Law requires drivers to move into the far lane, or slow down to a safe speed if they cannot move over, when they come upona situation on the side of the road. Failing to comply with the law could carry a fine of up to $250, which could be doubled if combined with offenses like speeding orreckless driving. The law extends extra protection to individuals acting in an official capacity, such as police officers, sheriffs, coroners, emergency service personnel,tow truck operators and hazmat response teams.

According to PennDOT, it does post Move Over Law messages on its electronic signs, but it varies the messages on an as needed basis. PennDOT has 200closed circuit cameras on interstate and limited access highways to monitor roadway safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it does turn the signs on withemergency messages as needed.

Thank you for your question. I am hopeful that it has helped bring about a greater awareness of this important roadway safety law.

Ask Steve

Barrar ReceivesRecognition By Local

OrganizationsIn March, Rep.B a r r a r w a s presented withthe William WikoffSmith Award by

the PhiladelphiaShip PreservationGuild. Picturedwith Barrar is ScottRickards, who wasalso recognizedby the guild forhis volunteer workaboard the tugboat Jupiter.

The PennsylvaniaDental Association(PDA) presentedRep. Barrar with the

Kay F. ThompsonO u t s t a n d i n g Legislator Award forhis efforts to improvethe ora l hea l thof Pennsylvaniaresidents. Wi thRep. Barrar is Dr.Thomas Gamba,

president of PDA.

Barrar ContinuesAdvocacy for Nurse

AnesthetistsAs the national health care debate has stagnated in Wash-

ington, D.C., I have continued to advocate for a measure thatwould reduce health care costs and increase access to care byextending the scope of practice for Certified Registered Nurse

Anesthetists (CRNA) practicing in Pennsylvania.As a leading co-sponsor of House Bill 1866, I believe in the

professionalism, education, and high level of skill necessary toearn the title CRNA, and I will continue to fight for this common-sense legislation until it becomes law.

Rep. Barrar spoke in support of Pennsylvanias Certified RegisteredNurse Anesthetists (CRNA) during a rally at the Capitol in January.Barrar, a leading co-sponsor and long-time advocate for HouseBill 1866, said he would continue to fight for the legislation thatwould extend the scope of practice for CRNAs.

Rep. Steve BarrarDISTRICT OFFICE: Willowbrook Shopping Center / 3358 Chichester Avenue, Suite 13 / Upper Chichester, PA 19061 / (610) 485-7606

HARRISBURG OFFICE: Room 18 East Wing / PO Box 202160 / Harrisburg, PA 17120-2160 / (717) 783-3038 / Fax: (717) 787-7604

PROUD TO SERVE YOU IN THE 160TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

State Tax Forms Available inBarrars District Office

With tax season just around the corner, I want to remind you that state tax forms are now available at my district offices. Stocked formsinclude the PA-40, corresponding schedules and instruction booklets, and the Property Tax/Rent Rebate form. As with the federal incometax, Pennsylvania state income taxes must be filed by April 15.

As a means to augment revenue collections for the state, Pennsylvania is offering tax amnesty from April 26 to June 18, for delinquenttaxpayers. Taxpayers who are delinquent for eligible taxes as of June 30, 2009, may apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue toparticipate in the program. Qualifying taxpayers will be required to file an amnesty return with the department and pay all delinquent taxes,along with 50 percent of the interest. All penalties for qualifying participants will be abated. Taxpayers will also be required to submit all unfiledtax returns and reports.

For more information about the tax amnesty program or to download tax forms online, visit www.revenue.state.pa.us.