Welcome to another edition of Northeast Notes! For years, I’ve provided constituents with a variety of information on my website. It’s a quick an effective one-stop shop for the latest news in Harrisburg, state services and local announcements. Now, I’m expanding my accessibility on the Internet.

I have a fan page on Facebook, where you can connect with me and learn more about what I’m doing in Harrisburg and the Northeast. If you’re on Facebook, just search “Senator Mike Stack.” You can also follow me on Twitter@SenMikeStack.

I’m always looking for new ways to stay in touch with my constituents. I look forward to seeing you online!

Budget Negotiations Continue In August

Last week, Governor Rendell signed a stop-gap budget to pay state workers while a budget is negotiated. It’s a good step, but more needs to be done to get a budget agreement.

Unfortunately, Democrats and Republicans have opposing views on how to fill our $3.3 billion deficit. The Republicans, who control the Senate, claim that the budget can be balanced through cuts alone. Democrats, who control the House, argue that some form of new revenue is needed to balance the budget and maintain many important state programs and services.

We have gone back and forth with various plans, but it seems that both sides are holding firm.

Because budget legislation has stalled, the legislature organized a conference committee. The committee is chosen by leaders of the Senate and House. They have chosen six members to represent them in the conference committee. Hopefully, these six legislators will soon craft a compromise that all sides can agree on.

Regrettably, citizens are already feeling the impact of the budget impasse. Thousands of state workers missed paychecks. Veterans homes aren’t admitting new residents. Numerous advocates are visiting the capitol and rallying for funding.

My offices have been flooded with calls from concerned constituents who are worried that their hospitals, libraries, early education programs, special needs programs and other various services could be jeopardized under various budget proposals.

Although this budget season is uniquely difficult this year, we must come up with a plan soon. There are a few solid ways to generate more revenue, including tapping our Rainy Day reserves, closing the so-called Delaware Corporate tax loophole and offering a tax amnesty so delinquent taxpayers can pay their taxes without penalty. We could also tax smokeless tobacco products and a create a severance tax on natural gas drilling at the Marcellus Shale in Western and Central Pennsylvania, both are taxed in surrounding states.

Unemployment Compensation Bill Passes

Thanks, in part, to pressure from the Senate Democrats, the Senate recently passed legislation to extend unemployment compensation benefits for Pennsylvanians, which the governor has signed into law as Act 30 of 2009.

The new law allows Pennsylvania to qualify for $145 million in federal aid that will pay for extended benefits for the affected workers.  The measure extends the unemployment compensation benefits by seven weeks.

Following last month’s news that 17,000 Pennsylvanians — including 4,100 from Philadelphia — lost their unemployment compensation benefits, I joined my Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House, along with Gov. Ed Rendell, at a Capitol press conference to urge swift movement on this legislation.

Unfortunately, individuals are still out of work and truly needed that seven-week boost to stay afloat as they seek employment. Hopefully, as our economy recovers, we can get hard-working and talented people back to work.