PRSRT STD
STAT E RE P RE S E N TAT I V E
Kerry A. Benninghoff
E-mail: kbenning@pahousegop.com
Website: kerrybenninghoff.com
Serving the People of the 171st Legislative District
Dear Neighbor,
This year’s state budget was com-
pleted in a timely fashion. That’s the
good news. However, there were
some missed opportunities in this
year’s budget as well. Take a look at
the state budget recap article to learn
about some of the fiscally respon-
sible alternatives I support.
This newsletter contains infor-
mation about what’s happening
in our state Capitol in Harrisburg
and the local issues that affect us
right here in the 171st Legislative
District. From the results of the
Rockview land transfer compromise
to the ongoing efforts to reform state
government, you can read about it
all in this update.
If there is a state government-
related issue that isn’t addressed in
this newsletter that you would like
to learn about, please feel free to
contact one of my district offices.
We are here to serve you.
On a personal note, I want to
thank you for the continued prayers,
cards and acts of kindness for my
daughter and family.
Most sincerely,
Kerry Benninghoff
State Representative
171st Legislative District
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO. 432
Fall 2010
Benninghoff Pushing Forward the Reform Agenda
I continue to push forward new ideas
to reform the way our Commonwealth
and its election processes work. Below are
just three of the bills I have introduced in
the current legislative session.
House Bill 740: This election
transparency bill would ensure vot-
ers know who is sponsoring political
robo-calls. Under current law, when an
individual or group airs a political televi-
sion or radio commercial or publishes a
print advertisement that directly targets
a candidate, these forms of political com-
munication must identify the sponsor.
The law currently does not specify whether or not robo-calls – or pre-recorded political
phone messages – are subject to this requirement. My bill would close this loophole in
the election law. The bill is currently in the Senate.
House Bill 886: After the November elections, the General Assembly sometimes
convenes in what is known as a “lame duck” session. Representatives and senators who
lost their bid for re-election are no longer accountable to the people they represent and
can, without repercussions, vote for tax increases and other unpopular legislation. My bill
would eliminate these lame duck sessions.
House Bill 542: This is another election reform bill intended to bring transpar-
ency to the process. This would ensure that voters are provided with more information
when they vote to approve or reject a bond measure. In addition to asking voters if they
want to approve a borrowing plan, the ballot referendum would have to include informa-
tion about how much the debt would cost in total. For example, while the state may plan
to borrow $900 million for some initiative, with interest over the years, it may cost well
over a billion dollars to pay that money back. This bill would make sure voters have access to
all the information they need to make an educated decision.
These are just a small sample of the bills I am promoting to make state government more
transparent and accountable.
 House Approves Public Pension Reforms
Pension System Reforms
Reduced Multiplier – A mul-
tiplier is a percentage rate used to
determine pension benefits. The
higher the multiplier, the greater
the pension benefits and the heavier
the burden will be on taxpayers in
a defined benefit plan. The multi-
plier rate for most new hires would
be reduced from 2.5 percent to 2
percent, leading to reduced costs
for taxpayers.
Increased Vesting Periods – The
vesting period is the amount of time
employees must contribute to their
pension before qualifying for guar-
anteed benefits. The vesting period
would be doubled from five years to
10 years for new hires.
Increased Retirement Ages –
New state workers and teachers will
have to work longer before qualify-
ing for full retirement benefits.
The House recently approved a public pension reform bill that would fulfill the
state’s obligations to current workers and retirees while taking steps to reduce the long-
term burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers.
The reforms are aimed at two pension systems – one for public school system
employees and the other for all remaining state employees.
These pension systems are funded primarily through three sources: employee contri-
butions, employer contributions and investment returns. The state makes the employer
contribution for the state workers’ pension system. The state and local school districts
make the employer contribution for the public school teachers’ pension system.
Due to a number of factors, including the recent downturn in the stock market,
the state and local school districts are facing a sharp increase in employer contributions
to the pension funds in the next few years.
The changes included in the House bill would “smooth out” those increases while
also implementing pension benefit reforms, resulting in short-term relief and long-term
cost reductions for taxpayers.
For current workers and retirees in the two pension systems, a promise made will be
a promise kept. The House bill would not reduce pension benefits for these workers.
In actuality, the U.S. Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibit making
changes to pensions for existing workers and retirees due to contractual law.
The House bill also would implement pension reforms for future state workers and
teachers. These reforms include increasing the amount of time a teacher or worker
must be employed before they are entitled to certain pension benefits. It also increases
the amount of time they must serve before they can retire.
Together, these reforms stand to address an issue that will undoubtedly have severe
fiscal impacts in the future if proper reforms are not implemented. This bill is currently
in the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.

Fast Facts About the Marcellus Shale and Natural Gas

As debate over the development of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves heats up, I
believe it’s important to provide you with some factual information about this issue that I have learned
throughout this process.

General facts:
 The Marcellus Shale underlies 54 of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania – all but the southeastern
and southcentral portions of the state.
 In October 2008, Pennsylvania State University professor Terry Engelder estimated that the
gas locked in the Marcellus Shale could ultimately yield 363 trillion cubic feet of natural
gas – an amount equal to 13 years of current U.S. natural gas demand.
 The first Marcellus well went into production in 2005.

Economic impacts:
 During 2008, the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry in Pennsylvania generated more
than 29,000 jobs.
 For every $1 million of output created by natural gas production in the Pennsylvania Marcellus
Shale, 6.9 jobs are created.
 The Marcellus Shale natural gas industry in Pennsylvania could be generating $13.5 billion
in value added and almost 175,000 jobs in 2020.
 For every $1 that the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry spends in the state, $1.94 of total
economic output is generated.
 The sum of the direct, indirect and induced impacts that the Marcellus Shale natural gas
industry has on Pennsylvania is more than $4.2 billion.

Environmental impacts:
 Natural gas produces roughly 30 percent lower carbon emissions than oil.
 Natural gas use produces fewer greenhouse gases (nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, in
particular) than burning oil.
 Of all the fossil fuels, natural gas is the cleanest burning.

While the Marcellus Shale offers tremendous economic opportunities for workers across our Com-
monwealth, the development of this resource will place stress on local roads and other infrastructure.
Because of this, I believe the state must require a percentage of any tax on natural gas to be designated
for continued road and bridge repairs.
 Freedom Isn’t Free - Thank a Veteran!
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Please remember to honor our veterans
Deadline Extended on Thursday, November 11, and every
other day of the year.
The deadline to apply for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program
for 2009 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2010.
Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on
their rent or property taxes paid in 2009. 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.
Eligibility income limits for homeowners are set at the following levels,
excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income,
and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:

• $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate

(Homeowners and renters)
• $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate
(Homeowners and renters)
• $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate
(Homeowners only)
• $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate
(Homeowners only)
You should make sure to provide all the necessary income, property tax
or rental information required to process claims quickly and accurately.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms are available by contacting my
district office or visiting my website.
This year, the Boy Scouts of America is celebrating
its 100th anniversary. Boy Scouts are involved in
their neighborhoods and are the leaders of tomorrow.
On numerous occasions, I have presented House
citations to Boy Scouts across the 171st Legislative
District, honoring their service to our communities
and our country. I wish our local Boy Scouts another
100 years of success.

Rockview Land Transfer Compromise Reached

After years of working to bring together lawmakers from both parties, community groups, Penn State officials, outdoor

w w w. K e r r y B e n n i n g h o f f . c o m
enthusiasts and local residents, the groups were able to agree on a compromise deal regarding the Rockview land.

Here are the highlights of the compromise:

• Penn State acquires 450 acres in exchange for more than $400,000.
Benefits of the Compromise
o The university must establish a conservation easement with
the ClearWater Conservancy and the Department of
 Ensures taxpayers receive fair
Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
compensation for the land.
• Benner Township acquires nearly 25 acres for $1.
o The township must establish a conservation easement
 Protects the environment.
with the ClearWater Conservancy and DCNR.
o The land must be used for passive recreational open space
 Provides public access for
that benefits the public.
recreational activities.
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission acquires 140 acres for
$19,000.
 Addresses the major issues
• Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) acquires 1,200 acres for more
raised by the public
than $1 million.
throughout the process.
• PGC will make annual payments in lieu of taxes to Centre County,
Benner Township and Bellefonte Area School District.

While no compromise is perfect, this one addressed the major issues identified by each group. In addition, it
brought the public into the process of determining the outcome. In short, the compromise was fair and inclusive
– just as it should be.

Standing Up for Your ‘Right to Dry’

With recent efforts to encourage Americans to become more energy
efficient and use “green” technologies, many Pennsylvanians are turning
to an age-old technique to dry their clothes. People concerned about high
energy bills are hanging their clothes outside on clotheslines.
Unfortunately, some municipalities and homeowners associations are
banning this practice, arguing that it is unsightly.
With this in mind, I’ve been asked to introduce legislation - House Bill
2158 - in the House that would protect every Pennsylvanian’s ability to
use the all-natural power of the sun to dry their clothing. This is a com-
monsense measure to help families reduce their energy costs, protect the
environment and empower Pennsylvanians to be green.
 State Budget Recap
I was pleased the state budget was approved in a timely fashion this year. Gov. Ed Rendell signed it into law in early
July. While it was signed after the June 30 deadline, this was a vast improvement over previous years, when budget
stalemates drug on for months and months. It was nice to see legislative leaders and the governor work together to get
a budget done in a reasonable timeframe.
While I applaud the timing of the budget, I disagreed with some of the main parts of the spending plan. I believe there
were some good proposals from both Republicans and Democrats that should have been included in the final budget.
The inclusion of approximately $100 million in Walking Around Money grants (WAMs) - the state version of earmarks
- is an outrage at a time when the state made across-the-board cuts to most other programs and services. The state also
should not spend the $45 million it plans to use to fund a professional soccer stadium in Chester County. Finally, the
budget should not include the $60 million tax credit for Hollywood movie producers.
I also agreed with many of the recommendations of Democrat Auditor General Jack Wagner, who pointed out
hundreds of millions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s welfare system. Unfortunately, the budget that
was signed into law continues to overspend on a welfare system that underperforms. I believe this was a missed
opportunity for true bipartisan, commonsense reform.
While there is still some wasteful spending in the overall state budget, I am proud of the fact that the House
Republican Caucus has reduced its own spending by millions of dollars over the last several years. We have
tightened our financial belt, just as families across the Commonwealth have been forced to do the same during
this economic recession.
While some of the cost-saving alternatives I supported were not included in the budget, I will continue
to push for their adoption in the weeks and months ahead.
I’m committed to working with any lawmaker – Republican or Democrat – to enact commonsense
spending reforms that save taxpayers money while maintaining the core functions of government. A
tough, stagnant economy forces people to use their money more wisely and efficiently. Government
should do no less.
I firmly believe we can and should work together to find agreement on solutions that serve
constituents without further burdening taxpayers. That is what I tried to do in this year’s budget
and it’s what I will continue to push for in the future.

Court Decision Opens Detailed Autopsy Records

A recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision has opened
the door for the media to review detailed autopsy reports put
together by county coroners in Pennsylvania. As a former
county coroner and a proponent of open government, I believe
we must strike a balance between the public’s right to know
and a victim’s right to privacy.
I believe autopsy records should be viewed through the
lens of medical records. While government tracks different
trends in diseases and other aspects of medicine, it does not
release case-specific information about who has contracted
what disease.
I also believe the public has a right to know about certain
aspects related to crimes. If a killer is on the loose, the public
should be told whether the victims were strangled or stabbed
to death. The cause of death should be disclosed.
But, autopsy reports often contain much more informa-
tion, especially in the cases of graphic sexual attacks. Knowing
the details about exactly what a rapist did to his or her victim
often serves little public interest and can cause great emotional
distress to the victim’s family members and loved ones. Suf-
fering the loss of a loved one is hard enough without media
reports providing the gruesome particulars.
While the public’s right to know is important, I think we
should each put ourselves in the shoes of the victim’s family
members and ask: If it was our son or daughter, would we
want the graphic details to be publicized?
That was the case I made before the House Judiciary Com-
mittee in support of House Bill 109. This measure would ensure
the confidentiality of autopsy audiovisual information. The bill
is currently in the House Appropriations Committee.

WHAT MY OFFICES CAN DO FOR YOU

Representative
• A clearinghouse for most Pennsylvania state government forms.
KERRY BENNINGHOFF
• Driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals.
• Assist individuals with PennDOT paperwork (lost cards, changes, DISTRICT OFFICES:
corrections, and temporary placards for disabled persons). 140 West High Street
• Copies of birth and death certificates. Bellefonte, PA 16823
CLIP AND SAVE

• PACE and PACENET applications for seniors. (814) 355-1300 (814) 355-3523 FAX
• Copies and summaries of state legislation.
77 North Main Street, PO Box 592
• Access to most Pennsylvania state tax forms. Reedsville, PA 17084
• Information on hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania. (717) 667-2319 (717) 667-6025 FAX
• Assistance with Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms.
• Coordinate tours of the State Capitol. HARRISBURG OFFICE:
• Provide state maps and publications. 41B East Wing, PO Box 202171
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2171
• Information on unemployment claims.
(717) 783-1918 (717) 260-6528 FAX
www.KerryBenninghoff.com