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November 2004
Will You and/or Your Co-Workers Make It To Work If SEPTA Needs To Adopt A Contingency Plan?
SEPTA ISSUE
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) is facing a $62 million deficit and a contingency plan that includes a $0.50 cent fare hike, taking the base fare up from $2.00 to $2.50, and service cuts that include the elimination of all weekend and late night service and the extinction of 1 out of every 5 bus routes.
These cuts will dramatically impact the arts and culture industry, as mass transit plays a critical role in transporting the most important assets of our field, our workers and our patrons.
In effort to address this problem, several members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly have proposed mechanisms to create a designated funding source. Taken, these proposed measures would generate approximately $96 million - an amount that would cover this year’s shortfall. These mechanisms also have the ability to grow over time, decreasing the possibility of future shortfalls.
TAKE ACTION
This is a fundamental issue that impacts our region and we need you to take action immediately. There is a very narrow window of opportunity in which to make your voice heard.
Before November 30, 2004:
1. Contact your State legislators. Contact information/instructions are located at the end of this alert.
2. Thank them for the additional $7.8 million state and local subsidy they approved for SEPTA earlier this year and urge them to support a dedicated funding mechanism for SEPTA.
3. Survey staff members to estimate the total impact the SEPTA contingency plan would have on your organization.
4. Describe the impact SEPTA’s contingency plan of reduced services will have on your organization.
*F.Y.I. If a SEPTA bill is not passed by November 30, 2004, all of the proposed legislation will die and need to be re-introduced in January.
BACKGROUND
Six years of funding shortfalls in the Pennsylvania budget have led SEPTA and other transit agencies across the Commonwealth to face multi-million dollar deficits. The SEPTA deficit is currently accumulating at the rate of $5.2 million per month, making this, as SEPTA Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. says in a related press release, “…the worst crisis to face SEPTA in its 36 year history.”
Pennsylvania State Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-12) has introduced Senate Bill #1162 - a plan that would “help provide dedicated and predictable funding for public transit agencies throughout Pennsylvania.” State Representative John Taylor (R-177) has introduced House Bill #2697 - identical legislation in the House.
These bills look to secure funding from the current sales tax without raising new streams of revenue. This would mean cutting other programs in order to provide additional funds to SEPTA and other Commonwealth transit organizations. As a compromise to these bills, Representative Dwight Evans (D-203) has introduced House Bill #1790.
House Bill #1790 is a dedicated funding mechanism for SEPTA that includes a $3 dollar increase on auto inspection stickers. This would generate approximately $46 million dollars for the transit agency. Representative Michael McGeehan (D-173) has proposed House Bill #1802, which would raise the tax on tires from $1 to $3 as well as the tax on car rental charges from $2 to $4. This would generate approximately $50 million transit dollars.
For more information about the SEPTA issue, please visit http://www.savetransit.org. Save Transit is a coalition that is dedicated to seeing the enacting of dedicated funding legislation for SEPTA and all of the transit organizations within the Commonwealth. Also visit SEPTA’s website at www.septa.org for the most up-to-date press releases on the situation.
EXACTLY WHAT GETS CUT?
In its contingency plan, SEPTA proposes the following actions:
1. Raise the base cash fare from $2.00 to $2.50
2. Increase the average price of all other SEPTA fares by 25%
3. Reduce weekday service on all City and Suburban routes including Regional Rail by 20%
4. Suspend weekend service on all City and Suburban, Regional Rail, and Paratransit routes
5. Eliminate approximately 1,400 SEPTA employee positions
HOW TO REACH YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
1. The following directory of legislators is in alphabetical order by first name. If you do not know the name of your legislator, please visit www.vote-smart.org or contact April Williamson at the Cultural Alliance by e-mail awilliamson@philaculture.org or call 215-557-7811 ext. 11.
2. If you do not see your legislator in the directory, it may be because they are in a leadership position. Please scroll to the beginning of the list to the Senate or House Leadership sections to find their name(s). If you still do not see their name(s), please contact April Williamson at the Cultural Alliance by e-mail awilliamson@philaculture.org or call 215-557-7811 ext. 11.
3. There are several legislators in the directory that have asterisks following their names. One asterisk means they have proposed legislation seeking a dedicated funding source for SEPTA. Two asterisks mean they have co-sponsored legislation for a dedicated funding source for SEPTA. If your legislator has an asterisk or two, thank them for their current support and ask for their continued support.
WHO TO CONTACT
PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Senate Leadership
Robert J. Thompson (R-19)**
Majority Leader (Chairman) of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5709
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-1819
District Office Phone: 610-692-2112
District Office Fax: 610-436-1721
E-mail: rthompson@pasen.gov
Vincent J. Fumo (D-1)**
Minority Leader (Minority Chairman) of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5662
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-5210
District Office Phone: 215-468-3866
District Office Fax: 215-952-1096
E-mail: Senator_Fumo@fumo.com
House Leadership
John M. Perzel (R-172)
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-2016
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-7225
District Office Phone: 215-331-2600
District Office Fax: 215-708-3135
E-mail: jmp@pahousegop.com
Dwight Evans (D-203)*
Minority Leader (Minority Chairman) of the House Appropriations Committee
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-1540
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-2334
District Office Phone: 215-549-0220
District Office Fax: 215-549-8965
E-mail: devans@pahouse.net
Elinor Z. Taylor (R-156)**
Caucus Chair
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-3737
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-5713
District Office Phone: 610-436-4433
District Office Fax: 610-436-1711
E-mail: etaylor@pahousegop.com
Senate Members
Allyson Schwartz (D-4)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1427
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-0572
District Office Phone: 215-242-9710
District Office Fax: 215-560-6906
E-mail: schwartz@dem.pasen.gov
Anthony H. Williams (D-8)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5970
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-0574
District Office Phone: 215-492-2980
District Office Fax: 215-492-2990
E-mail: williams@dem.pasen.gov
Christine Tartaglione (D-2)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1141
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7439
District Office Phone: 215-533-0440
District Office Fax: 215-560-3260
E-mail: tartaglione@dem.pasen.gov
Constance Williams (D-17)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5544
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-7741
District Office Phone: 610-992-9790
District Office Fax: 610-768-3104
E-mail: chwilliams@dem.pasen.gov
Dominic Pileggi (R-9)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-4712
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-7490
District Office Phone: 610-447-5845
District Office Fax: 610-447-5848
E-mail: dpileggi@pasen.gov
Edwin Erickson (R-26)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1350
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-0196
District Office Phone: 610-853-4100
District Office Fax: 610-853-4136
E-mail: eerickson@pasen.gov
Joe Conti (R-10)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-7305
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-5962
District Office Phone: 215-348-2233
District Office Fax: 215-489-5214
E-mail: jconti@pasen.gov
John Rafferty (R-44)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1398
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-4587
District Office Phone: 610-831-8830
District Office Fax: 610-831-8837
E-mail: jrafferty@pasen.gov
Michael Stack (D-5)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-9608
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2162
District Office Phone: 215-695-1020
District Office Fax: 215-695-1027
E-mail: stack@dem.pasen.gov
Noah Wenger (R-36)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-4420
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-3156
District Office Phone: 717-738-1600
District Office Fax: 717-299-7401
E-mail: nwenger@pasen.gov
Robert Tomlinson (R-6)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5072
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2991
District Office Phone: 215-638-1777
District Office Fax: 215-638-7619
E-mail: rtomlinson@pasen.gov
Robert Wonderling (R-24)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3110
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-8004
District Office Phone: 215-529-1215
District Office Fax: 215-529-1218
E-mail: rwonderling@pasen.gov
Shirley Kitchen (D-3)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-6735
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-0581
District Office Phone: 215-227-6161
District Office Fax: 215-560-1316
E-mail: kitchen@dem.pasen.gov
Vincent Hughes (D-7)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-7112
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-0579
District Office Phone: 215-471-0490
District Office Fax: 215-560-3434
E-mail: hughes@dem.pasen.gov
Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-12)*
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-6599
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-7328
District Office Phone: 215-657-7700
District Office Fax: 215-657-1885
E-mail: sgreenleaf@pasen.gov
House Members
Alan Butkovitz (D-174)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-4032
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-1579
District Office Phone: 215-335-2521
District Office Fax: 215-708-3139
E-mail: abutkovi@pahouse.net
Angel Cruz (D-180)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1407
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-8536
District Office Phone: 215-291-5643
District Office Fax: 215-291-5647
E-mail: acruz@pahouse.net
Anthony Melio (D-141)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3557
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2943
District Office Phone: 215-943-8669
District Office Fax: 215-943-2434
E-mail: amelio@pahouse.net
Arthur Hershey (R-13)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-6435
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1868
District Office Phone: 610-593-6565
District Office Fax: 610-593-7041
E-mail: ahershey@pahousegop.com
Babette Josephs (D-182)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-8529
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-5066
District Office Phone: 215-893-1515
District Office Fax: 215-560-5816
E-mail: bjosephs@pahouse.net
Bernard O’Neill (R-29)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-705-7170
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-7012
District Office Phone: 215-441-2624
District Office Fax: 215-441-2627
E-mail: boneill@pahousegop.com
Carole Rubley (R-157)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-0157
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-1416
District Office Phone: 610-640-2356
District Office Fax: 610-640-2357
E-mail: crubley@pahousegop.com
Charles McIlhinney (R-143)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-1413
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-8332
District Office Phone: 215-489-5000
District Office Fax: 215-489-5200
E-mail: cmcilhin@pahousegop.com
Chris Ross (R-158)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-1574
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-1589
District Office Phone: 610-925-0555
District Office Fax: 610-925-5408
E-mail: cross@pahousegop.com
Curt Schroder (R-155)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-2520
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1994
District Office Phone: 610-524-5595
District Office Fax: 610-524-5667
E-mail: cschrode@pahousegop.com
David Steil (R-31)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-5396
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7529
District Office Phone: 215-968-3975
District Office Fax: 215-968-4674
E-mail: dsteil@pahousegop.com
Daylin Leach (D-149)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-9114
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-0861
District Office Phone: 610-768-4200
District Office Fax: 610-768-4204
E-mail: dleach@pahouse.net
Dennis O’Brien (R-169)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5689
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-1339
District Office Phone: 215-632-5150
District Office Fax: 215-281-2094
E-mail: dobrien@pahousegop.com
Eugene McGill (R-151)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-7179
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-3899
District Office Phone: 215-654-1186
District Office Fax: 215-654-1187
E-mail: emcgill@pahousegop.com
Frank Oliver (D-195)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3480
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2284
District Office Phone: 215-684-3738
District Office Fax: 215-235-4629
E-mail: foliver@pahouse.net
Gene DiGirolamo (R-18)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-7319
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2414
District Office Phone: 215-750-1017
District Office Fax: 215-750-1295
E-mail: gdigirol@pahousegop.com
George Kenney (R-170)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-8523
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-4810
District Office Phone: 215-342-1700
District Office Fax: 215-214-4073
E-mail: gkenney@pahousegop.com
Greg Vitali (D-166)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-7647
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-2089
District Office Phone: 610-789-3900
District Office Fax: 215-560-4197
E-mail: greg@gregvitali.com
Harold James (D-186)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-9477
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7517
District Office Phone: 215-462-3308
District Office Fax: 215-952-1141
E-mail: hjames@pahouse.net
Jacqueline Crahalla (R-150)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-705-7164
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-8631
District Office Phone: 610-409-2615
District Office Fax: 610-409-2619
E-mail: jcrahall@pahousegop.com
James Roebuck (D-188)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-1000
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-1665
District Office Phone: 215-724-2227
District Office Fax: 215-724-2230
E-mail: jroebuck@pahouse.net
Jewell Williams (D-197)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-2004
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7597
District Office Phone: 215-763-2559
District Office Fax: 215-763-2561
E-mail: jwilliam@pahouse.net
John Fichter (R-70)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-6423
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-6089
District Office Phone: 610-584-0070
District Office Fax: 610-584-2292
E-mail: jfichter@pahousegop.com
John Myers (D-201)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3181
Capitol Office Fax: 717-778-4038
District Office Phone: 215-849-6896
District Office Fax: 215-560-1824
E-mail: jmyers@pahouse.net
John Taylor (R-177)*
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3179
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1850
District Office Phone: 215-744-2600
District Office Fax: 215-744-2605
E-mail: jtaylor@pahousegop.com
Kate Harper (R-61)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-2801
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-2022
District Office Phone: 610-277-3230
District Office Fax: 610-270-1677
E-mail: kharper@pahousegop.com
Katherine Watson (R-144)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5452
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-8934
District Office Phone: 215-674-0500
District Office Fax: 215-674-0347
E-mail: kwatson@pahousegop.com
Kathy Manderino (D-194)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1254
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-2089
District Office Phone: 215-482-8726
District Office Fax: 215-482-9066
E-mail: kmanderi@pahouse.net
Lawrence Curry (D-154)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-1079
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-2713
District Office Phone: 215-572-5210
District Office Fax: 215-517-1423
E-mail: lcurry@pahouse.net
LeAnna Washington (D-200)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-2175
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-8724
District Office Phone: 215-242-0472
District Office Fax: 215-753-4538
E-mail: lwashing@pahouse.net
Louise Williams Bishop (D-192)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-2192
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-2960
District Office Phone: 215-879-6625
District Office Fax: 215-879-8566
E-mail: lwbishop@pahouse.net
Marie Lederer (D-175)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-8098
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-3756
District Office Phone: 215-426-6604
District Office Fax: 215-560-3995
E-mail: mlederer@pahouse.net
Mario Civera (R-164)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3850
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1851
District Office Phone: 610-853-4115
District Office Fax: 610-853-4116
E-mail: mcivera@pahousegop.com
Mark Cohen (D-202)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-4117
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-6650
District Office Phone: 215-924-0895
District Office Fax: 215-924-8480
E-mail: mcohen@pahouse.net
Matthew Wright (R-142)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-8581
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-8215
District Office Phone: 215-757-8538
District Office Fax: 215-757-8510
E-mail: mwright@pahousegop.com
Melissa Murphy Weber (R-148)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-2063
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1942
District Office Phone: 610-397-0505
District Office Fax: 610-397-0508
E-mail: mweber@pahousegop.com
Michael McGeehan (D-173)*
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-4029
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-4923
District Office Phone: 215-333-9760
District Office Fax: 215-333-5891
E-mail: mmcgeeha@pahouse.net
Michael Horsey (D-190)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-1491
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-2924
District Office Phone: 215-243-1501
District Office Fax: 215-243-2491
E-mail: mhorsey@pahouse.net
Nicolas Micozzie (R-163)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-8808
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-0688
District Office Phone: 610-259-2820
District Office Fax: 610-259-7019
E-mail: nmicozzi@pahousegop.com
Paul Clymer (R-145)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-3154
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-1854
District Office Phone: 215-257-0279
District Office Fax: 215-257-6350
E-mail: pclymer@pahousegop.com
Raymond Bunt (R-147)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-6937
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-6952
District Office Phone: 610-287-4181
District Office Fax: 610-287-4348
E-mail: rbunt@pahousegop.com
Robert Donatucci (D-185)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-8634
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-9888
District Office Phone: 215-468-1515
District Office Fax: 215-952-1164
E-mail: rdonatuc@pahouse.net
Robert Flick (R-167)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-8579
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-5713
District Office Phone: 800-280-8002
District Office Fax: 610-251-1074
E-mail: rflick@pahousegop.com
Robert Godshall (R-53)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-6428
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7424
District Office Phone: 215-368-3500
District Office Fax: 215-361-4220
E-mail: rgodshal@pahousegop.com
Ron Raymond (R-162)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3472
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-5569
District Office Phone: 610-534-1002
District Office Fax: 610-534-1710
E-mail: rraymond@pahousegop.com
Ronald Waters (D-191)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-9850
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7597
District Office Phone: 215-748-6712
District Office Fax: 215-748-1687
E-mail: rwaters@pahouse.net
Rosita Youngblood (D-198)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-7727
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-2087
District Office Phone: 215-849-6426
District Office Fax: 215-849-5476
E-mail: ryoungbl@pahouse.net
Susan Cornell (R-152)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-6886
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7375
District Office Phone: 215-674-3755
District Office Fax: 215-674-3021
E-mail: scornell@pahousegop.com
Scott Petri (R-178)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-9033
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-7012
District Office Phone: 215-364-3414
District Office Fax: 215-364-8626
E-mail: spetri@pahousegop.com
Stephen Barrar (R-160)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-3038
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-2468
District Office Phone: 610-485-7606
District Office Fax: 610-485-8277
E-mail: sbarrar@pahousegop.com
Thaddeus Kirkland (D-159)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5881
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-9074
District Office Phone: 610-876-6420
District Office Fax: 610-447-3004
E-mail: tkirklan@pahouse.net
Thomas Corrigan (D-140)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-2663
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-9773
District Office Phone: 215-781-2451
District Office Fax: 215-781-3443
E-mail: tcorriga@pahouse.net
Thomas Gannon (R-161)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-783-6430
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-0683
District Office Phone: 610-461-5543
District Office Fax: 610-534-6881
E-mail: tgannon@pahousegop.com
Tim Hennessey (R-26)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-3431
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-2095
District Office Phone: 610-380-8600
District Office Fax: 610-380-1777
E-mail: thenness@pahousegop.com
Tom Killion (R-168)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-772-0855
Capitol Office Fax: 717-783-3899
District Office Phone: 610-325-1541
District Office Fax: 610-325-1546
E-mail: tkillion@pahousegop.com
W. Curtis Thomas (D-181)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-9471
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-7297
District Office Phone: 215-232-1210
District Office Fax: 215-232-1203
E-mail: cthomas@pahouse.net
William Adolph (R-165)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-1248
Capitol Office Fax: 717-787-6685
District Office Phone: 610-544-9878
District Office Fax: 610-338-2294
E-mail: wadolph@pahousegop.com
William Keller (D-184)
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-5774
Capitol Office Fax: 717-705-2088
District Office Phone: 215-271-9190
District Office Fax: 215-925-1025
E-mail: wkeller@pahouse.net
William Rieger (D-179)**
Capitol Office Phone: 717-787-7855
Capitol Office Fax: 717-772-9892
District Office Phone: 215-223-1501
District Office Fax: 215-223-3304
E-mail: wrieger@pahouse.net
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