Water Utility Council of the PA-Section, American Water WUC Works Association (PA-AWWA) GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE From Milliron & Goodman Government Relations, LLC. 200 North 3rd Street Suite 1500 Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: 717-232-5322 Erik A. Ross, Senior Associate www.millirongoodman.com Harrisburg, PA [email protected] January 11, 2021 -- Issue 1215 which is $14.3 million, or 2.4 percent, above Revenue Department estimate. Releases December 2020 Realty transfer tax revenue was $68.6 million Collections for December, $19.2 million above estimate, bringing the fiscal-year total to $316.9 million, ennsylvania collected $3.7 billion in General which is $19.2 million, or 6.5 percent, more than Fund revenue in December, which was anticipated. P $465.8 million, or 14.5 percent, more than anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell Other General Fund tax revenue, including reported. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund cigarette, malt beverage, liquor and gaming taxes, collections total $18.5 billion, which is $467.1 totaled $178.5 million for the month, $17.6 million million, or 2.6 percent, above estimate. above estimate and bringing the year-to-date total to $994.4 million, which is $17.5 million, or 1.8 Sales tax receipts totaled $1.0 billion for percent, above estimate. December, $54.4 million above estimate. Year-to- date sales tax collections total $6.4 billion, which is Non-tax revenue totaled $375.6 million for the $54.4 million, or 0.9 percent, more than month, $15.4 million above estimate, bringing the anticipated. year-to-date total to $665.3 million, which is $15.3 million, or 2.4 percent, above estimate. Personal income tax (PIT) revenue in December was $1.2 billion, $36.0 million above In addition to the General Fund collections, the estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to Motor License Fund received $172.9 million for $7.4 billion, which is $36.0 million, or 0.5 percent, the month, $11.2 million below estimate. Fiscal above estimate. year-to-date collections for the fund - which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well December corporation tax revenue of $771.3 as other license, fine and fee revenues - total $1.4 million was $308.8 million above estimate. Year-to- billion, which is $5.8 million, or 0.4 percent, below date corporation tax collections total $2.2 billion, estimate. which is $310.4 million, or 16.6 percent, above estimate. As part of the state budget recently signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, an amendment to the Fiscal Code Inheritance tax revenue for the month was required the Department of Revenue to revise $104.8 million, $14.4 million above estimate, revenue estimates for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. bringing the year-to-date total to $605.0 million, Those revised estimates are reflected in the McDonnell points to Miller and Schwartz's information above. shared emphasis on communication and efficiency as constants for the region, "Jim and Ron are both Source: PA Dept. of Revenue Press Release, natural problem solvers, a trait that has become a 1/4/2021 hallmark of each director's career in public service and has furthered DEP's mission." Jim Miller Named Regional "Ron's leadership was instrumental in DEP Director of Southwest achieving a 90 percent reduction in the permitting backlog in the Southwest region during his tenure as Regional Office Leadership regional director," added McDonnell. "On behalf of DEP, I wish him all the best in his well-deserved change follows retirement of retirement." Ronald Schwartz John Holden, clean water program manager ffective January 2, 2021, James "Jim" Miller in DEP's Northwest Regional Office, will serve as became the regional director of the acting regional director for that office. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental E Source: DEP Press Release, 1/4/2021 Protection's (DEP) Southwest Regional Office. He replaces Ronald Schwartz, PE, BCEE, who recently retired after nearly 35 years of service. Miller, who House Democrats announce previously led DEP's Northwest Regional Office for four and a half years, will manage field operations committee chairs for 2021-22 for Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, and Somerset counties. legislative session "Jim brings a commonsense approach to n January 4, 2021, House Democratic management, and his experience in a variety of Leader Joanna McClinton, D- roles within DEP makes him the right leader at the O Phila./Delaware, announced the members of right time. I am confident that Jim's emphasis on the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as relationship building will continue the Southwest's Democratic chairs of the standing committees for progress in recent years," said DEP Secretary the 2021-22 legislative session beginning Tuesday. Patrick McDonnell. "Our committees do the heavy lifting. They are Miller has served DEP for over 30 years. Prior to the places where legislation is refined and decisions being named regional director for DEP's Northwest are made that can either extend more power to the Regional Office, he was assistant regional director people or give it to the special interests -- and those for the Northcentral Regional Office for six years committees need a steady hand and a strong vision after working his way up from inspector to program to lead them," McClinton said. "I am confident manager. Miller began his DEP career as an these proven leaders are more than up to the inspector in the Southeast Regional Office's waste challenge and will always make sure any legislation management program. Miller holds a Bachelor of advanced to the full House of Representatives must Science degree in environmental biology from the put the people first." University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. The list of Democratic committee chairs "I look forward to meeting with the various follows: stakeholders in the southwest region and am excited for this opportunity to continue the work I've done • Aging & Older Adult Services Committee - in other regions promoting responsible development Rep. Steve Samuelson, Northampton County and environmental stewardship, two goals that are • Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee - Rep. not mutually exclusive," said Miller. Eddie Day Pashinski, Luzerne County 2 • Children & Youth Committee - Rep. Pam DeLissio, Montgomery & Philadelphia counties Speaker Cutler Names House • Commerce Committee - Rep. John Galloway, Committee Chairs Bucks County • Consumer Affairs Committee - Rep. Robert n January 5, 2021, Speaker of the House Matzie, Beaver & Allegheny counties Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced the • Education Committee - Rep. Mark Longietti, O members of the House Republican Caucus Mercer County who will serve as chairs of the House standing • Environmental Resources & Energy committees for the 2021-22 Legislative Session. Committee - Rep. Greg Vitali, Delaware & Under the rules of the House of Representatives, Montgomery counties members with seniority are designated for a chair; • Finance Committee - Rep. Kevin Boyle, however, the decision to assign a specific individual Philadelphia to a committee also considers preference, direct • Game and Fisheries Committee - Rep. Ed feedback from members as well as other factors. Neilson, Philadelphia • Gaming Oversight Committee - Rep. Scott "Each of these respected and successful Conklin, Centre County lawmakers brings years of experience, expertise and • Health Committee - Rep. Dan Frankel, drive to their respective positions," Cutler said. Allegheny County "Committees are the backbone of our legislative • Human Services Committee - Rep. Angel Cruz, process. This is where the voice of the people is Philadelphia shaped into policy ideas that eventually become • Insurance Committee - Rep. Tony DeLuca, law. I look forward to seeing what each of these Allegheny County chairs can accomplish with their committees over • Judiciary Committee - Rep. Tim Briggs, the next two years." Montgomery County • Labor & Industry Committee - Rep. Gerald • Aging and Older Adult Services Committee - Mullery, Luzerne County Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh/Berks) • Liquor Control Committee - Rep. Dan Deasy, • Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee - Allegheny County Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) • Local Government Committee - Rep. Bob • Children and Youth Committee - Rep. Sheryl Freeman, Northampton County Delozier (R-Cumberland) • Professional Licensure Committee - Rep. Jake • Commerce Committee - Rep. Brad Roae (R- Wheatley, Allegheny County Crawford/Erie) • State Government Committee - Rep. Margo • Consumer Affairs Committee - Rep. Jim Davidson, Delaware County Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler) • Tourism & Recreational Development • Education Committee - Rep. Curt Sonney (R- Committee - Rep. Mary Jo Daley, Montgomery Erie) County • Environmental Resources and Energy • Transportation Committee - Rep. Mike Carroll, Committee - Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) Lackawanna & Luzerne counties • Finance Committee - Rep. Mike Peifer (R- • Urban Affairs Committee - Rep. Mike Sturla, Pike/Wayne) Lancaster County • Game and Fisheries Committee - Rep. Keith • Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Gillespie (R-York) Committee - Rep. Chris Sainato, Lawrence • Gaming Oversight Committee - Rep. Sue Helm County (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) • Health Committee - Rep. Kathy Rapp (R- Source: Rep. Joanna E. McClinton Press Release, Warren/Crawford/Forest) 1/4/2021 • Human Services Committee - Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) 3 • Insurance Committee - Rep. Tina Pickett (R- Centre and Clearfield counties remain on Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) drought watch.