Since joining the Senate, I've traveled the state listening to you - and I've heard the same concerns again and again. Many Pennsylvanians want better, more sensible government, not bigger government.

Today, excessive government regulations are making it difficult for employers to hire and create jobs. Federal red tape is imposing burdensome, unfunded mandates on local cities, townships and counties. Small businesses and farmers are struggling to comply with new directives from overreaching agencies. Government waste, fraud and abuse continue eating up taxpayer dollars at a time when many households across Pennsylvania are watching every penny they spend.

Have you Had Enough?

Through my Had Enough? public service campaign, I'm asking Pennsylvanians to tell me their experiences with unreasonable red tape, government excess and overregulation. I want to hear how federal agencies have not worked for you and how we in Washington can improve and streamline government. This isn't about disparaging government - it's about helping you, finding solutions, and making the federal government work more effectively for Pennsylvanians.

So if you've Had Enough?, let me hear from you - please click here or scroll down to the "submit your idea" button to share your experiences with me. I want to hear if a new federal regulation is preventing an employer from expanding and investing in your community; if the federal government is imposing an unfunded mandate on your town; or if new agency rules and regulations are impeding your livelihood.

Please note: If you have a traditional casework issue (passport, Social Security, disability, visas, VA assistance, etc.), please do not submit your query through Had Enough?. Please click here to visit my Federal Agency Help page for assistance.

I look forward to hearing how the federal government can work better for you.

I introduced the Stopping Intrusive Government Now (SIGN) Act in December to protect municipalities' from the costs of complying with a federal unfunded mandate.

The SIGN Act, S. 2021, would eliminate the federal government's ability to issue a mandatory minimum reflectivity standard for street signs and forever protect municipalities' unique street signs.

I announced this legislation's introduction at an event in Southeast Pennsylvania's Lower Merion Township. Officials in several municipalities, including Scranton and Lower Merion, contacted me about enforcement of a longstanding Transportation Department mandate that would require all municipalities to replace their current street signs with new signs that meet federally approved reflectivity standards.

According to the mandate, local towns would be responsible for paying for the replacement of current street signs - about $1.5 million for Lower Merion alone.

Working with the Transportation Department, I achieved a historical exemption for Lower Merion to preserve the township's character and cast-iron street signs. And Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in late August that the department would eliminate the street sign replacement mandate.

However, municipalities might have to replace their historical street signs with new reflective signs should a historical sign need replacing, so my legislation would clarify the issue and allow municipalities to keep their communities' signs.

This legislation will ensure that our communities aren't forced to foot the bill for expensive federal mandates. While I appreciate the Transportation Department's willingness to work with me on this issue, we need this legislation to ensure that the federal government cannot impose this mandate on our communities in the future. There is no evidence that these existing signs constitute a danger, and keeping these signs will preserve local history while saving communities money during difficult financial times.

I joined with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)  to introduce the bipartisan Earmark Elimination Act of 2011. This legislation would build on the temporary moratorium on earmarks scheduled to expire at the end of 2012 and would permanently ban earmarks from the legislative process.

The legislation would:

• Permanently ban all earmarks.

• Define earmarks as any congressionally directed spending item, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit.

• Create a point of order against any legislation containing an earmark. The point of order would only apply to the actual earmark, rather than to the entire bill.

• Require a two-thirds vote to waive the point of order.

Unfortunately, a number of congressional members are clamoring to reinstate the wasteful earmarking process that forced taxpayers to fund such pet projects as the Bridge to Nowhere. According to The Washington Post, lawmakers are trying to fund special-interest projects by finding loopholes in the current earmark moratorium. In addition, the chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee has vowed: "I am going to do everything to reinstate earmarks." (Roll Call, 10/04/11)

With some members of Congress clamoring for a return to wasteful earmark spending, it is time for Congress to make the current moratorium on special-interest giveaways a permanent ban. For years, earmarks played a role in fueling the overspending in Washington and undermining the integrity of our legislative process. We cannot afford to allow Congress to resume earmarking and playing pork barrel politics with taxpayer dollars.

You can watch a video of our press conference announcing this important legislation here.

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