PA GOP: REPUBLICANS DEFEAT DEMOCRAT TAX INCREASE
HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason was elated after hearing the news that hardworking Pennsylvanian s will not have to suffer the burden of Governor Ed Rendell's plan for a major increase in the personal income tax.
"I am pleased to see that concrete and positive steps are being taken to reach a fiscally responsible solution to our current budget crisis that does not raise taxes on hardworking Pennsylvanians," Gleason said. "This is a major victory for the taxpayers of our Commonwealth and I am proud of our Republican leaders in the state Senate and House for flatly rejecting the Governor and the Democrat Party's attempt to impose a major tax increase."
Over the last few weeks, Democrats in Harrisburg have proven just how out-of-touch they are with hardworking Pennsylvanians. Democrats everywhere used scare tactics and the Governor traveled the state on the taxpayer dime trying to convince hardworking Pennsylvanians that his 16% tax increase was necessary and that an additional $500 a year wasn't really that much money. Perhaps the most out-of-touch comment came from Rep. Phyllis Mundy of Luzerne County who, in the midst of stressing the need for the Governor's major tax increase, was quoted in The Patriot News as saying, "The people just don't get it."
Gleason added, "Sorry Representative Mundy, the people do get it! They can't afford another tax increase and they are glad it failed. They also believe that the state government should work to control their spending, just as other Pennsylvania families have been forced to do during these tough economic times.
"Our Party is founded on the principles of lower taxes and fiscal responsibility, and the budget plan being supported by our Republican leaders adheres to those beliefs. This is a big win for our Party and we are ecstatic that we were able to defeat such a major tax increase that would have cut the budgets of hardworking Pennsylvania families."
Saturday, July 11, 2009
'The people do get it, no tax increase'
From the Republican Party of Pennsylvania:
Friday, July 10, 2009
Keep the pressure on lawmakers to prevent tax hike
As of Friday, 11 state Senators and 73 state Representatives have made the affirmation to oppose new taxes on Pennsylvania families and businesses, according to the Commonwealth Foundation, but it takes 26 Senators or 102 Representatives to stop a tax increase.
Taxpayers must keep the pressure on the Legislature to oppose any of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed tax increases.
Find out if your area lawmakers have signed the No Tax pledge here.
You can also sign an online petition opposing new taxes at http://pleasenomoretaxes.org/
Taxpayers must keep the pressure on the Legislature to oppose any of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed tax increases.
Find out if your area lawmakers have signed the No Tax pledge here.
You can also sign an online petition opposing new taxes at http://pleasenomoretaxes.org/
PA House GOP unveils no-tax-increase budget
A day after effectively killing Gov. Ed Rendell's call to raise the state income tax by 16 percent, Pennsylvania House Republicans have enveiled a balanced General Fund budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year that calls for no tax increases.House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-66) and Republican Appropriations Chairman Mario Civera (R-164) announced the House Republican Caucus' $27.27 billion, no-tax-increase budget proposal at a Harrisburg press conference.
From a press release issued by Smith's office:
"Pennsylvanians expect a balanced budget, and they can't afford more taxes. House Republicans are offering a plan which meets those expectations," Smith said. "House Democrats have gone from one extreme to the other, yet, despite the budget deadline having passed more than a week ago, they still haven’t brought a budget bill to the floor.
"As consequences mount without a budget, Republicans think the Democrats' approach is irresponsible."
The Republican's fiscally responsible alternative increases funding for public education and continues funding for state parks, hospitals and universities.
"Today, we're presenting a $27.27 billion budget with no tax increases that ensures each school district gets increased funding. It continues necessary government services and avoids the thousands of layoffs projected by the governor and House Democrats. The Republican priority has always been protecting public safety, human services and educating our kids ... our budget proposal accomplishes it."
To balance the budget in the face of declining revenues and a $3.2 billion deficit, House Republicans are proposing a tax amnesty program to collect an estimated $1.5 billion in back taxes, as well as leasing of state-owned lands for natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region.
"We have brought to the people of Pennsylvania a balanced and fiscally responsible spending plan that does not raise a single tax. The governor and House Democrats said it could not be done, and we are here today to show them it can," Civera said.
"This plan does what every family in the Commonwealth has to do every day – it budgets what we can afford. It protects the state's priorities like education and public safety, and it ensures we are prepared for what may lie ahead.
"I admit it does not come without some pain. There were a lot of tough decisions made in this budget. But we took leadership and did what needed to be done."
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A win for PA taxpayers thanks to GOP
Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh), Republican vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to news that the state Personal Income Tax (PIT) is no longer the focus of budget negotiations in Harrisburg:"The voices of the taxpayers and legislators from both parties opposing this PIT increase are finally being heard. Developments today indicate that budget negotiators are backing off their insistence that the 16 percent PIT increase be the crux of negotiations.
"Republicans have been fighting for weeks to remove this $1.5 billion a year tax increase from the negotiating table and we are seeing some wiggle room because House Democrats are not finding the votes within their own caucus in support of this.
"We are also seeing some Republican ideas being incorporated into discussions that would enable passage of a budget that does not include the massive increase. Republican resistance to the tax increase has paid off - we have remained unified, and House Democrats are not seeing broad support for this PIT increase among their rank and file. Republicans have remained steadfast and forced the hand of the governor and Democrats to consider alternatives. The PIT should not be the lynchpin of resolving the state's budget crisis.
"Taxpayers deserve some credit too. Their calls to member offices, editorial letters and their comments in e-mails have put the pressure on all House and Senate members to consider alternatives to resolving the impasse. This collective effort has called into question the wisdom of insisting that a PIT increase is the only solution.
"We still have a tough situation to resolve - the state collected $3.25 billion less than it expected to during the last fiscal year - and we still need to fill that budget gap and gaps foreseen in subsequent years, but there are a number of ideas out there that can help to do this without this onerous $4.5 billion tax increase over a three-year period on wage earners and small businesses that pay the Personal Income Tax.
"People are realizing that if they are forced to live on less, government should take notice and cut costs without increasing the financial burden on taxpayers."
A casino for Berks County?
Anyone familiar with the Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel (formerly a Sheraton) knows it's not exactly a "hotel resort" but then again it's up to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to decide if the owners qualify for the state's remaining Category 3 slots license.
Gaming Control Board Receives One New Application for a Category 3 Resort Slots License
Gaming Control Board Receives One New Application for a Category 3 Resort Slots License
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Rep. Schroder: 'Tax hike not the answer'
Tax Hike Not the Answer to Pennsylvania's Spending CrisisBy Rep. Curt Schroder
R-Chester County
Gov. Ed Rendell has announced plans to raise the Personal Income Tax of Pennsylvania taxpayers by 16 percent, or a half percentage point increase as his answer to the state’s $3.2 billion budget shortfall.
The Rendell administration is spending a lot of time selling the idea that we have a revenue crisis in this state and more money is needed. We don't have a revenue crisis in Pennsylvania. We have a spending crisis and it's time we acknowledge it and begin dealing with it responsibly.
The state Senate recently passed a budget bill that was widely criticized for the depth of cuts it proposed. While the Senate bill was far from a perfect solution, it did reflect the economic realities facing lawmakers and Pennsylvania citizens.
Now is the time to scale back state government, to cut non-essential services and discretionary grant programs, and hold the line on spending. Yet, the governor's original budget proposed $700 million in new state spending even in the face of a massive deficit, at a time when people are losing their jobs and losing their homes to foreclosure. Now he proposes to take even more out of their paychecks. This is not a responsible or acceptable solution.
Last year, before passage of the 2008-09 budget, we were warned by Senate budget analysts that the proposed spending plan would result in a $1 billion deficit this year. They warned that revenue estimates were too high and unrealistic, and one-time revenue sources were being used. I rejected that budget, as did 31 of my House colleagues.
The taxpayers of this commonwealth need to know what is at stake. In order to maintain the level of state spending the governor is proposing, a broad-based tax increase like the one he has proposed would be necessary. Our current economic crisis could have been avoided if Pennsylvania's spending increases had stayed within the rate of inflation during the Rendell years. Under Rendell, the state budget has increased nearly 40 percent -- double the rate of inflation. Had we held spending to a modest 3 percent in each of the past six years, our spending would be in line with the revenues coming in today. Our budget would be balanced, important programs would be retained and there would be no danger of a tax increase.
Instead we are in a budget crisis. We are left with no easy choices, but the choices are clear. We must live within our means or prepare for a major tax increase. I will not vote for a tax increase, and I challenge those members of the General Assembly who are critical of efforts to budget responsibly to come clean with taxpayers and let them know which taxes they will raise in order to pass a budget that increases spending to the levels proposed by the governor.
Rep. Curt Schroder is a Republican who represents the 155th House District in Chester County. For more information, visit his Web site, www.curtschroder.com
Newspaper: Public notices bill would do most harm to local taxpayers
An excellent editorial published in today's edition of The Mercury putting the push by Democrats in the state House to remove the requirement that government bodies place public notices in newspapers.
The people behind the bill say it will save money, but when was the last time anyone in Harrisburg saved you money?
From the editorial:
The people behind the bill say it will save money, but when was the last time anyone in Harrisburg saved you money?
From the editorial:
Is there one taxpayer in this state who believes his or her taxes will go down if this becomes law?Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.
Is there one taxpayer who believes giving state government the right to set up permanent public notice Web sites, maintained by state employees, will be cheaper than the same service provided by private industry?
And cost is only part of the equation. Should the state government be in charge of informing taxpayers how their state, counties, boroughs and townships plan to spend tax money? The issue once again is information about how local government works.
Just this week those without Internet access would have missed notices that the borough of Pottstown was accepting bids for materials for the wastewater treatment plant and that the zoning hearing boards in East Vincent and Lower Pottsgrove townships would be holding hearings on property development requests.
No other state in this nation has gone to Internet-only legal advertising and there is a reason. The most significant reason is a large portion of the public would be uninformed.
Help stop the Obama energy tax
The Obama energy tax passed the House by a 219-212 margin, but it can be stopped in the Senate. If you don't want to pay nearly $2 trillion in new taxes on electricity and other forms of energy to give more money to Al Gore and his global warming cabal, contact your U.S. senator and tell him to vote NO on "cap and trade."
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7, 2005
Four years ago today, the Pennsylvania Legislature voted itself, the governor and state judges a middle-of-the-night pay raise.
The Legislature has taken hundred of votes since that fateful day, but this is the only one we're still talking about.
The pay raise led to the modern reform movement and launched a thousand bloggers, including this one.
I agree with the assessment below by Lowman S. Henry and I actually said the same thing on my radio show on July 2 when state Rep. Tom Quigley called in to discuss the latest talk in Harrisburg about a potential tax hike to get Gov. Ed Rendell out of the deficit hole he created.
One-third of the Legislature in place during the 2005 pay raise vote is gone, driven into early retirement or tossed from office by voters.
In retrospect, the amount of the pay raise is insignificant compared to the $4.5 billion income tax hike Gov. Ed Rendell is pushing this year.
I told Rep. Quigley to tell his newer colleagues (the ones who replaced the payjackers over the past two election cycles) that if they vote "yes" for any broad-based tax increase, they will be voting to end their political careers.
If the Legislature votes to increase any major tax in 2009, whether it's the income tax or a sales tax, we'll be talking about the vote four years from now.
The Legislature has taken hundred of votes since that fateful day, but this is the only one we're still talking about.
The pay raise led to the modern reform movement and launched a thousand bloggers, including this one.
I agree with the assessment below by Lowman S. Henry and I actually said the same thing on my radio show on July 2 when state Rep. Tom Quigley called in to discuss the latest talk in Harrisburg about a potential tax hike to get Gov. Ed Rendell out of the deficit hole he created.
One-third of the Legislature in place during the 2005 pay raise vote is gone, driven into early retirement or tossed from office by voters.
In retrospect, the amount of the pay raise is insignificant compared to the $4.5 billion income tax hike Gov. Ed Rendell is pushing this year.
I told Rep. Quigley to tell his newer colleagues (the ones who replaced the payjackers over the past two election cycles) that if they vote "yes" for any broad-based tax increase, they will be voting to end their political careers.
If the Legislature votes to increase any major tax in 2009, whether it's the income tax or a sales tax, we'll be talking about the vote four years from now.
Tell Ed Rendell what you think
The Pennsylvania Cable Network will dedicate Wednesday evening's programming to the state budget impasse. Beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, PCN will air a block of special "On the Issues" programs featuring key lawmakers involved in the budget process.
Following these one-on-one interviews, Lieutenant Governor Joe Scarnati and Governor Ed Rendell will take viewers' calls during two separate LIVE PCN Call-In Program specials set to air starting at 6 p.m.
Each hour-long Call-In program will give viewers an opportunity to talk directly to the featured guest by dialing toll-free at 1-877-PA6-5001.
The schedule, including replay times, for this special PA budget programming block is as follows:
Wednesday, July 8:For updated information about special budget programming and other programming information, visit the daily schedule at pcntv.com
5:00 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Mario Civera (R) – House Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Dwight Evans (D) House Majority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R) – Senate Majority Floor Leader
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Jay Costa (D) Senate Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
6:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Sen. Joe Scarnati, Lieutenant Governor/PA Senate Pro Tempore
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Governor Ed Rendell
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 1:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 13 Begins New Doe License Process
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe remind hunters that county treasurers will begin accepting antlerless deer license applications three weeks earlier than in past years.
Applications from resident hunters will be accepted by county treasurers starting Monday, July 13, nonresidents on Monday, July 27.
Read more about the new process at the link below:
July 13 Begins New Doe License Process
Applications from resident hunters will be accepted by county treasurers starting Monday, July 13, nonresidents on Monday, July 27.
Read more about the new process at the link below:
July 13 Begins New Doe License Process
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Most Berks County school boards hold the line on taxes
Six of the 18 school districts in Berks County will keep their tax rates the same for the 2009-10 school year and four other districts will increase property taxes by less than 2 percent, according to the Reading Eagle.
So much for Gov. Ed Rendell's assertion that if he doesn't increase the state income tax by 16 percent this year, school boards will be forced to raise property taxes next year. No they won't.
School boards can start living within their means like the beleaguered taxpayers who live in those districts.
"Nobody likes tax increases," Dr. Edward Albert, Tulpehocken superintendent, told the newspaper. "And if there was going to be any year you didn't have a tax increase, this was the year not to have it."
It's not like these school boards have been reluctant in the past to raise taxes. The newspapers notes that the Antietam School District, which has the highest tax rate of any Berks County district, has raised property taxes every year since 2000.
That's eight consecutive years of property tax hikes -- and Rendell (who keeps claiming he's lowered school taxes) has been governor for six of those eight years.
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
So much for Gov. Ed Rendell's assertion that if he doesn't increase the state income tax by 16 percent this year, school boards will be forced to raise property taxes next year. No they won't.
School boards can start living within their means like the beleaguered taxpayers who live in those districts.
"Nobody likes tax increases," Dr. Edward Albert, Tulpehocken superintendent, told the newspaper. "And if there was going to be any year you didn't have a tax increase, this was the year not to have it."
It's not like these school boards have been reluctant in the past to raise taxes. The newspapers notes that the Antietam School District, which has the highest tax rate of any Berks County district, has raised property taxes every year since 2000.
That's eight consecutive years of property tax hikes -- and Rendell (who keeps claiming he's lowered school taxes) has been governor for six of those eight years.
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Memo to Ed Rendell
Balancing the state budget is not rocket science. You simply spend less money than you take in. Pennsylvania families and businesses have to live within their means every day. Why can't Ed Rendell?
"Contrary to the Governor's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and spending cuts that can balance the budget without firing our police, evicting our elderly, or dumbing down our kids," says POLICY BLOG, which offers 10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax Hikes.
Some of the suggestions:
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
"Contrary to the Governor's rhetoric, there are a plethora of reforms and spending cuts that can balance the budget without firing our police, evicting our elderly, or dumbing down our kids," says POLICY BLOG, which offers 10 Ways to Balance the Budget Without Tax Hikes.
Some of the suggestions:
1) Eliminate corporate welfare. The Governor's latest General Fund budget contains over $410 million in corporate welfare.Are you listening, Ed Rendell?
2) Eliminate, privatize, or implement user fees for "private goods" - such as museums, parks, and the arts. The Governor's budget spends almost $500 million to maintain non-core functions of state government.
3) Control self-service government programs expenses like legislative leadership accounts used to fund illegal bonuses. A number of state programs and expenditures work to benefit of government official and the detriment of citizens. Rendell's revised General Fund budget about $200 million on self-benefiting expenses.
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
A message from William Warren:
The Fourth of July is a day that is usually a time when families get together for sunshine hot dogs, fun, and fireworks. Every American regardless of race, sex, income, and political party celebrates the day that the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, spurring the start of the American Revolution.
Like many other national holidays, the meaning can often be lost in the festivities. And so it is up to each of us to, in the words of Jefferson, "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
The American system of government, with the Founding Father's emphasis on "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," has inspired almost every country in the world to rise up and take control of their own destiny. Constitutional Republics have spread throughout Europe, and just this year fellow freedom fighters as far away as Iran and as near to us as Honduras are standing up for their own independence much like our Founding Fathers did more than two centuries ago.
This is America's lasting legacy. Before 1776, only two Constitutional Republics even attempted to bring any form of freedom and liberty to mankind: The Greek and Roman Empires. But the people of these great nations became apathetic, not realizing, as John F. Kennedy wisely warned, "Complacency is the jailer of freedom."
So, while the Fourth of July has become a day of festivities (celebrating if nothing else, a day by the pool or at the beach), what Americans really are observing is the fact that a relative handful of courageous citizens lit a flame of liberty and installed a form of government that has governed over unprecedented prosperity and individual liberty. And even today, "the glow from that fire can truly light the world."
Friday, July 3, 2009
81 lawmakers sign 'No Tax' pledge
We're more than half way there. As I mentioned before, the magic number is 128, which would constitute a majority in the House (102) and Senate (26) against the Rendell income tax hike.
As of today, 81 lawmakers have signed the "No Tax" pledge sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation. (Note that not a single Democrat representing Berks County is on the list.)
To check if your state senator or representative is on the list, click here.
The important numbers are in the House, where Democrats hold a 104-99 majority. Assuming all 99 Republicans vote against the Rendell tax hike, at least three Democrats must stand with taxpayers.
If your state representative is not on the list, call or e-mail him or her to find out why they want to raise your taxes.
As of today, 81 lawmakers have signed the "No Tax" pledge sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation. (Note that not a single Democrat representing Berks County is on the list.)
To check if your state senator or representative is on the list, click here.
The important numbers are in the House, where Democrats hold a 104-99 majority. Assuming all 99 Republicans vote against the Rendell tax hike, at least three Democrats must stand with taxpayers.
If your state representative is not on the list, call or e-mail him or her to find out why they want to raise your taxes.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
77 legislators sign 'No Tax' pledge
The list is growing. Some 77 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature have signed a "No Tax" pledge sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation. That's up from 57 who were on the list yesterday. Review the full list here.
Conspicuously absent from the list at Berks County Democratic lawmakers Sen. Mike O'Pake and Reps. Tom Caltagirone, David Kessler, Dante Santoni and Tim Seip. Why do they want to raise your taxes?
The magic number to defeat Gov. Ed Rendell's plan to raise the state income tax by $4.5 billion is 128. If 102 House members and 26 Senate members agree not to raise taxes, Pennsylvania families and businesses will be spared.
So far, 30 Republican members of the Senate are on record as opposing a tax increase. But the real battle is in the House, where Democrats hold a 104-99 majority. At least three Democrats have to vote against Rendell's tax hike, but more than the minimum should stand with Pennsylvania taxpayers.
If your state House member is not on the list, contact them today and find out why they want to raise your taxes. There's a complete list of lawmakers posted at http://pleasenomoretaxes.org, where you can also sign an online petition opposing a tax increase.
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