No surprise here. A coalition of nearly three dozen taxpayer groups has endorsed state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, for governor of Pennsylvania.Rohrer, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, has been the leading proponent of eliminating property taxes in Pennsylvania.
A member of the Legislature since 1993, Rohrer is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act.
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations sees Rohrer's election as the best chance of killing the state's onerous school property tax.
From a press released issued by PCTA:
Rep. Rohrer has, through many legislative sessions, introduced the School Property Tax Elimination Act, legislation that would abolish school property taxes for all Pennsylvania homeowners and restructure a crumbling, antiquated education finance system. During the announcement of his candidacy on Nov. 17, Rep. Rohrer emphasized that school property tax elimination will be one of the five main planks of his campaign platform and a priority of his administration.The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations is an alliance of 35 grassroots taxpayer advocacy groups from across Pennsylvania that is dedicated to equitable education funding reform through the enactment of the School Property Tax Elimination Act. For more about PCTA's efforts, visit the group's Web site.
Rebecca Heller of The Patriot's Voice, one of the PCTA member groups, said, "Sam Rohrer is not just a candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, he is a true statesman and patriot. Rep. Rohrer selflessly devoted many years of his life to work for the citizens in his district. I do not live in his district, but because of his initiatives, I have always felt he was "my" representative. His goals have always reached much further than district lines. We will work for Sam Rohrer as hard as he has always worked for us."
Joel Sears of the York County Taxpayers Council, a PCTA member group, added: "The first time I met Sam, I knew there was something special about him. He is a true servant of the public whose principles align him with the vast majority of Pennsylvanians, not just his constituents. His approach is tireless, independent of any special interest groups, and always focused on the 'rightness' of the outcome. I am proud and privileged to know Sam."
For more information on Rohrer's bid for for governor, visit his campaign Web site, www.samrohrer.org
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
4 comments:
I live in Sam Rhorer's district and was pleased to learn that he has entered the race for governor; perhaps we will be rid of him at last. I am unaware of any benefit we have realized from his years of service in Harrisburg.
Sam's efforts to expand and increase sales tax are regressive. Moreover, they are unlikely to yield sufficient revenues to offset the loss of revenue from property taxes, as he recommends.
While not in the field of education, I am convinced that his recommendations for tax reform would reduce financial support for public education and lessen education in the Commonwealth to the level of a thirld world country.
I believe that an amendment to the Pennsylvania consititution to permit a graduated income tax would be far more beneficial. It would be more equatable, yield more revenue and enable the reduction, if not the elimination, of property tax. (I understand that Pennsylvania is the only state, of those with an income tax, which does not have a graduated income tax.)
As a voter in Sam Rhorer's district I was pleased to learn of his decision to run for governor; perhaps we will be rid of him at last. I cannot think of anything beneficial thing he has done for us during his service in Harrisburg.
His recommendations to expand and increase income are regressive. Moreover, his recommendations to replace property tax with his list of sales tax reforms (1. expand the number of taxable items; 2. increase the tax rate) are more likely to reduce the financial support of education in Pennsylvania.
While not in the education field, I am convinced that such a reduction would reduce the quality of education in the Commonwealth to that of a third world country. Such a reduction in education would lessen Pennsylvania's competitive position in a global market.
After much study I am convinced that the introduction of a graduated income tax would be far more beneficial than those supported by Sam Rhorer. Among the states that rely on a person income tax for revenue Pennsylvania is the only state with a fixed percentage income tax, fixed by the constitution. I am convinced that a graduated income tax would better serve a number of common goals: 1. increased equity, 2. increased revenue, and 3. reduce dependence on property tax. Moreover, the changeover to a graduated income tax would entail little administrative overhead, following approval by the tax payers of Pennsylvania.
Would the John who left the previous commments be the same John who lost to Sam Rohrer in last November's race for the 128th House seat? Sounds like sour grapes to me.
I apologize for the double entry of my original post.
I wish to inform anonymous that I am not the John who lost to Sam last election.
Nor are my comments to be taken as sour grapes. Simply put, I am firmly convinced that a graduated income tax would be the most equitable way to reduce our dependence on property tax while providing adequate funds for quality education in Pennsylvania.
I think the matter of a graduated income tax should be put before voters for consideration.
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