From Channel 8’s (WGAL) 11 p.m. newscast:

”House Bill 39 Gets Special Committee Approval During Monday Night Session
HARRISBURG, Pa.—Months after Gov. Ed Rendell called a special session of the General Assembly to tackle the problem of property taxes, legislators said they have finally reached an agreement.

If it gets the approval of the full House and Senate, House Bill 39 would begin offering property tax relief this year. The plan calls for an expansion of the current property tax and rent rebate program with $200 million that would be borrowed from the lottery fund. That money would be repaid to the lottery fund once the state begins to make money from the new slot machine parlors.

However, not everyone would see property tax relief this year.

“We focused the relief to senior citizens who most need it,” said Sen. David Brightbill, R-District 48 “… senior citizens with more modest income, and more modest tax bills.”

Relief for all homeowners would be possible next year.

In 2007, all school districts would be required to hold a referendum during the primary election, giving voters the option of reducing real estate taxes in exchange for paying a wage tax.

The state would also use $400 million of slots parlor money to help reduce the property taxes of every homeowner.

The bill still needs to be approved by the full House and Senate. Lawmakers said they are confident the proposal will soon become a reality.

“I believe for the most part, for our members at this time, this is about what we are able to do,” said Rep. David Steil, R-District 31.”

That’s the best they can do?!?  Come on!!!  I agree seniors need relief, don’t get me wrong, but what about the rest of us....young working families with children, older adults planning on retirement, young singles.....everyone is trying to make ends meet.  Gasoline, fuel, electric prices all going up, which means everything will be going up.  We know the price of gas is being passed onto consumers for everything we buy.  Sam Rohrer’s Plan for PA would have been the best they can do.  They had no problem giving themselves a raise.  Now they’re banking on slots money for property tax relief?  And they don’t mention how much the “wage tax” will be.  I couldn’t find HB 39 on the Legislative web site - at least not the one addressed above.  I guess they’ll update the site and the bill will be posted tomorrow.  If this bill is passed as expected, I guess this will be the last we hear of school property tax relief for quite a while.  I’m sure all our elected officials are just patting themselves on the back.  And Stan Saylor (I will write to him if this bill is signed off on) said “the House will not accept anything less than a 50% decrease in school property taxes.  The House will not compromise on this issue.” So what happened?  This just really gets my dander up!

WHP’s (Channel 21) web site has a good synopsis of the Property Tax Reform bill.  I was going to copy and paste it here, but it states “ ©2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.”
With all the copyright infringement fines, arrests, etc., I don’t want to take a chance.  So, if you’re interested, see:
http://www.whptv.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=F84C2B68-6CFB-4C52-AAA0-F41E8508203B

House Postpones Vote on Property Tax Reform

http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/31862.php

Not that the package is worth voting on… it is a typical BS package that still relies too much on non-existant gambling revenue. When will they learn. I wonder where Stan Saylor stands on this package… he has been very quiet in the press about it.

Hopefully Stan meant what he said: “The House will not accept anything less than a 50% decrease in school property taxes.  The House will not compromise on this issue.” This, of course, remains to be seen.

Ronald Reagan once said to the former Soviet Union… “Trust but verify.”

I feel the same way with Stan. I think he has good intentions, but he is a career politician at this point and needs to be monitored and held accountable for his actions. I support his effort to move into a leadership position because I think it would help us in the long run, but, I hope he does not compromise to buy votes.

Ronald Reagan once said to the former Soviet Union… “Trust but verify.”

I feel the same way with Stan. I think he has good intentions, but he is a career politician at this point and needs to be monitored and held accountable for his actions. I support his effort to move into a leadership position because I think it would help us in the long run, but, I hope he does not compromise to buy votes.

He is currently in a leadership - Minority Whip if I’m not mistaken so where is the help?????

U.S. Senator Arlen Spector said the same thing for the last 3 elections and voters believed him. Spector said he would be in a leadership position and would be in a better position to help Pennsylvania. Well we’re still waiting! The only help I see being received is Spector and his commrades helping themselves at the taxpayers trough. Are you aware that while Americans are focused on the steady outrageous increase in gasoline prices Congress repealed the law they passed 12 years ago prohibiting them from receiving gifts and money from lobbyists?

Previous congressman Bill Goodling said the same thing and what help did 19th congressional districts constituents receive?????

Stan is a nice person but feeding at the trough has to stop for all legislators both federal and state. The only way to send a loud and clear message is to not vote for them this primary. They don’t have an opponent in the primary. Take advantage of the opportunity given to you as a voter and don’t cast a vote for them. When they see that they have received even as little as one-fourth or even one half of the votes they received the last primary election they ran in, then and only then will they get the message loud and clear.