The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes that Pennsylvannia lawmakers need to revisit Act 1 of 2006, Ed Rendell's bogus scheme to stem rising property taxes. The legislation has failed miserably, much like most of Rendell's schemes.

From the editorial:

The 2006 state law that was supposed to give taxpayers at least some say in school budget increases has instead led to continuing property tax hikes -- with marginal public recourse.

Unlike in most states, Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have carte blanche to nose-thumb taxpayers -- most notoriously in union contracts, which become public after the dealing is done.

Pennsylvanians deserve a meaningful say in what their school boards spend. And voter referendums shouldn't be the exception to the rule. That change begins by reforming Act 1.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

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.

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."

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.

For more information on Rohrer's bid for for governor, visit his campaign Web site, www.samrohrer.org

Working families in Pennsylvania pay a far higher share of their income in state and local taxes than their wealthiest counterparts, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy.

Other highlights (or low lights) from the study:

* Pennsylvania families earning less than $19,000 - the poorest fifth of Pennsylvania taxpayers - pay 11.3% of their income in Pennsylvania state and local taxes.

* Middle-income Pennsylvania taxpayers - those earning between $35,000 and $56,000 - pay 9.6% of their income in Pennsylvania state and local taxes.

* The richest Pennsylvania taxpayers - with average incomes of $1,369,600 - pay only 5% of their income in Pennsylvania state and local taxes.

* After accounting for federal deduction offsets, the discrepancy is even starker: the poorest fifth pay 11.2% of their income in state and local taxes, middle-income families pay 9.1%, and the richest Pennsylvanians pay 3.9%.

* Washington, Florida, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Alabama were named as the 10 Most Regressive Tax States. Pennsylvania ranked ninth.

The review the entire report, "Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States," follow the link below:

New Report Ranks Pennsylvania Among 'Terrible 10' Most Regressive Tax States

For the past six years, Gov. Ed Rendell has opposed efforts by state Rep. Sam Rohrer's efforts to expand the state sales tax in order to eliminate school property taxes.

Now that Gov. Rendell is floating the idea of expanding the state sales tax to help cover his $3.2 billion budget deficit, Rohrer is among the first state lawmakers to publicly condemn the idea.

From a press released issued today by Rohrer, a Republican who represents the 128th District in Berks County:

"The governor seems unable to understand that, on taxes, no means no," Rohrer said. "There is only one acceptable solution to the ongoing budget stalemate. The state must reduce spending to match its income. State government should not be adding to the burden of working families by raising taxes during this economic recession. That would be cold-hearted and wrong. Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve a compassionate government that does not kick them while they're down."

Rohrer is the Republican chairman of the House Finance Committee and the sponsor of the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA), a plan to free Pennsylvania homeowners from the burdensome property tax. Rohrer's plan would use an expanded sales tax, among other revenue sources, to fund education in the Commonwealth.

Rohrer warned residents not to be confused by the governor's proposal. While Rohrer's is about eliminating property taxes, the governor's is about expanding the state budget.

"My plan offers the hope of a property tax-free Pennsylvania," Rohrer said. "The governor's proposal is just another attempt to dig deeper into the pockets of taxpayers. He just wants more money to spend on more government."

Rendell is proposing the sales tax expansion after his earlier proposal to increase the state income tax was shot down by the General Assembly.

"The governor just doesn't get it," Rohrer said. "Whether it's an income tax, a sales tax or any other tax hike proposal he cares to offer, people just can't afford it right now. Instead of always expecting taxpayers to sacrifice and do more with less, the governor might actually have to sacrifice for a change."

Rohrer also noted it would be interesting to see which House Democrats would rise to support the governor's call for an expansion in the state sales tax to pay for additional state government spending.

"In the past, some House Democrats have adamantly opposed my plan to use a sales tax expansion to eliminate school property taxes," Rohrer said. "Will those same lawmakers now rise to support the governor's proposal to expand the tax to pay for more government? If that's the case, they would essentially be saying that they'd support a sales tax expansion to help the governor, but not to help homeowners. That's one heck of a message to send to property taxpayers in your district."

Rohrer said he will encourage his colleagues in the General Assembly who have supported the SPTEA to oppose the governor's sales tax expansion.

"The sales tax was instituted in 1953 for education only. It should remain for education only," Rohrer said. "It should not be used as a back door into the pockets of taxpayers to pay for more government spending."

With the state budget stalemate dominating the news, hardly anyone is talking about property tax relief. David Baldinger, administrator, of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, checks in with this update on the elimination of property taxes front:

It's been quite a while since the last PTCC Update and many of you have written to ask what's happening with HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA). In a word, nothing. The General Assembly and the House and Senate leadership are far too occupied with budget concerns right now to consider any far-reaching legislation.

The SPTEA has been fully drafted and is still available for co-sponsorship. It is Representative Sam Rohrer's intention to issue a second co-sponsorship memorandum shortly and then formally introduce the bill this autumn.

In the meantime, if you want to help you can contact your Representative to request his or her co-sponsorship of the School Property Tax Elimination Act. The bill currently has 26 sponsors but more is always better. The current sponsors are listed below; please contact your Representative if he or she is not on this list. In many cases you will be offered phony excuses why they won't co-sponsor or why the plan won’t work, but this is almost always because of petty political maneuvering that has nothing to do with the worthiness of the bill. Accept no excuses!

The current School Property Tax Elimination Act co-sponsors:

Rep. Sam Rohrer R-128 (Berks)
Rep. Kerry Benninghoff R-171 (Centre, Mifflin)
Rep. Karen Boback R-117 (Columbia, Luzerne, Wyoming)
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone D-127 (Berks)
Rep. Jim Cox R-129 (Berks)
Rep. Tom Creighton R-37 (Lancaster)
Rep. Gary Day R-187 (Berks, Lehigh)
Rep. Gordon Denlinger R-99 (Lancaster)
Rep. Russell Fairchild R-85 (Snyder, Union)
Rep. Jaret Gibbons D-10 (Beaver, Butler, Lawrence)
Rep. Keith Gillespie R-47 (York)
Rep. Neal Goodman D-123 (Schuylkill)
Rep. Seth Grove R-196 (York)
Rep. C. Adam Harris R-82 (Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder)
Rep. Rob Kauffman R-89 (Cumberland, Franklin)
Rep. Mark Keller R-86 (Franklin, Perry)
Rep. Jerry Knowles R-124 (Berks, Schuylkill)
Rep. Tim Mahoney D-51 (Fayette)
Rep. Bob Mensch R-147 (Montgomery)
Rep. Merle Phillips R-108 (Northumberland, Snyder)
Rep. Thomas Quigley R-146 (Montgomery)
Rep. Dante Santoni D-126 (Berks)
Rep. Stan Saylor R-94 (York)
Rep. Curt Schroder R-155 (Chester)
Rep. Tim Seip D-125 (Berks, Schuylkill)
Rep. RoseMarie Swanger R-102 (Lebanon)

The PTCC and the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations send our heartfelt gratitude to those Representatives who have agreed to co-sponsor the SPTEA. If your Representative is on this list, we STRONGLY request that you contact him or her to thank them for their co-sponsorship. These legislators are always very encouraged to know that their help is appreciated.

Whether you are contacting your Representative to thank them or to request their co-sponsorship, you can find their contact information by Zip+4 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

Despite a $3.2 billion budget deficit, Gov. Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania needs to spend more on public education. But new U.S. Census Bureau statistics show Pennsylvania is already among the leaders in per-pupil spending among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Pennsylvania spent $23.8 billion on public education in the 2006-07 school year, the most recent figures available, according to the Census Bureau.

Public schools in Pennsylvania spent $11,098 per pupil in 2007, compared to the national average of $9,666, according to the Census Bureau.

Pennsylvania ranked 13th in the nation in per-pupil spending, behind 11 other states and the District of Columbia.

From the new report, Public Education Finances: 2007:

On average, each state spent $9,666 per pupil in 2007, a 5.8 percent increase over 2006. Of total public school financing, state governments contributed 47.6 percent, followed by local sources, which contributed 44.1 percent, and federal sources, which made up the remaining 8.3 percent.

"Public school systems have to balance income and expenses, just like other publicly run entities," said Lisa Blumerman, chief of the Governments Division at the Census Bureau. "This survey shows us the unique blend that each school system applies to utilize the financial resources it has available."

In total, public school systems received $556.9 billion in funding from federal, state and local sources in 2007, a 6.9 percent increase from 2006. Total expenditures were $559.9 billion, a 6.3 percent increase.

You can download a PDF version of the report from the Census Bureau Web site.

I received a flier over the weekend from four candidates running as a team for my local school board. I looked over the four-page flier and could not find a single reference to keeping property taxes from going up. Isn't that what we elect people to do on school boards?

School administrators have their own lobbying association in Harrisburg and typically do not live in the district so they don't care how high taxes go up each year. The teachers have the most powerful union in the state watching their back.

Who do the taxpayers have? Isn't the elected school board suppose to represent the interests of the beleaguered property owners who have seen their taxes go up 40 percent since Gov. Ed Rendell signed the casino gambling bill way back in 2004 with a promise that all Pennsylvania residents would see substantial property tax reduction?

If they're not looking out for the taxpayers of the district, what do the four candidates stand for?

According to their campaign literature, their platform consists of four items:

1) Responsive Budgeting (Translation: Rubber-stamp everything the administration wants to spend money on.)

2) Quality Education (Translation: Give the teachers' union everything it wants during contract negotiations.)

3) Improving the Quality of life for All Citizens -- Young and Old (Translation: Drive seniors out of the district with the highest tax rate in the county and prevent young people from being able to afford their first home by high taxes)

4) Preserving our Sense of Community (Translation: Fight any efforts to merge the smallest school district in the county with a neighboring district to save money, improve offerings for students and reduce property taxes).

I'm glad the four candidates dropped a flier in my mailbox to remind me which candidates I won't be voting for on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania has posted a breakdown by school district of how much property tax savings qualified homeowners can expect to see this year under Gov. Ed Rendell's idea of "tax relief."

The Pennsylvania Department of Education says there is $613 million available from slot parlors for school property tax relief, which is not exactly the $1 billion minimum Gov. Rendell promised when he signed the slots bill into law in 2004.

"For many homeowners the amount of the relief is about the same as last year and varies between $32 and $641, depending on your school district," notes the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition. "Don't get too excited about your huge and historic (Gov. Rendell's words) 'relief' money and don't plan to spend all of it in one place!"

Like many of Rendell's promises since he came into office in 2003, property tax relief remains elusive.

As state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, noted when he announced the re-introduction of House Bill 1275 earlier this week:

"When we first introduced the idea of school property tax elimination, our proposal ran parallel with Gov, Rendell's proposal to use gambling proceeds to relieve — never solve — the property tax burden. Here we are, seven years later, and homeowners have received just one payment, and a pittance at that, to help with their taxes. Had we enacted the School Property Tax Elimination Act back then, we would have already passed through the four-year phase out. Homeowners would not only be free from paying any school property taxes, but the state would have had the time to build up the excess revenue in order to weather this current economic storm."

The PTCC, which is a coalition of more than two dozen tax groups across the state, is backing House Bill 1275, The Property Tax Elimination Act, re-introduced by Rep. Rohrer. HB 1275 would phase out all school property taxes over a four-year period.

The PTCC has launched a petition drive urging lawmakers to co-sponsor Rohrer's bill. You can sign the petition online or download copies to gather signatures at the group's Web site, http://ptcc.us

Give state Rep. Sam Rohrer credit for tenacity.

The veteran Berks County lawmaker, who has earned a statewide reputation for his efforts to eliminate the much-hated property tax, is going to give it another try.

Rohrer has introduced a new version of the the School Property Tax Elimination Act in the state House of Representatives, where the Republican lawmaker is now the minority chairman of the Finance Committee.

Earlier versions of the plan failed to win enough support to pass in the Democratic-controlled House, but Rohrer has a new argument in pushing the bill.

The elimination of property taxes would jumpstart Pennsylvania's economy by allowing homeowners to keep billions of dollars they are now forced to pay for public education.

"Compared to the federal stimulus of $18 billion over three years, the SPTEA would infuse approximately $7 billion annually into the economy, as homeowners are freed from their onerous property tax bills," Rohrer said in a written statement. "The magnitude of the plan simply dwarfs any other options, without using government spending or subsidies, and puts billions into the hands of our citizens to pay their bills, invest in the economy or support local businesses.

"No tax should have the power to leave you homeless," Rohrer continued. "Seniors citizens, retired couples, young families, recently laid-off workers—through no fault of their own, all these people are standing on the precipice of losing their homes, as their pensions have plummeted and incomes have been reduced or even eliminated. For families struggling to make mortgage payments, this plan offers the only true hope of remaining in their homes and securing their home ownership."

Instead of relying on local school property taxes, school districts would receive their primary source of funding from an expanded state sales tax. The sales tax rate would remain at 6 percent, but would be expanded to include some currently tax-exempt items. Food, clothing, prescription medications and other essential items and services would not be taxed under Rohrer's plan. The tax elimination bill also would use new rent and royalty payments generated through expanded natural gas harvesting activities on state forest lands to fund Pennsylvania schools.

Rohrer is quick to point out his play is much different than those offered by House Democrats, which would reduce, but not eliminate, property taxes.

"Partial reduction is not the answer," Rohrer stated. "Taxes continue to rise unabated, and the governor's so-called 'Property Tax Relief Fund' barely makes a dent in what most taxpayers have to pay. It's a political response, designed to alleviate the problem and never solve it, and it has distracted from the real issue. The only solution is complete and total elimination."

Under Rohrer's plan, funds from the expanded state sales tax and the revenues from Marcellus Shale natural gas development would be deposited into a newly created Education Operating Fund. The money in the fund would be used to implement a four-year phase out of school district property taxes. The phase-out would ensure a smooth transition into the new system without disrupting normal operations of either schools or businesses.

"When we first introduced the idea of school property tax elimination, our proposal ran parallel with Gov. Rendell's proposal to use gambling proceeds to relieve—never solve—the property tax burden," Rohrer said. "Here we are, seven years later, and homeowners have received just one payment, and a pittance at that, to help with their taxes. Had we enacted the SPTEA back then, we would have already passed through the four-year phase out. Homeowners would not only be free from paying any school property taxes, but the state would have had the time to build up the excess revenue in order to weather this current economic storm."

The School Property Tax Elimination Act will be introduced as House Bill 1275, the same number it had in the last legislative session, when Democrats scuttled the bill.

For more information about the proposal, visit Rohrer's Web site at SamRohrer.com

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered Allegheny County to reassess the value of all property in the county.

That decision will cost the county approximately $40 million, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and that's just the beginning.

Not only will taxpayers have to cough up an extra $40 million (a 20-percent property tax increase right off the bat), but once the reassessment is done, many homeowners face the prospect of paying more in property taxes.

This is the legacy of 30 years of failure by the Pennsylvania Legislature to address the state's onerous property tax system. This is the failure of Gov. Ed Rendell to deal with property taxes over the past 6 years year.

The Supreme Court made it clear in the Allegheny County case that it intends to order every county in Pennsylvania to do the same. So if you think your property taxes are high now, wait until your county conducts a reassessment.

Some in the Legislature are attempting to address the issue, but the majority of lawmakers have their heads stuck in the sand over the issue.

The newest member of the Pennsylvania Senate wants to give Pennsylvania voters an opportunity to have a say on property taxes.

Property tax reform has been debated the Legislature for more than 30 years without any results. Efforts to eliminate property taxes have stalled in both the House and Senate, with legislative leaders reluctant to change the current system of funding public education.

Sen. David Argall, R-29th Dist., wants to give taxpayers a chance to tell lawmakers exactly what they want done with property taxes.

Senate Bill 818 and House Bill 637 would allow voters to decide between the current property tax system and the three most popular property tax replacement proposals in the General Assembly, based on the number of co-sponsors for legislation in the House and Senate, Argall said at a press conference Monday.

The property tax proposals would be placed on the November ballot. Voters would then be given the opportunity to choose between the three proposals or leave the current property tax structure intact, Argall said.

"I have introduced legislation that would allow voters to bring real property tax reform, through the touch of a button in the voting booth in November," Argall said.

While the referendum is non-binding, it should show legislators who have consistently opposed property tax reform that most Pennsylvanians support some form of property tax relief, said Rep. Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist., who is a co-sponsor of Argall’s bill in the state House.

Co-sponsors of Argall's legislation in the Senate include: Sens. John Rafferty, Michael Waugh, Michael Brubaker, Kim Ward, Richard Alloway and Rob Wonderling.

Co-sponsors in the House include: Reps. Matthew Baker, Robert Belfanti, Kerry Benninghoff, Karen Beyer, Paul Clymer, Thomas Creighton, Garth Everett, Richard Geist, Jaret Gibbons, Keith Gillespie, Mauree Gingrich, Robert Godshall, Neal Goodman, Seth Grove, Sue Helm, Tim Hennessey, David Hickernell, Scott Hutchinson, Rob Kauffman, Mark Keller, Sandra Major, Bob Mensch, David Millard, Thomas Murt, Donna Oberlander, Scott Perry, Jeffrey Pyle, Tom Quigley, Mario Scavello, John Siptroth, Timothy Solobay, Curt Sonney, Rosemarie Swanger, W. Curtis Thomas and Randy Vulakovich.

Argall is the newest member of the state Senate, which has a 30-20 Republican majority. Argall, who spent 24 years in the House, was elected in March to fill the Senate seat formerly held by the late James J. Rhoades.

State Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, who has led the fight to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania, says Gov. Ed Rendell still doesn't get it.

Pennsylvanians are no closer to truly owning their homes than they were when Rendell took office in 2003, according to Rohrer.

While Rendell is touting his administration expects to deliver $200 in average property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners this year, Rohrer says Rendell misses the point about Pennsylvania's onerous system of property taxes to fund schools.

"At the end of the day, not one single Pennsylvanian is any closer to truly owning their home as a result of legalized gambling," Rohrer said in a statement. "The only way Pennsylvanians can truly own their homes is if the state completely eliminates the school property tax. Until that happens, homeowners are merely renting their homes in exchange for school property tax payments. After all, if a homeowner fails to pay, the government will evict them."

Rendell's budget secretary announced today that she has certified approximately $770 million in property tax relief for 2009, but Rohrer argues that that is simply proof that people continue to lose money at Pennsylvania casinos.

"In order for homeowners to win, the Pennsylvanians who put their money in slot machines must lose," Rohrer said. "The entire system is built around creating more dependence. It seems that the governor desires that homeowners, from senior citizens to working families, become dependent on this state tax 'relief' program in order to be able to pay their school property tax bill rather than fixing the problem so they can keep their home. Schools are increasingly dependent on people losing their hard-earned money as the way to fund our public schools. Compulsive gamblers are then encouraged to look to government services to help them quit the addiction government encouraged them to start. The whole thing is set up so that people look toward government for the answers to their problems when, in fact, the existing school property tax system is the real problem."

The Rendell property tax relief provided an average of $169 per household in relief in 2008, although some homeowners received as little as $50.

Rohrer said the "relief" that Rendell is promoting has already been eaten up by higher property taxes imposed by most of the state's school districts.

"For many homeowners, the $200 in so-called 'relief' they will receive is less than the amount their property tax bills were raised since 2006," Rohrer said. "Pennsylvania homeowners deserve more than the false hope the governor’s gambling scheme has to offer."

Read Rohrer's full release at the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus Web site.

What Gov. Ed Rendell considers "property tax relief" is probably dinner for the family at a local restaurant.

So much for that "substantial" property tax relief Rendell promised when he signed slot gaming into law in Pennsylvania in 2004.

Most residents will see a reduction of between $50 and $200 on their school property tax bills this summer.

With most school districts in Pennsylvania proposing property tax hikes of at least 5 percent, the "relief" Rendell is touting is a wash at best.

"Property tax relief is real and it is making a difference in the lives of older adults and hard-working families across Pennsylvania," Rendell said today.

What's real is that $50-$100 savings on a $3,000 tax bill is a joke, governor.

You can read Rendell's propaganda at the link below:

Governor Rendell Announces Another Year of Property Tax Relief for Homeowners

For a dose of reality, see what POLICY BLOG has to say about Rendell's "relief"

Gov. Ed Rendell's first term in office will be remembered for three things: 1) one of the largest income tax hikes in state history; 2) the legalization of slot machines; and 3) signing the infamous pay raise into law.

Not exactly a stellar record of accomplishment, but Rendell conned enough Pennsylvania voters to give him a second term.

What will Rendell's second term be remembered for? He still has two years to go, but Pennsylvania is facing a historic budget deficit. The state budget is expected to finish $2.3 billion in the red by June and the next fiscal year is downright apocalyptic with the state facing a $5 billion to $6 billion revenue shortfall.

What is Gov. Rendell's solution to the problem he largely created with uncontrolled spending over the past six years? It appears that he will ask the federal government for a handout and make up the rest by expanding gambling in Pennsylvania.

Rendell wants to legalize video poker machines, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The selling point for expanded gambling is "tuition assistance" for working families in Pennsylvania.

You'll recall Rendell sold the initial foray into slots by promising "substantial property tax relief" for all Pennsylvania taxpayers. That hasn't happened in the nearly five years since gambling was approved by the Legislature.

Pennsylvania homeowners are paying higher property taxes today than they did when Rendell took office in 2003. Whatever minor reduction in taxes homeowners saw in 2008 will be eaten up shortly by another round of tax hike by local school boards.

From the Tribune-Review:

Critics in the Legislature say providing tuition relief is a laudable goal, but legalizing video poker machines is an expansion of slot machine gambling.

"The reality of it is, they are slot machines," said Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery County. "We're being barbaric. We're going into neighborhoods with gambling when we don't have gambling under control."

If the administration's logic is that it's OK to legalize practices that take place illegally, said Republican Rep. Doug Reichley of Allentown, "The Chicken Ranch in Reno, Nev., is looking forward to the day we open prostitution in the Capitol."

Through the Local Law Enforcement Grant Program, the state recently spent more than $3 million to combat illegal slots and video poker machines.

Rendell may have fooled enough lawmakers in 2004 when he won approval to bring 71,000 slot machines to Pennsylvania, but don't bet on Fast Eddie pulling another fast one on the current Legislature.

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, which represents all 67 counties in the Keystone State, has released its legislative priorities for 2009.

As in previous years, topping the list of nine priorities is property tax reform.

The association, which bills itself as the voice of county government, says its legislative priorities cover a wide variety of issues, but carry a common theme: "Our communities' needs are many, and cutting funding for critical services at the state level does not automatically result in cost savings."

"Failure to adequately fund mandates, and thus passing responsibility to local taxpayers, shifts the tax burden but does not reduce it," says Jim Kennedy, a Butler County commissioner and president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Property tax reform, which has eluded state lawmakers for more than 30 years, remains the No. 1 priority of county officials, Kennedy says.

"Counties continue to advocate options that will allow county elected officials to select fairer revenue sources, more compatible with local economic conditions, in return for a reduction in property taxes," Kennedy said. "As in previous years, our top priority is tax fairness. We will continue to call on the General Assembly to authorize optional local tax bases such as the sales tax or the personal income tax in return for a dollar-for-dollar reduction in property taxes. But tax fairness also includes measures that affect the tax base and how services are funded, and this is why we are advocating to restore the ability to assess oil and gas interests."

Here's the list of priorities released by the county officials:

1) Tax Fairness
2) Commonwealth Budget Issues
3) Court Administration/District Attorney Funding
4) Clean And Green
5) 911 Services
6) County Recycling Fee Authorization
7) Dedicated And Adequate Funding For Mass Transit, Local Roads And Bridges
8) Marcellus Shale
9) Mentally Ill Inmates/Specialty Courts

You can download an eight-page report with more details on each issue at the Association's Web site, http://www.pacounties.org/

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on how high property taxes have turned the Buffalo, N.Y., region into "property-tax hell."

Pennsylvania should learn a lesson from its neighbors to the north.

From the article by Steve H. Hanke and Stephen J.K. Walters:

When every U.S. county is ranked according to its average property-tax bill as a percent of home values, nine of the worst 10 are in upstate New York.

All housing markets are local and local government policies can have an enormous impact on property values. Higher property tax rates, for example, inevitably send home values downward. Why? A $6,000 tax bill adds $500 to a monthly mortgage, and simultaneously reduces the amount a buyer would be willing or able to pay for a home. Cut the tax bill and you help struggling homeowners hold onto their houses. And lower taxes allow would-be buyers to spend more for homes.

High property taxes also discourage investment in new homes. Builders won't build where property taxes drive buyers away.

The problem of heavy property taxes crushing fragile upstate economies has not gone unnoticed, just unsolved. A special Commission on Property Tax Relief, supported by Democrat Gov. David Paterson, recommended in August that local property tax increases be capped at 4% annually or 1.2 times the inflation rate -- whichever is less.

That wouldn't have cut taxes, but it would have moved New York toward a less oppressive tax system. And for a moment, it seemed that the idea might even take off when the state Senate passed a tax-cap bill earlier this year. But the state Assembly voted instead to raise marginal tax rates on incomes above $1 million and use the proceeds to pay for property tax relief for low-income homeowners. That standoff all but killed tax reform.

Read the full article at the newspaper's Web site.

Did you catch the part about how property taxes can add up to $500 on monthly mortgage payments? Looking for a way to stimulate the housing market and rebuild the economy? Eliminate property taxes!!!

To learn more about efforts to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania, check out the Web site of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition.

It's a vicious cycle. People run for their local school board with the best of intentions, promising to put an end to runaway spending for public education and put a lid on property tax increases.

They get elected and check their brains at the door. They end up rubber-stamping every spending initiative introduced by the administration, including those palatial school buildings.

They "negotiate" contracts with teachers' unions that provide teachers with raises and benefits that other workers can only dream about. Some of the board members get voted out, but their replacements are no better. And so it goes.

Joseph J. Ryan, writing in The Intelligencer in Doylestown, has a suggestion: Eliminate school boards entirely. School boards have failed both students and the taxpayers, Ryan argues. In many cases, it's school boards that stand in the way of reforming a failing education system.

From Ryan's column:

School board responsibility begins with the effective education of their students and the financial interests of taxpayers; neither requirement is being addressed. School boards intimidated by union strike threats find placating the unions their primary function, the reason teachers' right to strike should be abolished. Postal, state and federal employees are forbidden to strike; 41 states have also disallowed teacher union strikes, why not Pennsylvania?

To correct public education's fiscal excesses, school budgets and the new craze, new school structures, should be put to a referendum. We are no longer dealing with nickels and dimes in Bucks County; some budgets are approaching $200 million a year, 66 percent of that figure consumed in excessive teacher salaries and bloated benefits.

America's teacher unions have successfully forged the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on a legally coerced taxpaying public, ever rising school taxes with no return on investment. In 2006-07, despite Bristol Township's consistently poor academic performance, the top teacher salary was $85,427, cost of benefits $28,475, total salary $113,902 for a 40-week work year, or $2,847 per week. Of that preposterous salary, teachers grudgingly agreed to pay an insignificant $45 toward a $1,250 monthly healthcare premium.

Nationally, taxpayers have contained the avaricious demands of the teacher unions. The first step is to abolish their right to strike; divest them of the tenure entitlement, a sanctuary for academic incompetents; rescind their right to due process, and put every union or school board proposal to a taxpayer vote.

Additionally, local school boards should be abolished. Similar to Hawaii, professionals in economics, the media, law, academia, the business and corporate communities should be appointed to a newly formed state panel and given unconditional jurisdiction in dealing with individual districts. They should be compensated consistent with their expertise.

Why does Pennsylvania have 501 school districts, with 501 school boards? Each school district has at least one superintendent making a six-figure salary who surrounds himself with an army of high-paid administrators. Imagine the savings by consolidating the 501 school districts by county. That would leave just 67 school districts. And that's just a start.

Read Ryan's full column at the newspaper's Web site.

Ever wonder how teachers manage to get such lucrative contracts every time they negotiate contracts with your local school board?

Curious about why your property taxes are so high?

Check out School Board Transparency at http://schoolboardtransparency.org/ to learn more about the secretive world of public school contract negotiations.

The goal of the blog is provide "Sunlight on Board-Union Contract Negotiations."

The blog was created by Fred Baldwin, who describes himself as "a recovering school board president."

Property taxes and the weather. Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it.

Chester County officials want to talk about property taxes.

The entire county is invited to attend a forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the commissioners' boardroom on the fifth floor of the courthouse North Wing on North High Street in West Chester.

"We need the opportunity to have a conversation with the taxpayers," Commissioners' Chairwoman Carol Aichele told the West Chester Daily Local News. "The bottom line is that we cannot run Chester County in the year 2009 for the same amount of money that we did in 2008."

Translation: Property taxes are going up for county residents in 2009.

The proposed $461.4 million budget introduced by county staff last month includes a 5 percent increase in property taxes, from the current millage of 3.804 to 4.018, says reporter Michael Rellehan.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Details of the 2009 Chester County budget are available online at www.chesco.org

The Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, the citizens' group leading the fight to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania, has released its 2008 Voters Guide.

Before you to go the polls on Nov. 4, find out if your Pennsylvania Legislator has supported efforts to get rid of school property taxes.

The Voters Guide can be found at the group's Web site, http://ptcc.us

The Guide offers comments on how committed lawmakers are to the elimination of property taxes and also lists PTCC endorsed candidates.

PTCC previously announced two major endorsements for the Pennsylvania Legislature. In the 11th Senate District, the group is supporting challenger Steve Fuhs. In the 50th House District, the group is backing challenger Greg Hopkins.

Pennsylvania taxpayers have demanded property tax relief for decades, but the Harrisburg politicians have failed them. If you send incumbents back to the Legislature, expect the same results.

From David Baldinger of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition:

Dear Friends,

Welcome to September and I hope that all of you had a nice summer. This month the General Assembly returns to work after their summer recess and it is time for us to get busy again.

As you know, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, House Bill 1275, has been bottled up in the Appropriations committee by the House majority leadership since its introduction last November.

On July 3, Representative Sam Rohrer filed a Discharge Resolution signed by 26 of his colleagues to have the bill released from committee and onto the House floor for debate and an up-or-down vote. A Discharge Resolution is a procedural maneuver used to force a bill from committee when the committee has refused to act on the bill.

On Monday, September 15, Representative Rohrer will announce the Resolution on the floor of the House. After a waiting period of 48 hours the full House can vote on the resolution; a majority vote is necessary to release the bill from committee. This vote could come as early as Wednesday, September 17.

** ACTION ITEM **

Please contact your Representative by phone, e-mail, or letter as soon as possible to let him or her know that you expect them to vote in favor of the Discharge Resolution to allow HB 1275 to the House floor for debate. Further, be sure to firmly but respectfully let them know that your vote in November will be predicated solely on their approval of this resolution. You can find contact information for your Representative by clicking the "Find Your Legislators" link in the left column of the PTCC home page at http://www.ptcc.us

There is NO GOOD REASON for any Representative to oppose this resolution. Voting for the resolution does not obligate them in any way to vote for HB 1275's passage – it merely allows the bill to come to the House floor for an open and honest debate and a straight vote. The ONLY reasons for opposing this resolution would be orders from a Representative's party leadership and pure partisan politics. For an issue as important as property tax elimination this is not a valid excuse.

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Also during the coming weeks there is a good possibility that HB 2199 will come to the House floor for a vote. This bill is the companion legislation to the School Property Tax Elimination Act that calls for a constitutional amendment to forever abolish property taxes as a method for funding public education. Since this is a constitutional amendment, it must be passed by two succeeding sessions of the General Assembly. Because of this, it is vitally important to our efforts that HB 2199 is passed before the end of this year.

Since HB 2199 is a very short and uncomplicated piece of legislation it is possible that it could be passed by both the House and Senate before the end of this legislative session. Your help will be needed again when this bill comes up for a vote, so stay tuned.

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That's all for now. Please continue your support of our grassroots effort for property tax elimination. Together, we WILL win!


Please feel free to contact me at pataxpayers@gmail.com with questions, comments, or concerns.

David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator

The Antietam School District has the highest tax rate in Berks County.

The Antietam School District is one of three Berks districts that failed to make adequate yearly progress in the PSSA tests, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

One of the other failing districts, Reading School District, is the biggest recipient of state aid in the county.

I can't wait to see how school administrators are going to spin this one. Every year, they say they need to raise property taxes so the "children can get a better education."

Pennsylvania keeps pouring more money into public schools that are failing. The state's own tests prove it.

After five years in office, Gov. Ed Rendell has finally figured out there's a lot of old people in Pennsylvania.

A new report details the challenges of running a state when one in four residents will be 60 years of age or older by 2020.

You don't have to read the report to figure out that fewer workers will have to support the massive state government that Rendell has built over the past five years.

You don't have to read the report to realize that the tax burden on working Pennsylvanians is already too great thanks to Rendell.

You don't have to read the report to figure out that most of the state's young people are leaving because they can't afford to live in Pennsylvania anymore.

And you don't have to read the report to realize that an older population will put a greater strain on government resources.

It took Rendell five years to figure all this out?

Thanks to Ed Rendell's taxing policies, massive growth in state spending ($8 billion since 2003) and broken promises on property tax relief, most elderly Pennsylvanians are struggling to hold on to their homes.

If you want to read the Pennsylvania 2020 Vision Report, follow the link below.

Governor Rendell Says '2020 Vision Report' Outlines Challenges Facing State Government as Pennsylvania's Population Ages

David Baldinger has a message for Pennsylvania taxpayers. The only way to eliminate school property taxes is to lobby your legislators and legislative leaders. Here is Baldinger's latest call to action:

Dear Friends,

The "Save Our Homes" rally was held on June 2 in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg and was, by most accounts, a huge success. We had a great turnout of enthusiastic homeowners and lawmakers from both parties and our voices were heard loudly and clearly.

The media coverage was somewhat spotty and sometimes was tremendously inaccurate but we still had quite a bit of favorable coverage and a few good editorials.

A recap of the rally that includes photos, a complete video of the event, and media coverage has been posted on the PTCC website at http://mysite.verizon.net/drbsr/PTCCWeb/rally060208.htm. Please take a few minutes to check it out and, if you have the forty minutes to spare, please watch the video – it contains a lot of good messages.

The rally was a terrific starting point but we need intensive follow-up over the next few weeks to hammer the message home. Here are the details:

If the rally is insufficient to motivate the House Democratic Leadership to report HB 1275 out of the Appropriations Committee, Representative Sam Rohrer intends to again attach the bill's language as an amendment to one of the budget bills that must be debated during June. I'll be sending another update about this when details become available.

HB 1275 has undergone two major revisions from the version that was debated in January. The sales tax has been eliminated for five major retail professional services – legal, accounting, architecture, engineering, and computer – to blunt the intense lobbying, mostly from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, that helped to kill the bill in January. The revised version of HB 1275 also offers no property tax reduction for commercial properties but caps their taxes at current levels. This was another major hurdle that couldn't be overcome in January.

The bottom line is that all of the major objections to the School Property Tax Elimination Act have been addressed and the politicians have NO MORE EXCUSES for not passing this bill.

I have just one short story to tell you. At the rally one lawmaker told me that I should tell all HB 1275 supporters to let their representative know that the sales tax has been removed from food and clothing. I was taken aback by this comment, as the provision for taxing food and clothing was eliminated from HB 1275 over a year ago. Nevertheless, he said that some of his colleagues told him in January that they would not vote for HB 1275 because it taxes food and clothing!

At first I was flabbergasted by this but my reaction quickly turned to outrage and tremendous anger. For whatever reason, these politicians voted against a bill that they didn't even understand! If they are so blatantly ignorant of the provisions of a bill that is so urgently needed, if they are so lazy that they can't take the time necessary to learn about such vital legislation, they do not deserve to be representing us.

The June vote on HB 1275 will be a litmus test for the November elections. Both the PTCC and the PCTA, along with several newspapers, are advocating the ouster of any lawmaker who votes against this bill. It is time to let the politicians know that we will stand for no more delays, no more political games, and no more excuses. They must be sternly warned that their jobs will be on the line in November if they again refuse the will of the people that they supposedly represent.

The key to passage of HB 1275 is not only your own representative but the House leadership of both parties. It is the leadership who tells their members how to vote on an issue and all will follow these leaders like sheep except for the few courageous, independent lawmakers who deserve our thanks.

During the next week or so, please telephone, write, or e-mail your representative to let him or her know that you strongly support HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, and that you expect them to vote for this bill when debate begins in June. You can locate your representative's contact information from the "Find Your Legislators" link in the left column of any PTCC webpage.

In addition, please contact the House leaders listed below my signature to firmly tell them that you want HB 1275 enacted NOW. These leaders can make all the difference in the passage of this legislation and it is very important to tell them your feelings.

The June debate will offer us another opportunity to make HB 1275 a reality and your help is urgently needed. Please do all you can top spread the word to everyone you know and to tell the politicians that we want action NOW.

Thank you so much for your continuing support! Please feel free to write to me at any time with concerns or questions, and your comments are welcome on the PTCC blog that you can access from the top of any PTCC webpage.

David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator

www.ptcc.us

Republican Caucus Leader:
Hon. Samuel H. Smith
527 East Mahoning Street
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
(814) 938-4225
Fax: (814) 938-1950
ssmith@pahousegop.com

Democratic Caucus Leader:
Hon. H. William DeWeese
222 Elm Drive
Suite 101, P.O. Box 832
Waynesburg, PA 15370
(724) 627-8683
Fax: (724) 627-6043
wdeweese@pahouse.net

Democratic Caucus Whip:
Hon. Keith R. McCall
162 West Ridge Street
Lansford, PA 18232
(570) 645-7585
Fax: (570) 645-9526
kmccall@pahouse.net

Twenty-eight members of the Pennsylvania Legislature stood with hundreds of taxpayers who gathered in Harrisburg this week to demand the elimination of school property taxes.

If your state representative or senator isn't on the list below, you might want to ask them what more pressing business they had to attend to on Monday. Just remember they work for you. The boss showed up at the state Capitol on Monday and most of the workers didn't bother to show up. You have the final say in their future employment.

All 203 members of the House and 25 of the 50 state Senators will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. If you don't see your state lawmaker's name on the list below, it might be time to send someone else to Harrisburg to do the job of eliminating property taxes.

LAWMAKERS WHO ATTENDED THE RALLY
Rep. Sam Rohrer (R)
Rep. Rosemary Swanger (R)
Rep. Eugene Depasquale (D)
Rep. David Argall (R)
Rep. David Kessler (D)
Rep. Tom Yewcic (D)
Rep. Jim Cox (R)
Rep. Stephen Barrar (R)
Rep. Keith Gillespie (R)
Rep. Todd Rock (R)
Rep. Curt Schroder (R)
Rep. Jaret Gibbons (D)
Rep. Jay Moyer (R)
Rep. Bob Mensch (R)
Rep. Mike Vereb (R)
Rep. Tom Quigley (R)
Rep. Rob Kauffman (R)
Rep. Scott Perry (R)
Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R)
Rep. Carl Mantz (R)
Rep. Tim Seip (D)
Rep. Kathy Rapp (R)
Rep. Merle Phillips (R)
Rep. Brad Roae (R)
Sen. Jeff Piccola (R)
Sen. John Eichelberger (R)
Sen. Mike Folmer (R)
Sen. John Rafferty (R)

To get involved with the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, visit the group's Web site at http://ptcc.us

For video highlights of the June 2 Save Our Homes Rally, visit The Mercury's Web site at http://www.pottsmerc.com

The Mercury sent reporter Mike Hays and photographer John Strickler to the Save Our Homes Rally in Harrisburg today. They're on their way back and the newspaper will have full coverage of the event it its Tuesday edition.

In the meantime, here's a release from state Rep. Sam Rohrer, who helped organize the rally:

Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) would like to thank the hundreds of concerned taxpayers from across the Commonwealth who joined with him and several other state lawmakers in the Capitol rotunda today to demand the elimination of school property taxes through the implementation of the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

This bipartisan, pro-growth plan (House Bill 1275) seeks to replace all school property taxes and other local nuisance taxes by maintaining the current 6 percent sales tax and expanding it to include services. All residential homeowners would immediately benefit from the implementation of this plan.

"I would like to personally thank each and every concerned taxpayer from across this Commonwealth who took time away from families or jobs to travel to Harrisburg to make your voice heard," said Rohrer. "Your participation represents a tangible example of your commitment and speaks for the tens of thousands of taxpaying homeowners who, like you, will settle for nothing less than the total elimination of school property taxes. Now is the time for both the General Assembly and the governor to act on the pleas of our people and support the passage of the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

Organized in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Taxpayer's Cyber Coalition and 27 other grass roots taxpayer groups from throughout the Keystone State, today's Save Our Homes Rally featured legislators, local leaders, and concerned citizens who spoke out in support of House Bill 1275 and against the unbearable burden that school property taxes have become.

"For the past 30 years and counting, thousands of our citizens have been forced from the security of their homes, many built with their own hands, by the very government who has been constitutionally entrusted to ensure the security of their property," said Rohrer. "In sharp contrast, the School Property Tax Elimination Act offers both hope and freedom for all Commonwealth citizens because, rather than an insignificant reduction, it will eliminate 100 percent of school property taxes on all primary residences.

"Furthermore, through the implementation of House Bill 1275, both the Legislature and governor hold the key to potentially providing relief for already overburdened taxpayers during these difficult economic times. The skyrocketing food, energy, and transportation costs, combined with rising property taxes have drained the budgets of countless homeowners. This bill provides the best solution to the problem by protecting the constitutional rights of homeowners to be secure in their homes while freeing up citizens' budgets to allow for the rising costs of food and energy," added Rohrer.

For more information on the School Property Tax Elimination Act, visit SamRohrer.com or PTCC.us

Here's a twist in the ongoing effort to abolish property taxes.

Two Montgomery County lawmakers have introduced a bill to exempt people who live in mobile homes or trailer homes from paying the onerous property tax.

Most mobile homes are set on land the "homeowner" does not own, according to state Sens. John Rafferty, R-44th Dist., and Rob Wonderling, R-24th Dist. So why should these non-property owners pay property taxes, the lawmakers ask.

Senate Bill 1377 would eliminate two sections of The General County Assessment Law, excluding house trailers and mobile homes from the property tax.

Rafferty said he introduced this bill because he believes that forcing mobile home owners to pay property tax is unjust due to the fact that a mobile home is designed for transport and is titled by PennDOT like every other mobile vehicle.

"Some residents have come to me expressing their discontent that they have to pay property taxes on the assessed value of their mobile homes. I think this is unfair, because while these people may own the mobile home, they do not own the land that the mobile home sits on," Rafferty said in a press release.

Wonderling echoed Rafferty's sentiments on this legislation stating, "Often individuals living in mobile homes pay additional fees for the use of land where they place their vehicle. Requiring these people to pay property taxes for land they do not own is unfair, especially to those families living on fixed incomes."

The General County Assessment Law, passed in 1933 and amended in 2002, originally called for taxes on buildings permanently attached to land or connected with water, gas, electric or sewage facilities, Rafferty and Wonderling said.

A mobile home is a dwelling structure built on a steel chassis and fitted with wheels intended to be transported to a usually permanent location, the senators argue.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

There are still a few seats available on buses to take part in the Save Our Homes Rally in Harrisburg Monday.

For $20, you can be part of a taxpayer movement designed to save every homeowner in Pennsylvania thousands of dollars in school property taxes. If you're retired or you can take the day off from work, what better way to spend the day than stand with fellow citizens to demand action on property taxes?

Bus transportation has been arranged by the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition to take residents to the Save Our Homes Rally at the State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on Monday, June 2. The rally starts at 11 AM.

This could be the last chance this year to get the Legislature to act on property tax reform.

From Pottstown Area:

Bus will be leaving from the Wal-Mart in the Pottstown Center on Shoemaker Road at 8:30 AM. Contact Gene Endress of the PCTA's Owen J. Roberts taxpayer group at gendre1@comcast.net You can also call Gene at 610-323-3914 or 610-698-0553 for reservations.

From Reading Area:

Bus will be leaving from the K-Mart at Rt. 222 and Rt. 724, Shillington, at 8:30 AM. Contact David Baldinger of the PTCC at taxrally@mail.com

From Lancaster County Area:

Bus for the Eastern Lancaster County/Western Chester County area will be leaving from the Christiana Fire House at 8:30 AM with a pickup stop in Lancaster city. Contact John McCartney of the PCTA's CLASTA group at johnjhere30@comcast.net

From York County Area:

Bus will leave from the Southeastern York County area (Delta, Fawn Grove, Peach Bottom) with a pickup stop near York City. Contact Margie Lavin of the PCTA's SETRC group at info@setrc.net or Warren Bulette of the PCTA's YCTC group at bulette@juno.com

From PA House GOP News:

Continuing his ongoing efforts to secure immediate legislative action on the School Property Tax Elimination Act (House Bill 1275), state Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) will host the Save Our Homes Rally at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 2, in the state Capitol Rotunda

Organized in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Taxpayer's Cyber Coalition (PTCC) and 27 other grassroots taxpayer groups from across the Keystone State, the Save Our Homes Rally will feature personal testimony from several individuals who have been forced out of their homes or otherwise negatively impacted by school property taxes.

Also during Monday's rally, Rohrer and PTCC President Dave Baldinger will highlight the progress made in previous debates and the ever-growing grass roots movement to advance this legislation through the state House during the upcoming state budget hearings. The bipartisan, pro-growth School Property Tax Elimination Act seeks to replace all school property taxes and other local nuisance taxes with a broader 6 percent sales tax rate.

State Rep. Tom Yewcic (D-Cambria/Somerset), State Sen. Jeff Piccolla (R-Dauphin/York), State Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon/Lancaster/Berks) and many other state lawmakers will be in attendance to offer their support.

"For the past 30 years and counting, thousands of our most precious citizens are continually being forced from the security of their homes, many built with their own hands, by the very government that has been constitutionally entrusted to ensure the security of their property," said Rohrer. "In sharp contrast, the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 spells both hope and freedom for all Commonwealth citizens because, rather than an un-measurable, gambling revenue-dependent reduction, it will eliminate 100 percent of school property taxes."

For more information on the School Property Tax Elimination Act, visit SamRohrer.com