Issues

When elected, I will introduce legislation that will prohibit the taking of personal property for the economic gain of another private citizen. The 5th Amendment to our constitution states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. I do not believe that our founding fathers intent was to allow government to seize a citizen's property and turn it over to another citizen for private development. The rights of the people to own property must be protected!

Property Tax:

I will fight for the total elimination of property taxes on primary residences (Homesteads and Farmsteads). It sickens me every time I hear of a "sheriff's sale" to auction off someone's home only because they were unable to pay the assessed property tax. Seniors and families living on fixed income must be protected from losing their home.

Property taxes generate nearly $8 billion dollars as a local source for school funding. The elimination of the property tax structure requires enhancing other revenue streams. Needed cuts in the state budget can not completely offset the $8 billion dollars generated today. Realistically, we would have to move toward phased-in increases to the sales tax (+1%), State income tax (+1 ½%) and the Real Estate Transfer Tax (+2%) to replace the property tax structure. Cuts elsewhere in the overall budget can reduce the needed rate increases. Over time, we can phase-in reductions to these taxes as the economy responds accordingly to the elimination of the property tax burden.

When I was sixteen years old and received my first paycheck, I was shocked to see how much money was taken in taxes. Over the past 27 years of working for a living, my shock has turned to anger. I never agreed to "buy" this much government! I intend to reduce the cost of our State government by combining related departments and eliminating wasteful spending.

Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of States that levy a "local" income tax on workers in addition to a "state" income tax. The tax burden on the shoulders of Pennsylvania's workers and businesses must be reduced.

After a lifetime of working, buying a home, saving money and paying taxes on their earnings, there should be no reason for the government to step in and take a share of the deceased assets. Currently, the Pennsylvania Inheritance tax rates range from 4.5% to 15%. I would like to see this confiscatory tax law erased from the books!

State Budget:

The Pennsylvania State budget for 2007-08 proposed by Gov. Rendell increases our expenditures to a record $27 billion. If left unchecked, Rendell’s budget calls for an increase to over $30 billion in FY 2011-12.

The time has come for the taxpayers to put an end to out of control spending in Harrisburg. The House Appropriations committee is where all of the final decisions are made on how much money is spent in our State budget. I will devote much of my time to meeting with the committee to address the need to reduce the size and cost of our state government. I will also request that I be appointed to serve on the committee.

One of the primary purposes that state governments serve in a modern society is the creation and maintenance of our infrastructure. The rebuilding and increased capacity of our state's bridges, roads, waterways, railroads, airports, schools, water lines and sewage facilities needs to be addressed now. The government must also assist the needs of utility companies to increase telecommunications and power generation and distribution systems to enhance the future growth of our State.

Pennsylvania's two major state business taxes are the Corporate Net Income tax and the Capital Stock and Franchise tax. Our Corporate Net Income Tax rate is 9.99%, the second highest rate in the nation and the highest among surrounding states! (The average rate in the nation is 7.5%.) The current state Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (which is scheduled to be phased out by 2011) is 5.99 mills. Many Pennsylvania businesses pay both the Corporate Net Income Tax and the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax. In most other states with a Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, a business pays only one of the taxes, not both!

The government must create an attractive lower-tax environment to lure new businesses to Pennsylvania. Reducing the Corporate Net Income tax to 7% and eliminating the Capitol Stock and Franchise tax is one step towards increasing economic growth in Pennsylvania.

Our current state budget includes expenditures of less than $4,000,000 for marketing to attract businesses to Pennsylvania. I would propose doubling our efforts to encourage increased economic growth in our State.

The second largest expenditure in our State budget is for medical assistance payments. The state's Medicaid cost growth has been fueled by increased prescription drug costs and by a 7% annual enrollment increase driven by the state's growing elderly and uninsured population. Medicaid currently covers over 1.7 million Pennsylvanians. Longer life expectancy of our elderly population will increase the future burden on the system.

Reining in the costs of prescription drugs, care givers and hospitals are crucial to reducing medical assistance payments while still keeping pace with the programs growth. Tort reform is another important step in reducing the cost of quality care givers.

Society as a whole must provide for the care of those who cannot sufficiently provide for themselves. Studies indicate that mental and behavioral health problems, such as chronic alcoholism and drug abuse, are significant barriers to self-sufficiency for approximately 20% of welfare recipients. Education and job training are essential to lifting those in poverty up to a higher standard of living and reducing their reliance on public assistance.

I support the continued implementation of the Federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996" and "the Temporary Assistance for Needy families" program. In Pennsylvania, we have seen a 40 percent reduction in TANF recipients since 1997.

As a gun owner, and member of the NRA, I firmly support the right of the people to keep and bear arms. I oppose government restricting the sale of legal firearms and ammunition, and will not tolerate government maintaining databases of gun owners.

Pro-Life:

I believe that life begins at conception and that all life is precious and must be protected. Abortion must be limited to cases of rape, incest, or saving the mother's life.