01/31/2012
Earlier this month, I sent a letter to the Governor to request, if possible under state law, that his administration reject my local school district’s request for a waiver to allow them to increase property taxes above the state calculated index without voter approval. I have received a lot of feedback from constituents in reaction to this most recent tax increase push by the tax-and-spend school board members. It is a problem in school districts across the Commonwealth.
12/30/2011
December 2011
A reality of individual job performance that I experienced in the private sector was the thought of “achievements made today and yesterday are appreciated, but what are you going to do to earn your paycheck tomorrow?” I use that philosophy through the demands I place on our government as I represent and serve you in Harrisburg. At our recent weekly district staff meeting, I reviewed our 2011 accomplishments with my staff and thanked them for their contributions in achieving those objectives. An important part of our meeting included discussions to plan for our 2012 legislative objectives.
11/30/2011
November 2011
“Read my lips: no new taxes,” is a historic quote from a politician who broke his word and then paid the price as he was defeated the following election. A recent debate in Harrisburg brings this 1980’s “no new taxes” quote to mind. The debate was on the Marcellus Shale natural gas opportunities that we are blessed with here in Pennsylvania. For me, the Marcellus Shale means job creation, lower energy prices and energy independence. For many other elected officials, it means new taxing opportunities to enable them to control spending of the new wealth they had nothing to do with actually creating.
10/31/2011
Do you really own your home when you are required by law to pay, which equates to, a yearly lease payment, known as the property tax? Some citizens are paying more each year in property taxes than they originally paid in mortgage payments.
09/30/2011
George Washington once said, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
08/31/2011
The 9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
07/29/2011
An end to the Rendell tax and spend era brought an on-time budget this year with reduced spending and no tax increases. After nine years of debating the budget beyond the June 30 deadline, this year the Pennsylvania Legislature recessed as we entered July.
06/30/2011
This year we finally have a state budget that reduces state spending and is on time! Over the past eight years, the Rendell administration’s late budget tactics were used to drive state government spending higher and higher.
05/31/2011
One month left, the budget clock is ticking toward the June 30 deadline for completing the 2011-12 state budget on time. Under the previous eight years of the Rendell administration, we experienced eight late budgets as state government spending escalated by $8 billion, approximately 37% and nearly twice the rate of inflation.
04/29/2011
Recently, while filling up my gas tank, I witnessed a conversation between a frustrated customer and patient gas station attendant. The young man explained to the visibly upset customer the policy for gasoline discounts as it applied to only filling up one vehicle.
03/31/2011
The governor delivered the type of budget address on March 8, 2011 that I have been waiting to hear for 12 long years. He proposed to reduce overall state government spending. It is the first budget that I have applauded for in 13 budget addresses.
02/28/2011
Twelve years ago, I left a secure corporate position to enter the uncertainty of the political arena with the primary objective of protecting liberty. Over the years, I have politically experienced "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." At the time I embarked on the quest to politically protect individual liberty, I was told by some that I was too honest to survive and too idealistic to be victorious. I entered the political world as a skeptic, and have grown more skeptical.
01/31/2011
What is the answer to improving our economy in Pennsylvania? Jobs are created by individual citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit, not by government. A limited government is a necessary overhead cost, but too much government or government not fulfilling its Constitutional responsibilities infringes on individual liberty and depresses an economy.
12/29/2010
Out with the old and in with the new!
In 2010, the Pennsylvania state government was under Democrat control in the House of Representatives and the Governor’s office. In 2011, the Pennsylvania state government will have Republican majorities in both chambers of the legislature and a Republican Governor.
11/30/2010
The November 2, 2010 election night results were so devastating to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democrat majority that they cancelled the remaining voting session days or better known as "lame duck." The Democrat Majority Leader lost his race in a major upset, and the retiring Democrat Speaker witnessed the seat his family had held for 35 years switch to Republican. The Democrat majority of 104 to 99 watched as their majority evaporated, and Republicans won 112 to 91 seats -- the largest Republican majority since the 1950s.