Short-Changing Our Kids and Schools

When Barbara McIlvaine Smith was asked why the West Chester Area School District continues to receive the lowest levels of state funding possible, she said this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara McIlvaine Smith clearly does not understand the harm she is doing to our local schools by sending our hard-earned tax dollars elsewhere.  Just as bad, her votes for minimum state funding for our schools are driving up our school property taxes.  She is depriving our children of precious resources and hurting our school district.  With your support, I will work to make sure our children and schools get the funding they need and deserve.

 

Shannon Royer 

Few changes amid ‘Era of Reform’

Lawmakers fail to act on number of items championed.

By Mark Scolforo

Of The Associated Press

October 19, 2008

 

It may be too kind to grade what has sometimes sarcastically been called the Era of Reform in Harrisburg as an incomplete.

Nearly two years ago, state lawmakers eagerly seized the mantle of reform in hopes of getting back into the good graces of voters angered by their dead-of-night vote to jack up their own salaries.

As the 2007-08 session winds to a close, legislators again find themselves under a dark cloud of their own creation. In this case it consists of allegations that bonus payments to staffers and other public expenditures were illegal campaign subsidies.

The fall campaign’s final stretch of knocking on doors, dining on rubber chicken and marching in parades is sure to bring questions for Harrisburg’s political class about what has been done to improve the integrity of state government.

At this point, that record basically consists of an impressive new Right-to-Know Law and a few dozen changes to the rules that govern the day-to-day operations of the House and Senate.

Those rules already have been suspended occasionally and could be weakened in January.

As for campaign contribution limits, a less partisan redistricting process, a prohibition on gifts from lobbyists, a smaller Legislature, term limits, merit selection of appeals judges or a ban on performance bonuses for state workers? Nothing.

Forget about a constitutional convention — the House rejected even studying the idea.

Part of the problem is there is no consensus on what constitutes ”reform,” a term that can be hijacked by lawmakers needing to polish up whatever issue they happen to advocate.

”I’m disappointed that this could occur during the Era of Reform” as faux outrage has nearly become a state Capitol cliche.

Last year, as the House voted against partially random selection of its eight-member Ethics Committee, Rep. Kate Harper was undoubtedly speaking for many of her colleagues when she brought up the R-word.

”I stand here at my peril, knowing that the cause of reform is so well-liked by the press that if the cafeteria offered a sandwich made of dead skunk called ‘reform du jour,’ we’d probably all order it and eat it,” said Harper, R-Montgomery.

Reform even spawned its own miniature lobbying class, drawn from many of the same people who helped successfully pressure the General Assembly to repeal the July 2005 pay raise.

But lawmakers who helped lead reform efforts see a prelude to what they hope will be additional efforts to make state government more ethical, understandable and accountable.

Rep. Babette Josephs, the Philadelphia Democrat who leads the House State Government Committee, said top on her list of priorities for next year are ways to modernize voting rules, including relaxed qualifications for absentee ballots and a later deadline for new registrants.

Senate GOP leaders note that some of their marquee reforms got stalled in the House, including tougher penalties for Sunshine Law violations, a formal ban on lame duck sessions and elimination of state government bonuses.

 

Copyright © 2008, The Morning Call

themorningcall.com

Royer Talks Business on the Economy

Shannon Royer met with local business owners and Senator Arlen Specter to talk about the economy. Royer stressed the importance of low taxes so families and businesses can deal with the current economic troubles. Click here to read the story.

Chester County Taxes at Record Highs

This report shows how Chester County taxes measure up. We need relief now! Government must reduce the burden they place on Pennsylvania families and businesses. With your support, I will make sure that fiscal discipline is a priority in Harrisburg.

Royer calls for Reform Action

House Democratic leaders must take action on a host of reform bills that have cleared the Senate. When this session of the legislature began, many new members vowed to bring reform to Harrisburg. Unfortunately, these new members have failed to deliver on these promises. They have reform efforts that have passed the Senate waiting for action by the house. Click here to read more about the senate reform bills.

PA Tax Burden 11th Highest in the Nation!!!

(Click Here) To read about a new report from the Tax Foundation on Pennsylvania’s tax burden.

 

This is an outrage! Issues like this make it absolutely necessary for new leadership in Harrisburg.

 

 

When Families are struggling to fill their gas tanks the last thing they need to worry about is being hit with a tax increase. Since the corrupt House Democrats have been in office, they have proposed a menu of new tax increases to help fund misplaced priorities like welfare spending and corporate hand-outs. Let’s restore some fiscal discipline in Harrisburg and vote for a new generation of leadership.

DLN Guest Column on the Economy and Tax Cuts

Government has the ability to take steps to help our economy in troubled times. It is time to take action!  Click here to read my recent guest column that appeared in the Daily Local News. These proposals outline the steps I will take if elected to ensure we have a strong and vibrant economy in Pennsylvania.

My 8-point-plan for a New Pennsylvania

Congressman Pitts joined me to help unveil my 8-point-plan to help strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy.

Click here to read the Daily Local News’s coverage of my press confrence.

Plan for a New Pennsylvania

 

1. Demand Our Fair Share of Education Funding for West Chester’s Schools – Pennsylvania spends more on welfare than basic education, and West Chester’s schools receive the state’s minimum amount of funding each year.  This is contributing to higher property taxes.  We must demand our fair share of state education funding.  Our children, parents and taxpayers deserve more than the state minimum 
2. Slow Down Government Growth – State spending has increased nearly 40% in just six years.  We should slow the rate of growth in state government by limiting spending increases at the rate of inflation and population growth.
3. Make It Harder for Politicians to Raise Our Taxes – We should require a 2/3 “super majority” in the state legislature for all tax increases, helping hold the line on Pennsylvania’s taxes.
4. Stop Wasting Taxpayers Dollars – Instead of fair funding for West Chester’s schools or providing tax relief, Harrisburg gives $75 million in tax breaks a year to Hollywood movie studios and has given Comcast $43 million of our tax dollars.  We need transparency and new safeguards for the state’s Opportunity Grant Program to prevent wasteful spending.
5. Cut the State Income Tax – Pennsylvania’s income tax was increased 10% in 2003, resulting in $2.7 billion in new taxes.  With a slowing economy, we should cut the state income tax and put more money back in to the pockets of taxpayers.
6. Cut Electric Bill Taxes – A 50% reduction in our electric bill taxes will return $1.6 billion to ratepayers over the next five years.  This will help Pennsylvanians cope with higher electricity costs as rate caps are removed from our electric bills.
7. Provide Meaningful Property Tax Relief – Shannon Royer has been involved with older adults for twelve years as a volunteer at the West Chester Area Senior Center.  He understands that school property taxes are especially challenging for people living on fixed incomes.  We must immediately freeze school property taxes at the age of retirement or eliminate school property taxes for lower income seniors.   
8. Help Businesses and Grow Our Economy – Small businesses are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy.  We must provide immediate help so they can create new jobs and stimulate our economy.  This can be done by lowering the Corporate Net Income Tax, move to a Single Sales Factor so businesses are taxed on in-state sales only, remove the Net Operating Loss cap to help start-up businesses, remove the Research and Development cap and phase out the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.

 

John Baer: Pa. Legislature: Too bad, so sad

By John Baer
Philadelphia Daily News

Daily News Political Columnist

HOW BAD IS the Pennsylvania Legislature?So bad, they’re talking about it in Washington.

The Brookings Institution, the oldest think tank in America, a centrist (leaning left) nonprofit, almost always referred to as “the prestigious” Brookings, held a daylong round table this week on our own beloved Legislature.

More than 30 smart people from academia, foundations and reform- and issues-oriented groups, all with Pennsylvania ties, gathered for a work-through-lunch day of idea pitching.

Oh, yeah, two journalists were there (not sure why, maybe as witnesses) – the Inky’s Chris Satullo and myself.

Among the thinking: a $250,000 “outstanding legislator award.” I imagine it’s to get them fighting each other to be better instead of continuing their normal race-to-the-bottom behavior.

The idea came from Dr. Shirley Malcolm, a board member of the Heinz Endowments, so, you know, use more ketchup.

(I’d love to be on the selection committee.)

And if you’re thinking, how sad it is to pay elected officials to be good, remember that it would be foundation funds, not yours; and

that you’re paying them now (the most expensive legislature in America) to be bad.

Another thought, from Rick Stafford, a Carnegie Mellon public-policy professor who served as Gov. Dick Thornburgh’s secretary of legislative affairs: Create a Constitutional Convention contest, again funded by foundations, among the state’s 250-plus colleges and universities.

This, said Stafford, could pressure the Legislature, produce ideas and get younger people fired up about change.

This Brookings gathering came on the heels of a dozen legislative indictments (with promises of more) tied to misuse of millions of tax dollars and a sex-for-job swap.

It comes as the Legislature’s long-time powerhouse, Philly Sen. Vince Fumo, prepares for his corruption trial.

As one of the state’s first gaming-license winners faces felony charges.

And after years of suspect legislative behavior, including shady enactment of a slots law and a pay raise for lawmakers and judges.

It raises the question that if a state’s politics are bad, can its policies be good, and can such a state really be expected to thrive?

Brookings’ Bruce Katz, director of the institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, who honchoed the day, noted that Pennsylvania’s 46th in the nation in population growth; 37th in job growth; has lost 2.9 million acres of open space and farmland, nearly a quarter of its total, since 1980, and runs itself with badly fragmented government – 2,565 municipalities.

As a result, the politics and the policies of the state produce low expectations among its electorate and little or no sense of government ownership among its citizens.

Solutions discussed tended to focus on fundamental change such as redistricting reform (which the Legislature just walked away from) and campaign-finance reform (which the Legislature hasn’t touched) to make for more competitive elections and reduce incumbents’ edges.

Barry Kauffman, of Common Cause, said that because of how state campaigns are funded (no limits on donations) and the way districts are drawn, “voters are almost irrelevant.”

Tim Potts, of Democracy Rising, said that 56 percent of House members and 75 percent of senators seeking re-election face no opposition: “I don’t know what you call a government in which the majority of elections are uncontested, but you can’t call it representative democracy.”

There was little about the influence of special interests (but, then, attendees were largely policy types), but there was much talk of the need for sustained public campaigns for change.

I’ve come to think that change happens only in crisis (in this case, ongoing indictments) and with well-funded, outside, ongoing pressure.

That petition circulated last week by Sen. Jeff Piccola, R-Dauphin County, requiring signatures from 102 House members and 26 senators for Gov. Rendell to convene a special session on ethics?

As of yesterday, 12 House members and six senators had signed.

So I look to future indictments and those attending the Brookings gig from Heinz, Pew, the William Penn Foundation and others to step up, pay up and help fix up a state in need of repair. *

Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.

For recent columns, go to

http://go.philly.com/baer

Attention Yoder Voters!

Below is a recent letter from West Chester Mayor Dick Yoder telling voters why he is supporting me for State Representative.  Mayor Yoder has done a phenomenal job for West Chester’s residents over the last seven years.  He is truly a pillar of the West Chester community.  It is an honor to have his support.

 Shannon

Yoder Letter of Support