Lieutenant Governor Mourned

I join with my Senate colleagues and people across Pennsylvania in mourning the death of Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. Governor Knoll had a servant’s heart and genuinely loved serving and meeting with people.  She will be missed.

In accordance with the state Constitution, President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati assumes the duties of the Lieutenant Governor.

Senate Session

The Senate will formally close out the 2007 – 2008 Legislative Session on November 20 and 21.  As Senate Republican leadership wanted to avoid a so-called “Lame Duck” Session, most of the work will be ceremonial and honor outgoing members.  The Senate Republican Caucus will also reorganize, including filling the so-to-be vacant position of Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  On November 20, the Senate will honor the late Senator Jim Rhoades and the following day, honor retiring Senators. The full Senate must also elect an interim President Pro Tempore.

Eliminating Property Taxes

THANKS to everyone who viewed and responded to my interactive my property tax elimination worksheet.  Comments I received ranged from "don’t use the Sales Tax to eliminate school property taxes" to "tax everything to eliminate (not just reduce) school property taxes."

The worksheet shows how expanding the Sales Tax base can be used to eliminate school property taxes. The total revenue from school property taxes in Pennsylvania is approximately $10 billion. The worksheet allows you to add a tax rate (current Sales Tax rate is 6 percent) to item(s) not currently taxed (for example 8 percent), to generate the revenue needed to eliminate school property taxes ($10 billion).  Also on the website is a list of items that could possibly be added to generate replacement revenues to eliminate school property taxes. There is an area on the worksheet that keeps a running tally; once your "deficit" reaches zero, you have enough revenue in an expanded Sales Tax to completely eliminate school property taxes. Keep in mind, for each $1,000 in property tax reductions, people would need to spend $16,667 in newly taxable items under an expanded Sales Tax to equal the savings of eliminating school property taxes. If you have not yet viewed the worksheet, click here. I'm curious to see what you come up with and encourage you to e-mail me with your thoughts!

Town Hall Meetings Planned

In the next few weeks I will hold town hall meetings across the 48th District to explain my property tax elimination plan in greater detail.  Please watch future issues of "Mike’s Memo" for dates and locations. Also, please contact Beth Williams if you are interested in helping organize a meeting in your area.

Fine-tune Your E-Updates

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