Monday, May 21, 2012
Property tax hot potato
Here's a sample from this week's rant on property taxes. State Sen. Daylin Leach will be in next week to give his thoughts on how we should reform the current funding mechanism for public education.
Where do you stand?
I’ve been writing about House Bill 1776 for some time now, and for the most part, the majority of readers have been all in favor. One reader, though, made it perfectly clear that she was not in favor of the bill, which, for you newcomers, redistributes the tax burden for funding public education from the property tax to the earned income tax and the sales tax. “This bill would give all the money for education to Harrisburg to distribute and I don’t want that to happen. I don’t trust Harrisburg to distribute the money,” Sharon wrote last week. “Property tax has been in effect as a means to pay for education since shortly after the civil war. I don’t state this as a reason for not making a change, just as a reminder of howlong previous generations have been paying for future generations. When I do hear people in this area who are opposed to property tax, it usually seems that they are mad because they feel like renters are getting a free ride. I would love it if your paper took the time to explain that all properties are assessed and that taxes are paid on ALL properties, even rentals.” I think you explained it for them just fine. Thank you very much for the email, and mostly for a different perspective. To prove how much of a hot potato this issue is, I hadn’t so much as finished my interview with the sponsor of HB 1776, Rep. Jim Cox, R-129th Dist., when I received a note from state Sen. Daylin Leach, who is in favor of eliminating the school property tax “if we could replace it with an increase in the income tax.” Leach believes it is a bad idea to replace it with an expanded sales tax. Not being afraid of the heat, Leach also stepped forward with an example to clarify his stance. I pointed out in my last column that I didn’t think the expanded sales tax was regressive because it will not apply to government subsidized food programs and to a list of foods approved as healthy choices. I’m not sure if jalapenos were on that list, but it was apparently spicy enough for Leach to take offense. “Second (the ‘first’ in the email was an explanation of what a regressive tax is), as a general proposition, any sales tax is regressive. This is because as you make more money, the necessity and your ability to spend what you make goes down. To give you an example, a person who makes $15,000 per year must spend every cent they earn to survive. Marc Zuckerberg can’t possibly spend the $100 million plus he will earn this year. So if the sales tax rate is 7%, the person making $15,000 is paying 7% of his entire income, whereas Zuckerberg is spending 7% of a tiny fraction of his income. So the poor guy has an effective rate of 7%, Zuckerberg has an effective rate of something like .000002%.” Reasoned argument, Daylin.
And that’s why I’m on board with this bill. That 7% sales tax will not apply to that guy's food bill.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Replay of Jim Cox interview
Here is out video with Representative Jim Cox talking about his property tax reform bill.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Take the Property Tax Challenge
OK, folks, step right up. It's time to take the Property Tax Challenge.
Please answer the following questions.
Do you think your property taxes are too high?
Do you think students across the state are getting equal access to education?
Do you think there is a better way to fund public education?
Congratulations, you've taken the Property Tax Challenge.
Now there is only one more step. Send an email to shuskey@timesherald.com (That's me) and join the Property Tax Challenge. I'll make sure your state legislator hears from you. Remember, there's power in numbers, so let's tell our elected officials exactly where we stand.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Finally, a bill I can get behind
Wozniak Bill Waives Inspections for Newer Cars
HARRISBURG, March 15, 2012 -- State Sen. John N. Wozniak announced today new legislation that would lift the requirement of annual inspections for cars less than two years old. (It should be less than 5 years old)
“For purchasers of today’s new cars, the annual inspection is a pointless ritual that serves no purpose,” he said. “Owners of new cars have already paid dearly for a vehicle equipped with the latest safety technology. Requiring a state inspection is overkill.”
Senate Bill 1451 would lift the annual inspection requirement for two years from the date of manufacture.
Wozniak noted that most states have eliminated automobile inspections entirely as research has been inconclusive about their effect on overall safety. The federal government lifted the requirement for states to mandate vehicle inspection more than 25 years ago, and only 12 states still require annual inspections for all vehicles. Neighboring New Jersey, Maryland, and Ohio have ended automobile inspections, while Delaware does not require inspections for vehicles less than five years old.
“The cost of driving continues to rise dramatically and federal safety guidelines for new cars are a contributor,” Wozniak said. “There is no reason that a person who has made that investment in a new car should have to pay again.”
The bill is part of an effort by Wozniak to lift outdated mandates on drivers that have outlived their useful purchase. In January, noting a less than four percent failure rate, he sponsored a resolution seeking permission from the federal government to waive emissions tests required in 25 counties since 1990.
“While it is the legislature’s duty to pass laws that keep up with changing times,” he said. “It is also our duty to repeal laws for the same reason.”
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Times Herald's 64th annual Spelling Bee
Welcome to a tradition. The Times Herald has been holding spelling bees for more than a half century, and I've personally hosted them for the past decade. The winner of tonight's bee goes on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. Good luck to all our champion spellers!
Monday, February 20, 2012
The "unplugged" tour
Whether I like it or not, I'm going to be unplugged, http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120219/OPINION03/120219608, for more than a week. I think I'm going to like it, even though I know I'm not going to like what I'll be coming home to. It's been more than a decade, at least, since I last completely disconnected. I think it can be done. What about you? Could you go for a week without the Internet?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Playing catch up with President Obama's SOTU speech
Below is the beginning of today's column in The Times Herald. I want to use it as a jumping off point for a discussion here. Did we get a State Of The Union address from the president, or did he use up free network air time to campaign for re-election?
State of the Union address, or campaign speech.
You make the call.
I know I already did.
President Obama spent a lot of time telling us everything he would like to do, without actually uttering the words, if I’m re-elected.
Some of the things he said he was going to do kind of puzzled me, though.
So let’s take a look back at the speech and try to determine the stump talk from the state talk.
He said he was going to have Attorney General Eric Holder look into what happened with the lending crisis. The Fannie Mae hit the fan back in 2008. Why didn’t he have the attorney general looking into what happened when it happened?
Could it be because Democrat Barney Frank, head of the House Banking Committee, chose to ignore the Government Accountability Office’s call for more oversight?
“Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress and I’ll sign it,” Obama declared.
I know I already did.
Isn’t insider trading illegal?
I know members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are able to skirt a lot of the rules that apply to most of us mortals, but I’m pretty sure insider trading is one of those pesky little crimes that even the likes of Martha Stewart isn’t above.
I know members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are able to skirt a lot of the rules that apply to most of us mortals, but I’m pretty sure insider trading is one of those pesky little crimes that even the likes of Martha Stewart isn’t above.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
My Storify on Joe Paterno
Incorrect reports of Joe Paterno's death Saturday night were followed up Sunday morning when the Paterno family announced that he had passed away.
Joe Paterno will be remembered as one of greatest coaches of all time...with as asterisk.
- “Watching espn sports center, everyone is saying JoePa died of a broken heart, for what happened at Penn State, he just gave up the will to live !!, so sad, not only one of the greatest coaches ever, but also a great man for what he did for penn state U, and for all the kids who go there, not to mention all the money he gave to the school. He will be missed !!!
- “#joepa what a legacy you leave behind. As an alum, I am grateful for the influence u had on #pennstate and in return my life! #RIP
- While the overwhelming majority of comments are respectful of the man, there are those who seem to not be able to forgive him for not doing more when it was reported that one of his former coaches, Jerry Sandusky, had molested young boys.
- “People are saying its too soon for JoePa jokes. I guess I should wait a decade to say anything, just like JoePa did
- “I hope when JoePa is standing at the pearly gates, God tells him he did just the bare minimum required to save him, and it turned out to not be enough, sorry.
- And still others are coming to the former coach's defense.
- “@SternNationChic That's not nice. He may have made a bad choice, but he made millions of excellent ones! #JoePa #madeadifference
- “Decide how you want to remember JoePa, but 1 thing he does not deserve is a Twitter play by play of his death.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Popular Vote gets my vote
I don't know about you, but I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the whole primary process. Why in the world do we still do things the way we did more than 200 years ago? Do we not have the technology to eliminate straw polls? For that matter, do we not have the technology, or the common sense, to do away with the Electoral College?
My vote is for the popular vote.
And, I'm talking about for the primaries as well as the general election.
And, do it all on the same day for the primaries. That way every state is relevant, not just states that aren't relevant any other time of the year.
We have the technology folks. In fact, I'm guessing the company that invented this blogger app could count all the votes themselves, and they could get it done before CNN declares the wrong victor.
My vote is for the popular vote.
And, I'm talking about for the primaries as well as the general election.
And, do it all on the same day for the primaries. That way every state is relevant, not just states that aren't relevant any other time of the year.
We have the technology folks. In fact, I'm guessing the company that invented this blogger app could count all the votes themselves, and they could get it done before CNN declares the wrong victor.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sun block working well in Montgomery County
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Matthews Arrested - Part I
I'm still not finished with the 69-page Grand Jury report on the fall of Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews, but I just had to stop and write this post. I really appreciate the way the report is written. In the report are words like stunned, unbelievable, and a cadre of others to describe their take on the shennanigans taking place in our county government. Here's just a couple to get you started on. I'm sure there will be several posts to follow, but thought we should get the conversation going with a couple of particularly good nuggets.
First, the CBIZ contract. We believe it was pay to play all along, and still do, and yet our state laws are written in such a way that even the Grand Jury couldn't come up with charges. CBIZ is the consultant for the county's healthcare services. They were awarded a no-bid contract, and subsequently deposited more than $20K into Matthews campaign coffers. But that's not all. G. Fred DiBona sat on the committee that was formed to oversee the applicants for the contract, which was awarded to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. DiBona's father was the former CEO of Blue Cross.
And the second one I'll throw out today is the county's head of Human Resources, Eleanor Schneider, who was promoted to the position by Matthews. Schneider, as we pointed out on several occasions, was Matthews secretary and not even remotely qualified to be director of Human Resources. The Grand Jury apparently believes the same, "We find that she is not qualified for a position of such importance."
Stay tuned. I'll dig into it some more soon.
First, the CBIZ contract. We believe it was pay to play all along, and still do, and yet our state laws are written in such a way that even the Grand Jury couldn't come up with charges. CBIZ is the consultant for the county's healthcare services. They were awarded a no-bid contract, and subsequently deposited more than $20K into Matthews campaign coffers. But that's not all. G. Fred DiBona sat on the committee that was formed to oversee the applicants for the contract, which was awarded to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. DiBona's father was the former CEO of Blue Cross.
And the second one I'll throw out today is the county's head of Human Resources, Eleanor Schneider, who was promoted to the position by Matthews. Schneider, as we pointed out on several occasions, was Matthews secretary and not even remotely qualified to be director of Human Resources. The Grand Jury apparently believes the same, "We find that she is not qualified for a position of such importance."
Stay tuned. I'll dig into it some more soon.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Election Night Mambo
This could be a good one. I've been saying (whenever anyone asks) that I think this is going to be the most exciting off-year election we've had in years. The commissioners' race is going to be a shoot out for the third seat, but is anyone a hundred percent sure who the third highest vote getter is going to be? There's always the possibility that Montgomery County goes Democratic for the first time in history.
Lower Providence has been buzzing since a local school official threw his hat in the ring for a supervisors seat. What say you Lower Providites?
Norristown seems to have a race with two newcomers, which is good for the county seat.
And of course, the icing on the cake will be which way the row offices fall. Five of the nine seats were picked up by Democrats four years ago, will that turn around this year or will we see the Dems grab even more seats?
My prediction, close but no cigar for the Dems this time around.
Lower Providence has been buzzing since a local school official threw his hat in the ring for a supervisors seat. What say you Lower Providites?
Norristown seems to have a race with two newcomers, which is good for the county seat.
And of course, the icing on the cake will be which way the row offices fall. Five of the nine seats were picked up by Democrats four years ago, will that turn around this year or will we see the Dems grab even more seats?
My prediction, close but no cigar for the Dems this time around.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Seeing the light in Methacton
How is it possible that a school district still doesn't have lights
for its high school football stadium? The Methacton School District has
been debating the issue for years, and some how or another, or should I
say someone or another, always gets their way and the lights never come
on. The district must get a variance to have lights above 12 feet off
the ground, and they've gone to Worcester supervisors to get one. Really, 12 feet off the ground? What can you light from 12
feet off the ground?
I know I have a lot of Lower Providence and Worcester followers, so jump in here folks. Should there be lights, or shouldn't there be lights?
I know I have a lot of Lower Providence and Worcester followers, so jump in here folks. Should there be lights, or shouldn't there be lights?
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