Property owners officially snubbed by the people they put into office

For all of you who thought your state legislator was going to stand up for you because they were a cosponsor on House Bill 76, the Property Tax Independence Act, guess again. Unless you live in Rep. Toepel, Vereb or Painter's district, you were bamboozled, because they were the only three Montgomery County reps who voted yes to an amendment yesterday that would have put HB 76 on the floor for a vote, even if it was wrapped in HB 1189. Painter was the only Dem to vote in favor. I hope all you registered Democrats remember that come spring when the primary rolls around. All I can say now is, it's on!

Property tax reform finally being talked about in the PA state House

Property tax reform was supposed to be the topic of discussion in the House today. I'm not sure how far along they got, but here's my take on where we should be. In fact, I think the time for talking is done. If they're really going to strip HB 1189 and insert HB 76 is for the guts, let's get it done.

Fill A Bus, or a car, or just ride a motorcycle to Harrisburg

The Fill A Bus rally is tomorrow, and I'm hoping for a huge crowd to let our state legislators know that we think property tax reform is a really bid deal. I heard last Friday that a couple of bills were going to be run out of the finance committee today, but not HB76. Here are my thoughts, again, on what we should be demanding of our state legislators.

Pa House Finance Committee moving bills on Monday

So, you're not going to believe this. The House Finance Committee meets Monday and they're voting on a property tax relief package of bills, not one of them HB76. "On Monday, the House Finance Committee will discuss and vote on a four-bill property tax relief/reform package: House Bill 1189 (Rep. Seth Grove, R-York County) provides school districts with a menu of taxing options and affords those districts using these options the ability to tailor property tax relief specific to their district. Any tax shift occurring under this new authority is required to be used as a dollar-for-dollar reduction, or elimination, of property taxes." How is it a bill that's never been vetted (1189) get a vote and HB76 that's been vetted three ways to Sunday, doesn't?

Fool me twice...

Do you know the saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me? I think I first heard Gomer Pyle utter those words when I was a lot younger than I am today, but I got it.I had two state reps telling me House Bill 76 would never work because the numbers just don't add up, the trouble is, they were using old numbers. Shame on you. Another representative, the sponsor of HB 76 told me the new numbers show a surplus, so I did a little research on my own. We hold off on the shame on me until I learn otherwise. It's time we hold our elected officials accountable. We shouldn't be feed political rhetoric when people's homes are on the line here, folks. Call your state representative and ask them, point blank, if they'll vote in favor of HB 76.

Which do you like, apples or oranges?

Property tax relief, reform or just a shuffling of the deck chairs, which would you like to see Pennsylvania? I think it's becoming pretty clear that elimination is the only way to go with the funding mechanism currently used to fund public education in the Keystone State. I took a look at two options last week, House Bill 76 and House Bill 1189. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Personally, I like apples much better. How about you?

Do these guys deserve a chance on property tax reform?

So I had PA House finance chair Kerry Benninghoff and Rep. Seth Grove in my office for a little chat last week. I was waiting for the weekend to clear before posting it up here figuring everyone was going to be busy with their Labor Day activities. I hope you had a good break from reality, because here it is again, coming at you full steam. Grove says he has an alternative to House Bill 76, the Property Tax Independence Act. Here's the interview and a video. You tell me...does he?

Taking a break from property tax reform...sort of

While I had a little fun with the idea of taking a break from writing about property tax reform in this week's column, I did manage to slip in a very serious question. I'm trying to set up an interview with Rep. Kerry Benninghoff , he's the chair of the House finance committee where HB 76 resides, and where it will remain if Benninghoff has his way. I'm also trying to get Rep. Seth Grove, who has proposed an alternate to HB 76, to come in as well. Honestly, the only point I want to make to both of them is...the public doesn't really care which bill gets to the floor for a vote as long as it works, and as long as it gets there before the end of the year. So the serious question I slipped into my non-property tax reform column is, what would you ask these two gentlemen given the chance?

Keep pounding the property tax reform drum

It will be September before you know it, as time is always fleeting and our state legislators will be back in session. Let's keep pounding the issue until they return and after they return, or more importantly, until something gets done. Now I'm hearing about a bill authored by Rep. Grove that may fix the alleged funding shortfall found in HB 76. I'll do some research and get back to you. For now, take a moment to read my latest rant on the impossible situation.

My kingdom for a formula for funding public education

Funding public education cannot be as difficult as our state legislature is making it out to be. Of course, any process can get convoluted over the years. That's why I'm suggesting we start from scratch in my latest rant on property tax relief. Start with a zero-based budgeting model. Put the whole process under a microscope and go from there.

The silence out of Harrisburg is deafening

While the conversation across the state is getting louder and louder, we're hearing nothing out of Harrisburg. Of course, they are on their summer break. So, here's where you're going to keep hearing about House Bill 76, which will eliminate the property tax as a means of funding public education. I have been writing about this issue for the past month, and some of the comments are inspiring, and some are down right sad. Here's an example of some of the many:I'm so glad to see this issue being discussed in your column. As someone who is facing the tax sale in September of my home of 24 years, I've been following all publicity for this bill. It is impossible for people who have only Social Security for income to pay $8,000 + each year for property taxes. We drained our IRA's to meet the tax bill each year until we couldn't.

Now it's your turn to rant about property taxes

I'm pretty lucky. I get to tell you what's on my mind every week. I know there are a lot of you out there who would love to have the same opportunity, so this week I'm giving it to you. The response from my columns on property tax reform has been outstanding. Unfortunately, some of it has also been sad, because I'm hearing from a lot of people who are on their last leg, financially. I don't know if we can get House Bill 76 passed into law before more people lose their homes, but I certainly believe we should give it our best shot.

Mike Turzai needs to hear from you

I decided, after all of the emails, online comments and telephone calls, that I should follow up last week's column on property tax reform with another installment. I've been harping about property tax reform for several years now, but I really believe this is the time for We The People to stand up and be heard. It is unfathomable to me that we cannot get House Bill 76 out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. I've heard from people all over the state, and one of the most disturbing comments came from western PA and Mike Turzai's district. He's apparently made in clear that a vote won't happen because he doesn't want it to happen. Turzai is the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and can apparently decide whether a bill should come up for a vote, regardless of what a majority of the population wants. Here's Mike's website. Call him and tell him what you think about that.

Property Tax Reform Now!

We've been talking about property tax relief in Pennsylvania for far too long. Now it's time to let every one of our state legislators know that if they're not willing to work for the people we'll excuse them from their positions during the next state election cycle.

Time to start fixing the broken windows

For more than a decade I've been talking about Norristown's comeback. I've been vocal about making Norristown a destination, and I've also put my time and my money where my mouth is. We've just completed a month-long four-part series "Under the gun: A time for answers," and I don't want that to be the end of it. Rather than just talk about Norristown's woes, we offered up solutions. Now it's time for the residents of Norristown, and those who make their living in Norristown, to step up to the plate. An easy place to start can be found in the very easily attainable broken window approach.

Curing Norristown's ills

So, I looked at Norristown's economy in a previous column, and I address parents, or the lack thereof, in this week's column So, which of these two elements do you think has kept Norristown from making a comeback. Or, do you have another alternative, such as subsidized housing, as one reader commented? I certainly know I don't have all the answers, but I do know it's time to seriously start searching for them.

The county seat comeback

Revitalization has been talked about in Norristown for more than two decades. What's the problem? Why can't this small town remake itself in the same way Phoenixville, West Chester, and a dozen other municipalities have? Perhaps the answer can be found in the people who live and work in Norristown.

Can you smell what's cooking in Washington D.C?

This week's rant talks about all the nonsense taking place inside the beltway in our nation's capital. Do you agree with my assessment, or am I over-reacting?

The Newseum recognizes The Times Herald

Today's front page made the Top 10 list at the Newseum in Washington D.C. Very proud of my team in the newsroom. Adrianna Hoff took the photo and Gene Walsh and Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers worked on the design. Great work, all!

Cross filing needs to be crossed off the ballot

With just a day to go before the primary I thought keeping focus on what has become the forgotten election cycle would be in everyone’s best interest. But instead of harping on how low the turnout is going to be, how about we bring into view some of the things we actually need to fix on the political scene if we ever expect greater participation. Just for the record, though, and in case you missed last week’s rant, I’m predicting 21 percent turnout county wide and a paltry 13 percent for Norristown. So let’s focus on those who are going to do their civic duty and go to the polls. One of the most ridiculous, atrocious, 'oxymoronic' scenarios you can ever imagine plays out in the race for Court of Common Pleas. Judges, you know, those folks who are supposed to be the most impartial people on the planet, cross file. Cross file. Chew on that for a minute. I say we abolish cross filing once and for all. What do you say?