tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23302571.post-1146762306361103622006-05-04T12:02:00.000-05:002006-05-04T12:24:37.546-05:00The House Republicans stalled the vote for property tax relief. They announced a delay on the property-tax rebate plan passed by the Senate and endorsed by Governor Rendell until at least next month.<br />The Republicans declare" we can do better in the form of a property-tax reform bill"<br />This is an amusing assertion because the Republicans have been in the majority in Harrisburg for years, yet in all that time, they have done nothing for homeowners.<br />They are trying to sell the idea that their actions are in the best interests of the taxpayers.<br />Perhaps, another view of events is that this inaction is due to the lobbying power of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Pennsylvania School Board Association.<br />House Bill 39 has a referendum feature which both the teachers and the school board members hate.<br />Referendums give the public an opportunity to vote on school budgets. The teachers see this as a threat to their salaries, benefits, and guaranteed pensions and the school boards don't want to share power.<br />In a matter of days, these groups appear to have mustered a campaign of fear in the minds of the politicians if they passed a bill with any spending controls.<br />The amount lobbying by these special interests against referendums speaks volumes as to the effectiveness mandated controls would have on moderating school property taxes. <br />We now have a situation where the same politicians who have done nothing all these years are doing what they have done in the past, promising.<br />Contact your local House representative, and tell them they heard from the people who feed from the trough, now they are going to hear from the taxpayers.<br />We want property tax relief now, not more promises.<br />If you don't get a response, you might send a message with your vote in the May primaries.Oley Concerned Citizenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16686840946027491442noreply@blogger.com