Wolf Vetoes, Democrats Get Squirrelly, and Pennsylvanians Continue to Suffer

It appears that the only way Pennsylvania is going to get back on track is if the ink in Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto pen runs dry.

Earlier this week, while small businesses and laid-off employees across Pennsylvania continued to experience economic ruin thanks in large part to the governor’s flawed policies, yet another relief package was sent to his desk — and once again it was denied.

These bills are important!

  • HB 2388 would require the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue waivers to the governor’s business closure order to vehicle dealers, lawn and garden centers, cosmetology salons, barber shops, messenger and agent services, animal grooming services and manufacturing operations, allowing them to get back to work.
  • HB 2414 would direct the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue a waiver that would allow real estate professionals to resume their businesses in accordance with social distancing guidelines and waive municipal requirements to conduct inspections for the duration of the state’s emergency declaration.
  • SB 327 would give county commissioners across the Commonwealth the authority to make the decision to re-open businesses in their communities.

While the vetoes of House Bills 2388 and 2414 and Senate Bill 327 were bad enough, members of the Legislature were confident they could get enough additional votes to override the governor’s puzzling denial of these common-sense reopen measures. In the House, for example, only 13 more votes were needed for the override, and with the bipartisan support the legislation had initially, that seemed like a very plausible scenario.

Until the governor actually entered his vetoes, that is.

House Democrats who had previously summoned up the political courage to reopen Pennsylvania in a safe, measured, and reasonable way, suddenly reverted back to becoming liberal automatons, more fearful of the blowback from their own misguided leadership than the consequences their poor decisions are having on the struggling, tax-paying citizens of our Commonwealth.

The image below identifies eight Democrats who voted with the majority to reopen Pennsylvania last week.

The following image is from yesterday’s roll call vote.

The only reason these eight Democrats changed their votes is because the governor who shares their political affiliation chose to veto the bills. Rather than step out of line with their party, these Democrats chose to betray Pennsylvania’s newly unemployed workers and the small businesses who make up the bulk of our economy.

There really can be no other explanation.

Pennsylvania Needs Your Help!

So, now I’m asking the patriots of our Commonwealth for a huge favor. If you know someone — be it a friend, a relative, an old-classmate or even a Facebook acquaintance — who lives in the district of one of these eight lawmakers, please call them, email them, text them, or visit them. For the sake of our economy and and the future of Pennsylvania, ask them to contact their representatives and convince them to vote to support the reopening of our state. House members plan to take up the override bill again and we need these folks back on board.

I’ll even give you their websites and numbers:

Also, if you know anyone who lives in the districts of any of the other House Democrats, please call them and encourage them to contact their legislator and ask them to vote in favor of the override. Pennsylvania’s economic welfare is simply too important to allow partisanship to get in the way. 

Let’s help these folks find their political courage again.

Thank you, and God bless.

Help Me Fight the Swamp!

Help Me Fight the Swamp!

Let’s Fight the Swamp Together!

There have been a lot of folks who contributed to help my campaign this year and I’m grateful. It would have been my preference to have had the three of us in this campaign focusing solely on what we have done and what our mission is for you. 

Unfortunately, the Harrisburg lobbyists running the campaign for Herm Suplizio and the political action committee funded by Harrisburg politicians supporting Herm, chose not to go that route and I have been forced to use the valuable resources you have so kindly provided to respond to their lies.

We are getting the word out about my true record of fighting waste, fraud, abuse, and the threats of increased taxation which takes more money out of your pocket with little or no accountability.

I know the attack ads are not going to stop. That is now beyond question. The ultimate insiders from Harrisburg are now invested over $300,000 and counting in a “safe” Republican seat to prevent me (rather than promoting their candidate) from representing you. 

The Truth Will Out. But I do need some help to combat these lies.  Please, take the time to pray about this and whatever you feel led to contribute (especially more prayer) would be appreciated and put to good use to help me let those in areas who don’t know me understand what The People of the 66th District already know.

This link will provide you with the information you need to help.  Thank you.

God Bless!

Digging In Against All New Tax Increases

Digging In Against All New Tax Increases

The Senate’s $571 million tax increase proposal contains many negative impacts for both families and job creators, but I’d like to address the most serious: the gross receipts tax on natural gas, electricity, and telecommunication services.

A Tax-Tax is Just the Start

The gross receipts tax is added to the total costs of production–and this is an important point–before the sales taxes are calculated. What this means is that you will end up paying a sales tax on the gross receipts tax. So if you purchase natural gas, you will be paying a tax on a tax.

But wait, it only gets worse. If your electric company uses natural gas to produce electricity they have to pay the tax on the tax and then turn around and add their own gross receipts tax on top of that. Then guess what happens? Another sales tax computed on the gross receipts tax. So for your electricity, you’re paying a tax on a tax on a tax on a tax!

Bad enough? You wish! Your telephone and cable companies use a lot of electricity for the cell towers and transmission stations etc. If they’re buying their electricity from a gas-fired plant they are not only paying for the four taxes you do, but now they have to add a gross receipts tax on top of that which, you guessed it, gets a sales tax on top of that! A tax, on a tax, on a tax, on a tax, on a tax, on a tax!

It Can’t Possibly Get Worse … Right?

Wrong! You bet it can! Your schools and local governments (offices, jails, courthouses, etc.) also will have to pay taxes on each of those services, with one exception: the final sales tax. So where do you think they are going to have to go to get the money to pay for all of those new taxes? You guessed it! Your property taxes, which are most likely going to have to go up.

Sounds pretty bad, right? It can’t go further … can it?

Of course, it can! After all, this is government we’re talking about!

For the final absurdity (and I’m trying to be kind here), all of our state government agencies are going to have to pay more for all of these utilities just like your local governments. I’ve run some preliminary numbers and figure the Department of Corrections alone will have to fork over an extra $3 million per year for their heating, electric, and telecommunications.

So, guess what your state government will have to do next year if the Senate’s tax increase plan goes through? Yep. Raise your taxes to pay for the taxes it has imposed on itself!

Digging in to Protect Our Taxpayers

Recently I participated in a Taxpayers’ Caucus hearing in York County, where one of the testifiers stated that he is glad to see a growing number of rank-and-file members, like those represented at the hearing, who are digging in.

We are digging in against the out-of-control spending, and we are especially digging in to get answers to the malfeasance, fraud, waste, and abuse. I’m glad to have found them, proud to serve with them, and, like that gentleman, happy to see our numbers in the Taxpayers’ Caucus growing.

If you haven’t seen much of me locally lately, it’s because I’ve been working with these members in Harrisburg to find the money we need to pay for this budget that I did not vote for. It’s law now. I won’t just throw my hands up and tell those who voted for it to fix it. Doing that only results in proposals like the one above.

My Promise to You

With 202 other members in the House, I can’t guarantee anything–other than the guarantee that I will work with those who are willing to try to find a solution—one that won’t leave our businesses, local governments, schools, people on fixed incomes, and you struggling to pay higher prices for the necessities of life and higher taxes on top of them.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Yesterday we had some time with our grandson and, as I watched my wife and daughter-in-law with him, I was struck with just how precious mothers are. The love in their eyes and the love in the eyes of that one-year-old who could sense how deeply loved he is even if he can’t understand it yet. Watching Traci on a video link with our granddaughter showed how that affection can be recognized and continued even from a distance.

Today, as we dropped off Mother’s Day meals for my mom and sister, and not having been able to hug or kiss my own mother for two months, my heart burned for the kind of expression of love my grandson was able to experience because I know how deeply my mother cares for me.

God is a God of relationships! He created us in His image to have those special bonds with each other. We need relationships and Mothers start fulfilling that need before we even recognize the need.

Take the time to communicate your love for your mother out there, or someone who has shown you that kind of love when she wasn’t the one who brought you into this earth but stepped up for you when you needed her.

God Bless all Mothers this Mother’s Day and every day you are there bringing love and comfort to each of us.

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