Bill McIntyre

 

 

February 15, 2008


To:  PA General Assembly

Subject:  Reform Dead?

 

Dear PA Senators & Representatives,

 

          Is reform dead?  Don’t be too quick in celebrating its hoped for demise by many of you, and conducting an Irish wake in an attempt to bury the reform movement.  In July 2005, the 7th to be exact, many of you gave birth to “reform.”  Reform is in its infancy, barely 3 years old, alive and healthy.

 

          Rep. Todd Eachus (D – Luzerne) is quoted as saying – “The pay raise thing, I think, is finally behind us.  I think we’re on to other issues now.”  It was the pay raise that gave many of the “other issues” a life.  Nope!  Reform remains alive and well.

 

          There is an old saying that “still water runs deep.”  Just because you don’t hear the drums beating 24-7 for reform, doesn’t mean the drummers have quit.  0n the contrary, there are some (hopefully many) of you that have taken up the beat along with the reformers outside government.

 

          My (our) sincere thanks are extended to Reps. Matt Smith (D – Mt. Lebanon) and Randy Vulakovich (R-Shaler) for their proposal to cut the General Assembly’s budget by 20% starting July 1, 2008.  That would represent a savings of $66 million for property tax relief and needed roads and bridges.

 

          The proposed spending by you, the 253 members of the General Assembly, for the 2008-09 year is $334 million.  That represents $1,320,158 per senator and representative.  Is that much really needed?  NO! 

 

          Maybe Rep. Mark Musto (R- Moon) is correct in his bill to reduce the size of the legislature by 20% to 40 senators and 161 representatives).  Then we wouldn’t need so many calendars, surveys, announcements, newsletters, etc. printed and mailed.

 

          It’s time for government to tighten its belt, as we, the taxpayers have had to; due to the ever escalating taxes you impose upon us.  Do you believe for one moment that we’ll forget property tax reform among the many other needed reforms?  

 

          Thank God for the pay raise!  It is the single issue that opened the eyes of many to the excesses in our government.

 

          Is reform dead?  Not as long as you keep nourishing it by your excessive spending and inaction on needed government reforms.  Amen. 



An OLD reform minded individual,

 

Bill McIntyre

Thinking – Constitutional Convention – The answer?

 

CC:  Executive & Judicial Branches of PA Govt.

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