I came across this Letter to the Editor in today's edition of The Reporter in Lansdale, Montgomery County. I don't know how Gov. Ed Rendell and the members of the Pennsylvania Legislature can look themselves in the mirror each day knowing that so many Pennsylvania residents are suffering.
Rendell and the Legislature have the power to solve this problem, but they won't. They've come up with all sorts of schemes and delaying tactics (casino gambling, Act 72, Act 1) over the past five years, but still haven't addressed the fundamental unfairness of Pennsylvania's property tax system.
Lawmakers are still coming up with smoke-and-mirror ploys like House Bill 1600 or Sen. James Rhoades hair-brained scheme unveiled last week.
The only solution is the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007, formerly known as the Commonwealth Caucus Plan. Full details about the plan are available at http://www.ptcc.us/
The bill is still waiting introduction in the House and Senate, which are busy trying to decide such weighty issues as banning aluminum bats at youth baseball games and whether you can buy a six-pack at a beer distributor.
Rendell, who has been playing a shell game with tax relief for the past five years, has declared Oct. 5, 2007, as "Senior Smiles Day" in Pennsylvania. Senior citizens have nothing to smile about as they see property taxes rise every year.
I ask every member of the Pennsylvania Legislature to read the letter below from Lt. Col. Jenkins and see if you can live with yourself.
School tax exceeds pay for veteran
I am a retired veteran of 27 years and three wars, self-supporting and 90 years of age. My school tax exceeds one month's retired pay.
We have had no children in school for 65 years, and even then, we paid for their education and they rode their bikes to school or walked.
We even supported both through two years of college. Many times they did odd jobs to get extra spending money. They were all honor students, married later and became professionally employed.
Why can't apartment occupants, townhouse renters or owners pay a school tax as long as they enjoy school support for their children?
Souderton Area School District is now building a magnificent, luxurious school, much more plush and even larger than required, and highly over budget to the extent that inspections and specs are changed, frequently rising the cost.
We, as seniors, have no supporters or say on this disrespectful taxation and we are asked to sit back and be avoided, and have no one to talk to about it except the media.
Progress is not free, but it does make decisions much more important. I love children and schools, but will support a new school within reason and a purpose.
If I am wrong, please advise me why.
As seniors vanish, who then pays the tax bill?
God bless America's children and please honor the troops.
LLOYD M. JENKINS JR.
Lt. Col. United States Air Force, Retired
Lower Salford
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