GOP lawmakers pledge to put taxpayers first

While Gov. Ed Rendell wants to saddle Pennsylvania's beleaguered taxpayers with a 16% increase in the personal income tax, a group of Republican lawmakers have announced the "Pact with PA" offering a road map to fiscal stability without tax hikes.

"The Pact with Pennsylvania is more than a promise made by the lawmakers who adopt it," said state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks. "It is a promise to their constituents that they will abide by the commonsense principles in the agreement. It is a basic fiscal framework that, if embraced, will assure a workable budget that meets not only the demands of the moment, but the uncertainties of the future."

The Pact is an agreement detailing the five principles that should guide lawmakers' actions during upcoming budget negotiations and the eventual budget vote. Those principles include:

1. No tax increases.
2. No additional state debt.
3. Rainy Day Fund: preserved for original intent.
4. Stabilize existing financial obligations.
5. Proactive tax reform to improve Pennsylvania’s job climate.

"We want a budget that protects the state's savings account, addresses long-term issues, promotes economic growth and that does not raise taxes or increase debt," said Rohrer, who addressed the need to avoid a tax increase as outlined in point No. 1 of the pact. "It is heartless to suggest that, while they're struggling to make it through an economic recession, the state should take more from Pennsylvanians through higher taxes. State lawmakers should not kick taxpayers while they're down. It is entirely inappropriate to add greater tax burdens to our citizens just because that is easier than living within our means."

The Pact has been endorsed Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-128), Republican chairman of the House Finance Committee; Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-99), Republican chairman of the House Policy Committee Task Force on Budget and Economic Issues; Rep. Mike Turzai (R-28), House Republican whip; Sen. Pat Browne (R-16), Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; and Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. (R-30), member of the Senate Finance Committee and chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee.

The legislators are encouraging their colleagues in the House and Senate, and the governor, to participate in the agreement between lawmakers and residents.

Copies of the "Pact with Pennsylvania" are available at Rohrer's Web site at SamRohrer.com