State Sen. Bob Mensch Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign

From Friends of Bob Mensch:

Schwenksville, PA – Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24) today formally kicked off his re-election campaign for the Pennsylvania Senate representing portions of Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton counties. Mensch chose April 15th, "Tax Day," to announce his re-election campaign because keeping government spending in check and opposing tax increases on working families are two of his top priorities in the Pennsylvania Senate.

"As we struggle through the current economic crisis and widespread unemployment, Pennsylvania residents are increasingly being asked to do more with less," said Mensch. "Yet Democrats in Harrisburg want to increase state spending by $1.5 billion, even as state revenues are declining. They have coupled this budget proposal with a massive expansion of the state sales tax to 74 new items and services for the first time. Non prescription drugs, newspapers and magazines, coal and firewood, even children's textbooks would all be taxed under the Democrats’ proposal. That means more money out of the pockets of Pennsylvania taxpayers to pay for continued largess in state government."

"This isn't just a nickel here and a nickel there either," said Mensch. "New sales taxes on residential electric, gas, oil, water, and basic television services will cost households hundreds of dollars per year. And for those individuals who may buy or sell their home, thousands of dollars in new costs could be imposed due to new taxes on a range of professional services. If Pennsylvanians are being told to live within their means, our state government should be forced to do the same."

"According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania has the 11th highest state and local tax burden in the country," said Mensch. "We also have the 2nd highest corporate net income tax in the nation, which stifles efforts to attract new businesses to our state and create jobs. Harrisburg needs to be looking for opportunities to cut taxes in order to remain competitive with other states, not looking for new opportunities to raise taxes. With the support of voters, I will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility and some level of sanity in the state capital."

Mensch noted that when he is out speaking with voters, many are surprised to learn that he is seeking re-election this year, particularly since he was just elected to his first term in the Senate in September 2009. That election, however, was a special election to fill the vacancy left by Senator Rob Wonderling, who stepped down to become President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Mensch is running unopposed for the Republican nomination in the May primary, but will likely face a Democrat opponent in the November general election.