Sam Rohrer: 'Peace through Strength' is America's Defense

Sam Rohrer Announces US Senate Run

The sound quality isn't the best, but it's a pretty good speech and did you notice there's no sign of a TelePrompter? A candidate who stands for something and speaks from the heart. Sam Rohrer is everything Bob Casey Jr. is not.

Sam Rohrer to Announce Run for U.S. Senate

Conservative Sam Rohrer, who served in the Pennsylvania Legislature for 18 years and ran for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor in 2010, plans to announce Monday he will run for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2012.

The announcement is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the Governor's Ballroom of the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill, Pa.

Rohrer, a leader of the state's conservative movement and tireless proponent of the elimination of Pennsylvania's onerous property tax, challenged Tom Corbett in the Republican gubernatorial primary last year.

While Corbett won the nomination and eventually was elected governor, Rohrer made a surprisingly strong showing considering the party establishment (and money) went mostly to Corbett. (Rohrer routed Corbett in Berks County by an 80%-20% margin, and Rohrer beat Corbett in Lancaster County by a 52%-48% margin).

Rohrer, who retired from the Legislature at the end of 2010 to take the post of state director for Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania, will run for the Senate seat held by first-term Democrat Bob Casey Jr., one of the most liberal members of the Senate and a close ally of President Obama.

Pennsylvania's other Senate seat is held by conservative Republican Pat Toomey.

For more information on Sam Rohrer and his bid for U.S. Senate in 2012, visit www.RohrerforSenate.org

Sam Rohrer to run for U.S. Senate

Can conservative Sam Rohrer follow in Pat Toomey's footsteps and win a seat in the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania?

Toomey knocked off incumbent Arlen Specter in 2010.

If Rohrer can oust ultra-liberal Bob Casey Jr. in 2012, it would give Pennsylvania two of the most conservative Senators in the country.

Although the Republican field is crowded, Rohrer is the early frontrunner. He's the only candidate who has run a statewide campaign. Rohrer ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 2012 against eventual winner Tom Corbett.

And Rohrer has the same support that Toomey did from the conservative base of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania.

Former Berks County state rep. announces run for U.S. Senate - pottsmerc.com

Rep. Sam Rohrer: Budget Out of Balance and Unconstitutional

State Budget is Out of Balance and Unconstitutional

By State Rep. Sam Rohrer

On June 30, a truly unconstitutional, out-of-balance $28.04 billion state budget was passed through the Legislature. The fact that it was passed on time for the first time in eight years is nothing to celebrate, given the abdication of both fiscal responsibility and constitutional safeguards by those in office.

This budget is, ultimately, a set-up for an enormous tax increase next year. This budget grossly overstates revenue, depends on $850 million in federal Medicaid funding that has not yet been approved, and refuses to plan for the upcoming fiscal shortfalls.

Leadership in both parties in both the House and Senate has been applauding the on-time passage of a budget that doesn't increase taxes. Yet this blindness to what is really taking place is either deliberate ignorance or a complete disregard for sound policy making.

This budget expects the state's economy to grow — grow! — by 3 percent this year, when most economists are predicting at best 0 percent growth and as much as a 2 percent decline. That gap is between $750 million and $1.25 billion.

Next year, Pennsylvania loses federal stimulus funds. We will likely have to cope with the raiding of the MCare fund to the tune of $800 million. And the state’s unemployment compensation debt it owes to the federal government could top $4 billion. Everything is being pushed off until next year.

Perhaps the most egregious aspect of this budget’s passage is the manner in which it was accomplished. Approximately $66 million of Walking Around Money (WAMs) was put back in, along with a $600 million increase in the borrowing cap on the fund that pays for discretionary capital projects around the state, including nearly $300 million to be passed out by Gov. Ed Rendell. The historic use of these taxpayer-funded earmarks to buy votes in exchange for funneling money to legislators' districts is unconscionable.

Our leadership and elected officials have once again placed pragmatism over principle. That the budget should be passed on time is absolutely correct. But it's not just about getting it done on time. It's about elected officials doing the right thing — by their oath of office, by the Constitution, and by the taxpayers.

State Rep. Sam Rohrer is a Republican who has represented the 128th House District in Berks Council since 1993. He is minority chairman of the House Finance Committee. Rohrer is retiring from the Legislature at the end of the year, following an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor.

Sam Rohrer weighs in on Rendell's growing budget deficit

He may have only six months left in his legislative career, but state Rep. Sam Rohrer is not going away quietly.

After May tax collection estimates confirmed Pennsylvania is facing a $1.2 billion budget deficit, Rohrer reiterated his contention that Gov. Ed Rendell has recklessly placed the Commonwealth in fiscal insolvency.

From a Rohrer press release:

"If Pennsylvania was a private company, it would be staring bankruptcy in the face," Rohrer said.

Rohrer, who serves as the Republican chairman of the House Finance Committee, noted that revenue collections through May were down by more than $685 million compared to the same point last year.

The Rendell administration initially projected a $3.3 billion annual increase in revenues, from $25.5 billion last year to $28.8 billion this year.

"Even utilizing the most elementary method of revenue projection, there was no defensible basis to predict anything other than a decrease in revenue projections," Rohrer said. "Coupled with the fact that Pennsylvania lags any national economic recovery - which still has not occurred - a revenue increase projection was without any legitimate justification. The governor has the unique duty to ensure that spending is connected to revenue collections, and revenue projections should always err on the side of understating projections. Now we are predictably faced with people still losing jobs, corporate tax revenues still declining, personal consumption decreasing and a governor who still insists that we spend yet more. The truth is that we now have debts that exceed our ability to pay - the definition of insolvency."

In addition to this unjustified approach to budgeting, Rohrer said, despite completely raiding the state's Rainy Day Fund to the tune of $750 million, raiding $800 million from the MCare fund and using other similar one-time funding sources, revenues have still failed to reach administration estimates.

"The administration raided these funds and it still isn't able to get the state in the black," Rohrer said. "The Rendell administration has used failed financing techniques and accounting gimmicks of overstating revenues and underestimating expenses and it is now undeniable. And yet, at the end of the day, they still haven't been able to make a $1.23 billion deficit disappear.

"On top of all of this, the governor claims that the state cannot reduce spending because everything is mandated. This, however, is simply not true. Continuing to spend recklessly despite lower revenues will either destroy any hope of economic recovery by raising taxes in the worst possible time, or will bring Pennsylvania face-to-face with bankruptcy."

Rohrer went on to cite state revenue statistics that May marks the 25th month in a row that the state collections have failed to meet the Rendell administration's projections, along with declining personal and corporate income tax revenues.

"The solution is to begin telling the truth to Pennsylvania citizens. Borrowing is out of the question. The governor cannot continue running to Washington to beg for more federal funds. Instead, he must take the lead to clean up waste, fraud and abuse. Instead of using state workers as bargaining chips, he must instead incentivize state workers to recommend ways to spend better and spend less.

"Our financial circumstances are dire and getting worse by the day. Stop the current nonsense and begin making decisions based on duty, financial reality and truth. We're running out of time!"

It should be noted that Rohrer was one of the few candidates for governor who talked seriously about the state's fiscal woes during the months leading up to the May 18 primary and what can be done to reverse the eight disastrous years under Rendell.

A Love Letter to Sam Rohrer

In case you missed it last week, the editorial board of the Reading Eagle (a very left-leaning newspaper) penned a love letter to one of the most conservative members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, Sam Rohrer, who is ending an 18-year career in the state House.

"Agree with him or not, he served with honor and dignity," the newspaper says of Rohrer, who received 31 percent of the Republican vote in the May 18 primary but lost the GOP nomination for governor to Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett.

From the editorial:

Whether you agreed with Rohrer or not, you always understood exactly where he stood. There was no political double-talk in his public statements, there was no hedging his bet on how he would vote, there was no need to ask GOP leadership where he should stand on a particular issue. He made up his own mind based on his core beliefs, which never wavered.

Rohrer wasn't always successful translating his beliefs from legislation into laws, but he never stopped trying. His signature piece of legislation, which never gained enough support to get it through the Legislature, was his bid to replace the onerous real estate levy with an expanded sales tax. The concept earned him a lot of support in Berks County and a few of the neighboring counties, but it never gained traction in many other parts of the commonwealth, especially west of the Susquehanna River. Despite attempts to tweak the measure, it never came close to becoming law.

The newspaper also speculates Rohrer may challenge longtime Democratic state Sen. Mike O'Pake in 2012.

Read the full editorial at the link below:

Rohrer always remained true to his core principles

Columnist: Rohrer campaign made respectable showing

Considering he was at a disadvantage in money and name recognition, Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer still managed to draw 30 percent of Republican primary voters last week.

Mary Young: Rohrer campaign made respectable showing

What does the future hold for Sam Rohrer?

Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer managed to win 31 percent of the Republican vote for governor in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary despite being outspent by his better-known opponent, eventual winner Tom Corbett, the current attorney general.

Rohrer said he couldn't overcome Corbett's financial advantage and the Republican Party establishment backing Corbett.

"I didn't announce until the end of November," Rohrer told Reading Eagle reporter Mary Young. "The money was already taken. Most of my support has come from getting directly to people at town meetings and coffees and being literally in eye-to-eye meetings.

"We just couldn't get the $500,000 or the $1 million extra. We couldn't get the resources at the end. We had to use what we had."

Rohrer beat Corbett in two counties that will play a major role in determining the next governor of Pennsylvania. Rohrer routed Corbett in Berks County by an 80%-20% margin. Rohrer beat Corbett in Lancaster County by a 52%-48% margin.

Because he did not seek re-election to his 128th House District seat, Rohrer will be looking for work come January 2011.

The Reading Eagle offers a hint about Rohrer's future plans at the link below:

Rohrer wants role in continuing movement that aided campaign

Sam Rohrer: Will You Stand With Me?

Taxpayer groups back Rohrer, Wagner for PA governor

From the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, which represents 36 grassroots taxpayer groups working for the elimination of school property taxes in the Keystone State:

The time for choosing has arrived! This Tuesday, May 18, is the date for the Pennsylvania primary election.

As you know, the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition (PTCC) and The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA) have endorsed Sam Rohrer for Governor because of his unwavering efforts for property tax elimination and his promise to accomplish this if elected. PLEASE be sure to vote for Sam on May 18 if you’re a registered Republican. I know that many of you have changed your party affiliation so you can vote for Sam and your help is greatly appreciated.

If you're a Democrat, please consider voting for Jack Wagner for Governor. His stance on property tax elimination is not nearly as definitive as Sam's but at a gubernatorial forum in Hershey a few weeks ago he said about property taxes, "Sam Rohrer has some great ideas and it's really time to listen to him." This is more than any of the other Democratic candidates have offered and it's great to hear a possible Democratic opponent considering Sam's plan.

All 203 seats in the PA House of Representatives are up for grabs as well, although there are not very many primary election contests. If you live in a district where there is a primary opponent, please do some research before you vote to determine who supports property tax elimination. Remember, "relief" and "reform" are not what you want to hear. ELIMINATION is the only acceptable word!

One last note on the election: This Saturday, May 15, at 10:00 AM, Sam Rohrer will be having a rally on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg with country music star Aaron Tippin. It's going to be a great event, the weather forecast is for a beautiful day and a huge showing should get lots of media attention, so please attend, bring some friends, and help to swell the crowd! There will be buses available from some areas to make transportation simple. Details of the rally are here: http://www.samrohrer.org/stand-for-pennsylvania.html. It's free!

Newspaper: Rohrer 'as conservative as they come'

If you're looking for the conservative candidate in Pennsylvania's race for governor, look no further than Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer.

From a profile published this week in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the state's most- read liberal newspaper:

State Rep. Sam Rohrer is as conservative as they come.

The Republican candidate for governor believes in unalloyed gun rights. He sees zoning laws as an infringement on private property. He calls himself a strict defender of the 10th Amendment, which he says makes it unconstitutional for the federal government to get involved in schools or health care.

But Rohrer is not Glenn Beck; he is not angry.

He is not Rush Limbaugh; he does not mock opponents.

If you ask him for his views on a hot-button issue, he'll tell you. But he'd prefer to talk about the boring-but-important stuff - what the state must do to avoid a budget crisis year after year (cut expenses) and what it must do to address its collapsing employee pension systems (cut benefits).

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

Sam Rohrer: Pa. is 'insolvent right now'

From a profile by Chris Brennan of Republican gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer in today's edition of the Philadelphia Daily News:

State Rep. Sam Rohrer calls himself a "constitutional Republican," the kind of guy who seems tailor-made for the tea-party angst that has roiled conservative and libertarian voters.

Rohrer, who since 1992 has served nine terms in the state House from Berks County, has courted that movement's cultural and partisan passions as he seeks the Republican nomination for governor.

But Rohrer, the underdog to state Attorney General Tom Corbett in the May 18 primary, is not playing to that crowd with bumper-sticker slogans.

Instead, the man who spent two years managing a radio station and 12 years as marketing director for a company that sold baby products, offers dry analysis of the state's financial woes and ideas on how to fix them.

"We are insolvent right now," Rohrer said, noting that the state brings in about $24 billion a year and spends $28 billion. "I'm really running because I'm concerned about where we're going to be two years from now."

The plain-spoken Rohrer has emerged in the crowded field - two Republicans, four Democrats - as the man most willing to speak his mind. He calls for significant cuts in state spending on welfare, corrections and education.

On welfare, Rohrer says he has anecdotal information that state intake workers are not requiring applicants to prove citizenship.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

UNITEPA endorses Rohrer for PA governor

A coalition of grassroots political activists has endorsed Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer for governor of Pennsylvania.

UNITEPA is a non-partisan grassroots organization comprised of five Pennsylvania chapters in Lancaster, Reading/Berks, South Eastern PA Region, Pottstown and Chester County with more than 1,000 members.

The groups are "dedicated to upholding the principles and values set forth by our Founding Fathers" and have vetted each gubernatorial candidate in accordance with those principles and values, according to a UNITEPA press release.

More from the group's endorsement of Rohrer, a Republican challenging Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett for the Republican nomination on May 18:

It has become crystal clear to UNITEPA, that Rep. Sam Rohrer, a true constitutional conservative, is the only gubernatorial Candidate that reflects our principles and values. He is the epitome of what our Founding Fathers and William Penn envisioned when they passed the baton onto the next generation of statesmen. This is an opportunity for Pennsylvania to finally see the return of a "culture of honor and integrity". Rohrer has been a humble servant to the people of Pennsylvania for over 18 years, and has a Constitutional voting record of over 20,000 votes. He wholeheartedly supports the second amendment, personal privacy rights, the 10th amendment, and the elimination of school property tax. He is a champion for the 'right to life', religious freedom, the expansion of school choice and is a sponsor for the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment.

UNITEPA's mission statement is "To educate and motivate voters to affect elections, preserve the principles and values set forth by America's founding documents and uphold the ideals of our Founding Fathers." We have educated and motivated voters and upheld the ideals of our founding fathers - it is time to affect elections by making a choice for Governor, before the choice is made for us!

This decision to "come out of the political closet" was not taken lightly as many of us are simply just concerned citizens moving into the political spectrum. But our hope is that by UNITEPA spearheading this endorsement effort, other Grassroots organization will follow suit. We are in a 'Freedom Recession' and this election is about Freedom, Liberty and Truth. With the encroachment and commandeering of the Federal Government on our Commonwealth, we have to elect a Governor that has conviction in what he/she believes. They must have humility, integrity, honor, good judgement and believe in personal responsibility. Sam Rohrer represents those values.

UNITPA goes on to say that its endorsement is a 'Principled Statement' - not a financial endorsement on behalf of the organization. "We have asked our members to support Sam Rohrer as individual citizens for the survival of our Constitution through financial contributions to his campaign and volunteering."

For more on Rohrer, visit his campaign Web site at www.samrohrer.org

Sam Rohrer campaigns in Pottstown

State Rep. Sam Rohrer, one of two Republicans seeking the party's nomination to run for governor of Pennsylvania, made a campaign stop in Pottstown Thursday.

Check out video of Rohrer's visit at The Mercury's Web site.

Sam Rohrer endorses Maloney in 130th State House Race

Sam Rohrer is probably the most popular political figure in Berks County right now so when he decides to endorse a fellow Republican for the 130th state House District, it could tip the race to David M. Maloney.

Two Republicans - Maloney and Tammy Gore - are seeking the GOP nomination on May 18 to run against two-term incumbent Democrat David Kessler, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

From the Maloney for State Representative campaign:

Gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer has endorsed David M. Maloney's run for the state house. Maloney's campaign made the announcement Wednesday. Maloney is a candidate for the 130th State Legislative Seat in Berks County.

Sam Rohrer said "David Maloney is a man I will be able to count on to help me in the state house when I am governor. We will have a tremendous amount of work to do, difficult decisions to make on many important issues. I will be very glad to have David in my corner in Harrisburg."

Maloney said "Sam's endorsement means a great deal to me. I have come to know and respect Sam Rohrer over the years and I truly believe Sam is the right man to be our next governor." Maloney is a self employed carpenter and home remodeler. He is a former Oley Valley School Board member living in Pike Township, Berks County. "Sam's agenda for Pennsylvania is exactly what we need. Sam Rohrer's defense of the family, life, and freedom will be my model as a legislator."

Maloney and Rohrer agree that the keys to economic recovery in Pennsylvania are removing government roadblocks to job creation, reducing the cost of state government and the elimination of school property taxes.

When asked about Republican chances of success in November, Maloney said "Right now, we have momentum on our side here in Pennsylvania. We have strong candidates led by Sam Rohrer. For me personally, I have the energy and the volunteers and the organization behind me to win back the 130th seat, and at the same time I will do whatever I can to help Sam Rohrer become the next governor of Pennsylvania."

Former state Rep. Dennis Leh, who held the 130th House District seat for 20 years, is also backing Maloney and is serving as Maloney's campaign chairman.

For more information about Maloney, visit his campaign Web site, http://www.maloneyforpahouse.com/

Crowd at Kutztown University cheers Rohrer in bid for governor

Don't be surprised if Sam Rohrer beats party-backed Tom Corbett in Berks County in the Republican primary on May 18. Unfortunately, there are 66 other counties voting that day and Corbett should win the nomination. But Corbett can't match the enthusiasm Rohrer draws everywhere he speaks. Hint: Corbett needs to tap into Rohrer's base if he wants to be the next governor of Pennsylvania.

Crowd at Kutztown University cheers Rohrer in bid for governor

Rohrer, Corbett offer differencing views on the Constitution

The two Republicans running for Pennsylvania governor, state Rep. Sam Rohrer and Attorney General Tom Corbett, have different interpretations on what the Constitution means. Check out these two videos and decide for yourself. Corbett is the lawyer, but Rohrer appears to have a much better understanding of the Constitution.

Michelle Bachmann backs Sam Rohrer for PA governor

Anti-Tom Corbett blog launches

A "conservative political activist" fed up with "corrupt politicians who run negative smear campaigns" launched a blog over the Easter weekend called The Real Tom Corbett, a site dedicated to "revealing the seldom-seen but verifiable facts" about Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett, who wants to be Pennsylvania's next governor.

The blogger remains anonymous, using the name Only The Truth to post his or her articles about Corbett.

It's unlikely the site has any direct ties to Corbett's political rival, Sam Rohrer - the Berks County state lawmaker also seeking the GOP nomination for governor - but it's also clear that the blogger is a Sam Rohrer supporter.

So far, the site contains two posts: "The big elephant in the room," which claims Corbett is misrepresenting Rohrer's 2005 vote on the legislative pay raise, and "The curious case of the Facebook fans," which claims the Corbett campaign is somehow manipulating the number of "fans" its candidate has collected on Facebook.

If only elections were decided on Facebook.

The blog also includes links to two other blogs that are often critical of Corbett, CasablancaPA and PennPatriot.

Check out The Real Tom Corbett for yourself here.