tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post3652619138685293890..comments2024-03-29T07:11:24.898-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Browning Tags Ott Over EndorsementBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-22028969225349090832013-04-03T09:11:06.008-04:002013-04-03T09:11:06.008-04:00The only fair way to deal with school taxes is to ...The only fair way to deal with school taxes is to tax everyone in PA equally. It is time to put an end to the extortion forced on property owners. I favor keeping my home for life.<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63304837743332776982013-03-07T15:43:37.740-05:002013-03-07T15:43:37.740-05:00Ott against increased property taxes
Dean Brownin...Ott against increased property taxes<br /><br />Dean Browning for increased poperty taxes.<br /><br />There is your campaign. Simple really!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67040334217559050252013-03-06T21:00:30.560-05:002013-03-06T21:00:30.560-05:00I am proud to put that record up against anyone on...<i> I am proud to put that record up against anyone on either side of the aisle . . .</i> <br /><br />Hinting at bipartisamism, if that is a word, also reflecting his candidate announcement theme, but I recall his prior words on this very same blog . . . <br /><br /><i> From an overall standpoint, I don’t think partisanship is necessarily a bad thing. It is the process where we bring out opposing points of view and work to translate those views in to policy </i> <br /><br />and he now says . . . <br /><br /><br /><i> the role of County Executive requires a candidate who is principled </i> <br /><br />So which is it? And yes, I agree that one should avoid personal attacks and stay on the issues but I cant reconcile one who supports farm preservation but calls it a tax bailout two year later, or one who says he did not vote for a tax increase, but failed to vote for a less onerous amendment . . . calling the less onerous increase a political gimmick, thereby allowing the more onerous increase by default, or says its not ‘conservative’ to call for spending cuts which actually begat a 500K spending cut. True the process is ugly but I suggested specific cuts here on this very blog. <br /><br />Where are Dean specific cuts. Fight the union . . . perhaps? Lets not head into an unfair labor practice by predisposing anti-union animosity! Failed leadership is not the union's fault! <br /><br />By Dean's own admission, the partisan process can be a bit ugly, but it does work, when elected folks say and do what they say. Thats what I want! <br /><br /> I'll judge by the result not the words, which in his case, he gave us a 16% tax increase, zero years of a balanced budget and increased year over year spending. <br /><br />But hey, I'm jaded. I worked to elect him the first time. Fool me once . . . but I see no principle in him today. Sorry. <br /><br />-nlvlogicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-71726403769270577462013-03-06T19:29:36.653-05:002013-03-06T19:29:36.653-05:00". If yu raise the current sales tax it will ...<em>". If yu raise the current sales tax it will have no effect on food or clothing. However, loweirng the property tax on homeowners will be a significant savings for many low income people. Seniors will get a huge break."</em><br /><br />Wrong, especially when you realize that many low-income people do not own and cannot afford to own real estate. Like Ott himself, now that I think about it. <br /><br />A sales tax is a regressive tax. It does not matter to me whether Callahan is proposing it (he has) or some tea party group. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15988446503687236262013-03-06T19:27:13.941-05:002013-03-06T19:27:13.941-05:00"An equally valid interpretation, no?"
...<em>"An equally valid interpretation, no?"</em><br /><br />Absolutely. He can defend this. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85506515038359737492013-03-06T19:26:26.012-05:002013-03-06T19:26:26.012-05:005:01,
Amen brother!
Allentown Democrat Voter5:01,<br /><br /> Amen brother!<br /><br />Allentown Democrat VoterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-74748879148139697562013-03-06T17:31:12.583-05:002013-03-06T17:31:12.583-05:00This is purely a campaign issue. Senator Argyle c...This is purely a campaign issue. Senator Argyle campaigned to eliminate property taxes. After coasting to re-election, nothing.<br />Purely a gimmick.<br />Gotta luv real politicians. Ott is learning quickly.RSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-59624388301801227412013-03-06T17:01:33.301-05:002013-03-06T17:01:33.301-05:00This is pure bullsit from Browning and his buddy O...This is pure bullsit from Browning and his buddy O'Hare covering for him. If yu raise the current sales tax it will have no effect on food or clothing. However, loweirng the property tax on homeowners will be a significant savings for many low income people. Seniors will get a huge break.<br /><br />So if you are poor and love to eat fast fodd and buy a lot of shit, you will pay the same as anyone else.<br /><br />The law can be easily written to ensure that food and clothing are exempt and the new revenues must be targeted to specific counties of origin. In the age of computwrs Browning talks as though we still have men in green eyeshades and big ledger books.<br /><br />Welcome ot the the 21st century. A great idea and one many Democrats would embrace. Try as you might Bernie, Ott is right and I don't even like Ott, I'm a <br />Demcorat but Browning is using a lot of words and explaining nothing.<br /><br />Armstrong is using the argument you hate Bernie, ignore the good in search of the perfect. His global apprioach isn't going to help anyone in the next decade, since it isn't going to happen. Let us take a positive step rather than sit still because Armstorng is mad that we are we are not flying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87086038484605253392013-03-06T13:32:05.149-05:002013-03-06T13:32:05.149-05:00The sole reason for the group's existence is t...The sole reason for the group's existence is to raise sales and income taxes? Another poster calls it "Ott's proposal"?<br /><br />It's almost comical, but things like this are exactly why Browning and his supporters have lost all credibility. Last time I checked, Ott has no power to raise sales or income taxes, at any level.<br /><br />The group is endorsing Ott for Ott's role in cutting Lehigh County property taxes. They are not endorsing Browning for HIS role in RAISING property taxes. It's as simple as that, but Team Browning can't accept reality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-88929554956122416492013-03-06T12:58:29.125-05:002013-03-06T12:58:29.125-05:00how do you read that?how do you read that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-42200879456848826212013-03-06T12:44:38.374-05:002013-03-06T12:44:38.374-05:00Browning gets the 1984 Doublespeak Award. He says...Browning gets the 1984 Doublespeak Award. He says he never voted to increase taxes in the same paragraph he says he voted to raise taxes 16%. Mr. 16% is a real pisser. 16%. 16%. 16%. He voted for a 16% tax increase. Own it Dean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76846602467679627582013-03-06T12:38:14.334-05:002013-03-06T12:38:14.334-05:00I'd like to see Mr. Ott run the same ad, but o...I'd like to see Mr. Ott run the same ad, but on HIS behalf, simply by changing a few words . . .<br /><br />"Scott Ott wants to eliminate your school property tax!"<br /><br />An equally valid interpretation, no?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-77255135885967591652013-03-06T12:36:41.463-05:002013-03-06T12:36:41.463-05:0012:04,
Animus such as this is bad form and bad ...12:04,<br /><br /> Animus such as this is bad form and bad politics. You do your side no favor with such vitriol. Scott Ott and Dean Browning are capable conservatives. We need not run down one to promote the other.<br /><br /> Scott Armstrong<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39397418758260370642013-03-06T12:36:34.888-05:002013-03-06T12:36:34.888-05:00The bottom line for me, I feel I can trust Brownin...The bottom line for me, I feel I can trust Browning. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-31275280312529079542013-03-06T12:31:30.347-05:002013-03-06T12:31:30.347-05:00Ott's proposal is nothing more than a weighted...Ott's proposal is nothing more than a weighted tax on the poor, elderly, and middle class. Basic necessities like clothing and food take a greater percentage of poorer persons income.<br /><br />I bet he supports subsidies for certain industries.<br /><br />Ott "Over The Top"<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20552894448490237882013-03-06T12:14:12.331-05:002013-03-06T12:14:12.331-05:00So am I to understand that Ott has accepted the en...So am I to understand that Ott has accepted the endorsement of this group, yet disagrees completely with their reason for existence? This is a single-issue group. <br /><br />Also, I do not consider the picture of Ott to be unflattering. He is being identified with a sales tax and income tax hike. It would be better if he had actually issued a statement, but he did accept an endorsement from a group whose sole reason for existence is actually to raise income and sales tax. <br /><br />I don't think voters will attach a lot of weight to it, but will attach some. <br /><br />I am much more bothered by what Ott himself has done. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41565922005569718462013-03-06T12:04:35.075-05:002013-03-06T12:04:35.075-05:00Browning's whole premise is created in his own...Browning's whole premise is created in his own mind.<br /><br />He alleges that because Ott received the group's endorsement, Ott must also support the group's property tax plan.<br /><br />The discussion of whether or not the plan makes sense is a separate issue, and not one that needs to involve Ott. The group obviously wants to see property taxes cut, a fact that Browning conveniently fails to mention. That's not surprising, given that Ott cut county taxes and Browning was the deciding vote that gave county taxpayers a 16% tax hike (which is another issue Browning tries to dance around).<br /><br />Couple that with the unflattering, extreme close-up photo of Ott (I guess Browning didn't have an out of focus, grainy photo handy) and it's obvious Browning is taking things to the gutter. <br /><br />LC voters deserve better than the way Browning runs his campaigns. He has a history of this and it didn't work a couple of years ago. He apparently didn't learn anything from that experience, which isn't a good trait for a politician.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51441143100118457722013-03-06T11:02:46.892-05:002013-03-06T11:02:46.892-05:0010:48,
You seem to have a personal axe to gr...10:48, <br /><br /> You seem to have a personal axe to grind with Mr. Browning in which case nothing he does/says/stands for/or points out will please you.<br /> There is nothing wrong with candidates questioning or criticizing the positions of their opponents. I think we can agree however that it is wrong and counter productive to the process to personally attack an opponent. <br /> You accuse Dean Browning of "twisting the truth". Will you please explain?<br /><br /> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57925941103287957242013-03-06T10:58:54.219-05:002013-03-06T10:58:54.219-05:00"Bernie, using your logic, paying current sal...<em>"Bernie, using your logic, paying current sales tax on pencils is regressive, too. Thus, we need to eliminate taxation of pencils."</em><br /><br />There is a difference between things we can do without, like pencils or cars, and things that are essential to our survival, like clothing and shoes. We need clothing. We need shoes. A poor person has to buy those items, whether he likes it or not. He can skip the pencils. A person making $10,000 per year is going to be hurt much more by a $40 pair of shoes than someone earning $100,000 per year. It is a regressive tax that impacts low-income people much more severely than those with more disposable income. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-52432166934920485382013-03-06T10:57:13.143-05:002013-03-06T10:57:13.143-05:00Agree its all a shell game and there are those wil...Agree its all a shell game and there are those willing to gamble.Not me.Lower the cost of pensions and bennys, maintaining co/pay health insurance.Writings on the wall, bennys gotta go and strict attendence rules enforced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-42125640736961139292013-03-06T10:54:13.034-05:002013-03-06T10:54:13.034-05:00It is negative campaigning, and that is fair so lo...It is negative campaigning, and that is fair so long as it is not personal. If I accept an endorsement from a group, and that group is advocating a tax shifting scheme that results in higher sales and income taxes, I think it is eminently fair to point it out. <br /><br />But what disturbs me much more about Ott than that endorsement is his involvement in taking a meat cleaver to the LC budget and just chopping off $5 million intended for personnel That was irresponsible. So was threatening CDBG funding upon which many small municipalities rely for much needed infrastructure. If he wants to attack that, he should run for Congress. <br /><br />LC's Board has become dysfunctional, thanks largely to Ott. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-36458719201742217352013-03-06T10:51:05.141-05:002013-03-06T10:51:05.141-05:00Bernie, using your logic, paying current sales tax...Bernie, using your logic, paying current sales tax on pencils is regressive, too. Thus, we need to eliminate taxation of pencils.<br /><br />Again, no one seeks brand new taxable items, just a more equitable way of paying for items currently covered by property taxation.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-18253827604705507742013-03-06T10:48:23.420-05:002013-03-06T10:48:23.420-05:00Bottom line is that this is another negative campa...Bottom line is that this is another negative campaign piece from Dean Browning. He tries to reverse the groups endorsement of Ott and turn it into Ott's endorsement of the group.<br /><br />At least the group is looking for ways to reduce property taxes, a concept that is clearly elusive to Mr. Browning.<br /><br />At the end of the day Browning's campaign comes down to twisting the truth and justifying Browning's actual vote that resulted in property taxes going up.<br /><br />It's the same campaign as two years ago. Browning has learned nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6342099448947832362013-03-06T10:40:49.210-05:002013-03-06T10:40:49.210-05:0010:05,
Would it make more sense to support lowe...10:05,<br /><br /> Would it make more sense to support lower property taxes if the result is that taxpayers pay even higher taxes through another tax vehicle? Of course not. Honest brokers in this election understand both candidates in this primary are against high taxes and big government. Let's raise the level of discourse.<br /><br /> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41461528803028144982013-03-06T10:38:26.912-05:002013-03-06T10:38:26.912-05:00If i make $10,000 per year and have to buy clothin...If i make $10,000 per year and have to buy clothing and shoes every year, that is going to make more of a dent on me than someone who makes $100,000 per year. It is a regressive tax. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.com