Reichley Delivers Reality Check at State Budget Forum

OK, so he's not going to make the cover of GQ anytime soon. When he does speak, he's a tad on the dry side. But of the for four State Representatives who appeared at a CACLV-sponsored forum in Southside Bethlehem last week, it was Doug Reichley who impressed me most. Sure, he looks as though he'd rather be going through root canal. But he listened to what people had to say, from Safe Harbor resident Tiffany to environmental activist Don Miles. Through it all, he insisted he would oppose any attempt to increase taxes. But he listened.

You can read my story about that forum over at Easton Patch. Alan Jennings, a strident advocate for the voiceless, packed Fowler Community Center with LV residents under the budget axe.

State Representatives Joe Brennan, Bob Freeman and Steve Samuelson were the three Democrats on this panel. All three are sponsors of the Delaware Loophole bill, which could bring an additional $500 million into state coffers, while lowering the corporate net income tax from 9.99% to 7.4% over three years. All three Democrats also support a severance tax on Marcellus Shale, while Reichley prefers an "impact fee."

According to Reichley, Corbett's budget is just a "proposal." He prefers a more "balanced approach," and hinted that an "impact fee" might generate some additional revenue, but not enough.

But no tax hike. "I was at a candidates' night last week of school board candidates where four of them promised they will not raise property taxes to abounding applause from, primarily, seniors. So we're gonna' have the Armageddon of school district battles in East Penn of people who are opposed to tax increases against people who have kids in school. And that's as it should be. There's no more ducking this issue. We overspent the last few years."

Reichley added that Republicans are looking at a proposal, down the road, of eliminating all operating money that goes to state related colleges, including community colleges, and giving the money to PHEAA for grants to families and students "to put the bargaining power back in the hands of the families who are paying the tuition, and create competitive pressure on the institutions to provide you the best bargain."

You can read more about the proposed cuts to education, environment, human services and weed 'n seed at Easton Patch. Everyone present had sound suggestions. And Joe Brennan announced his legislative district, in which the forum was held, has been rated the best legislative district in the universe.

I personally would support the Delaware Loophole and either an impact fee or, preferably, a severance tax. Legislators need to enact legislation reducing the number of school districts. They did it once before in the '60s, reducing school districts from 2,000 to 500.