×

The people have spoken

ROBERT KEPLER

Renovo

Congratulations to Stephanie Borowicz on her win in Pennsylvania’s 76th Legislative District! I would also like to thank the people who voted for her and were just as tired of Mike Hanna’s spending of our tax dollars to make himself look good. The difference between the two candidates was like night and day.

Stephanie ran on cutting taxes, less government, supporting the 2nd Amendment, eliminating school property taxes and less regulations. Mr. Hanna ran on more funding for everything under the sun and a whole lot of I consider to be deceptive ads in the newspapers and on television.

One of the most deceptive ads Hanna was running was that he earned an “A” rating from the NRA, the highest possible.

This ad rubbed me the wrong way because I have been a member of the NRA for years and I new he earned nothing from the NRA.

Mike Hanna was never elected to public office or voted on pro-gun legislation. That’s the only way you earn an “A” rating. All Hanna did in my opinion was deceptively use the NRA for political gain. Hanna wasn’t even endorsed by the NRA.

Recently in The Express, Mike Hanna wrote an op-ed piece on legislation for HB 465, The Keystone Retirement Security Program. He said most families are not saving enough for retirement and this bill would allow their employer to deduct money from their paycheck and have it deposited into the state treasurer’s office.

This legislation that Hanna introduced just shows how out of touch he is with the people of Clinton County. Let me explain. Hanna supports the Keystone fund, which is a tax on real estate sales in Pennsylvania. The buyer and seller pays this tax. A percentage of this tax goes to the Keystone Fund run by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Recoures (DCNR.)

I believe Mike Hanna supports the Pennsylvania conservancies buying large tracts of land in Clinton County. Where do they get the money? Hanna helps them get the money from the Keystone Fund. After they purchase these large tracts with tax dollars, they donate it back to DCNR.

Well over 50 percent of Clinton County is owned by the state. I believe these actions by Hanna have resulted in limiting the wealth in Clinton County. With the loss of private property there is a revenue shortfall at the county and school district level. Property taxes have to be raised to make up for this shortfall. Add in the massive salaries and pensions at Keystone Central School District and its yearly property tax increases and you have a recipe for disaster.

The loss of private property to the state is not only the destruction of wealth, but high property taxes are destroying the equity people have built up in their homes. We are now seeing the results of Hanna’s actions. Homelessness is on the rise, taxpayer funded bus service started because people can’t afford a car and a home. I also believe there is an increase in crime and drugs, distressed opportunity zones and seniors losing their homes due to high property taxes in a state that already has the highest gasoline tax in the nation.

Now, Mr. Hanna, does it sound like people have any money left in their pocket to put into a government controlled savings account that would only grow government bigger? Your actions have bled the people dry and you have the gull to tell them they need to save for retirement! Not everyone has a guaranteed, taxpayer funded pension like you, Mike.

When you read this letter, did you have a hard time deciphering which Mike Hanna I was talking about? It’s something how two letters – Jr. – would make such a difference between two people and what they accomplished. But then again, they both share the same tax-and-spend DNA.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today