When I decided to run for this seat back in 2006, I did so because I strongly believed that I could be the effective legislator that the residents of the 13th district so desperately needed. I am proud of my accomplishments in my first term, but there is still much more that needs to be done.

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Friends,

The following op-ed ran in our local papers just this week. I wanted to share this information with you as well.

Thanks,
Tom

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Tom Corbett is Against Property Tax Reform


Atty Gen. Tom Corbett (R) recently ran a commercial claiming that he signed a pledge promising, as Governor, to never raise state taxes. Since local school property tax is the major issue in my state legislative district, that proclamation certainly caught my attention.

Rep. Rohrer (R, Berks) supporters realize that in order to greatly reduce or totally eliminate school property taxes, the state must rely on its taxing authority to replace those local revenues. The money to pay for education has to come from somewhere. For instance, if the state taxed candy and gum at 6 percent, that would bring in 80 million dollars of revenue per year - money that could be used in place of property taxes. Gold bullion, airplane food, junk mail and many other items are also currently not taxed.

Rep. Sam Rohrer had it right when he declared, "In Pennsylvania, one does not truly own a home when you can be kicked out for not paying property taxes". You need look no further than last month's Primary Election results here in our district, to see that school property tax is the major issue. In the Republican Governor's race, Rep. Rohrer actually beat, by a good margin, heavily favored Tom Corbett!

We also have a looming state pension crisis. The Oxford School District's contribution alone goes from 2 million this year to above 10 million three years from now! I believe this increase should not fall on the backs of property owners. With Corbett as Governor, we will have no choice but to turn a blind eye in Harrisburg. I predict that the Avongrove School District, for the first time, will have to start levying an earned income tax and all of our school districts will have no choice but to greatly increase property taxes to pay for their pension obligations.

Solving the pension crisis should be the state's obligation. When 500 schools state-wide see their pension contribution levels rise five to six hundred percent, we cannot merely cut our way out of this mess (although cuts will obviously have to be part of the solution). With Corbett as Governor, he will be telling school boards and property tax payers to "go it alone".

Aside from true property tax reform, which I am fighting for, increasing state funding for education in every yearly  budget is a must, as the more we fund from Harrisburg, the less our school boards have to look to property owners.
In last year's budget, my first as State Rep, we were the only state in the nation to increase education funding. In fact, Oxford received the 2nd largest increase state-wide, Avongrove was 12th on that list and Octorara and Coatesville did well also.

Fortunately, we avoided broad based tax increases. But, even the Senate was forced to pull back from their 'all cut, no revenue' Senate Bill 850 by agreeing to extend the capital stock and franchise tax, which was due to expire. I willingly agreed to keeping this tax if it meant that our four schools would dominate in the state's share of education funding allocations.

Since I have been sent to Harrisburg to fight for property tax reform/relief, I simply feel mandated to oppose Tom Corbett's candidacy for governor.  For the sake of our seniors and families struggling to pay our brutally high property taxes, let's hope that if I am not re-elected this November, my replacement feels the same way. 
 
State Rep. Tom Houghton

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Dear Friends-

At midnight tonight, we will close the books on the post-primary reporting cycle. This report for us is critically important as it will show who has the advantage going into the summer months and the general election campaign season.

Please contribute at least $25 before midnight tonight so we can show the press and our opponents what great support we have.

Your donation will help me return to Harrisburg next January to continue fighting for taxpayers.

Thank you for your continued support


Sincerely,

Tom

Tom Houghton
State Representative, 13th District

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This will certainly be a spirited campaign and I look forward to taking my record as a State Representative to the voters and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of the 13th District.

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With less than one week to go until the May 18th Primary, I want to thank all of you for your hard work and support so far in my campaign for re-election. These last few days before May 18th will be critical to our ability to hit the ground running in the General Election.

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Working with Tom in London Grove Township, I saw first-hand his extraordinary, high-energy work ethic and commitment to bipartisan leadership and I’m proud to say that he has brought that same leadership style to Harrisburg.

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I am asking for your contribution, for your investment in my campaign and our future together. If the last 15 months as your representative have taught me anything, it’s that Pennsylvanians need fighters in the State House, not someone who blindly follows the party line. I believe I have proven to be that fighter – advocating for our needs as a district and not ever being afraid to vote against my leadership if your needs aren’t met. But, I can’t do this alone; I need you to join me in this fight.

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