Sep 9, 2002 2 min read

Pennsylvanians deserved more than this from the governor. In setting the tone that the special session on property tax reform is merely “to produce the groundwork for a solution” the governor made it clear that he doesn’t expect or even want any of the 70 or so bills to advance for his signature. He would rather pass this thorny issue along to his successor. If nothing else, property owners have a safety net in pledges by both gubernatorial candidates – Republican Attorney General Mike Fisher and Democrat Ed Rendell, former mayor of Philadelphia – to call a session to finally enact tax reform.

The special session on Wednesday was little more than ceremonial with lawmakers hearing that the governor had wimped out on finding a permanent solution to the increasing burden to making property owners pay for public school education. There is no easy solution because lifting taxes from property means that some other source must be tapped. And there is the fear that without caps, property taxes will again creep upward.

Finding a solution takes dedication from the governor and from lawmakers. And that was in short supply. Soon after Schweiker issued the Legislature a pass to continue their summer vacation, lawmakers broke for a 19-day hiatus.

The same day candidate Fisher began running television ads promising that he will call a special session. It is rhetoric that voters want to hear but both Fisher and Rendell should be pushed to go on record that they want property tax reform for all property owners. There are far too many lawmakers thinking that the easiest way out is to enact legislation that alleviates the burden from senior citizens. But more than just senior citizens need relief. Middle class families also feel the pinch.

And both gubernatorial candidates should be specific as to what mix of replacement taxes they will approve. Without that information, this special session of “laying the groundwork” is useless.