Already A Taxing Campaign

This Bucks County Courier Times story tells us that Patrick Murphy recently introduced an amendment to a housing bill intended to provide property tax relief “to homeowners throughout the country” (and of course, do you really have to ask yourself whether or not President Highest Disapproval Rating In Gallup Poll History, he of the “extraordinarily stable” approval rating here…waay too damn funny…plans to veto it or not?).

The story also tells us…

The amendment, part of legislation the Democrat-controlled House passed in an effort to combat the country's housing crisis, authorizes $7,500 tax credits for first-time homebuyers and allows homeowners who don't itemize deductions to claim as much as $700 of their property taxes as a federal tax deduction.

“This is a tax cut for families,” Murphy said inside the Falls home of Michael Hug, a Republican who said his school property taxes have risen by $2,000 since he moved into his home nine years ago.

Courier Times reporter Brian Scheid began the story by telling us of a lady named Betty Ann DiNardi of Bristol Township, who lost her customer service job due to outsourcing and whose husband is due to retire from working for Amtrak; the point is that their property taxes have severely outpaced the couple’s earnings to the point where they may have to move, and Patrick is trying to help them as well as most everyone else in a similar circumstance where property taxes are chewing up whatever disposable income is left.

(Oh, and by the way, Courier Times editors, I’m not aware of the existence of the “Democrat” Party any more than I am of the existence of the “Republic” Party. I thought the Courier Times was a paper of modest to occasionally very good repute, not some backwater rag catering exclusively to right-wing triumphalism and provincial prejudice; more fool me, I guess.)

So, this being an election year, you know that Patrick’s effort was hooted down by his opposition. For more on that, as they say, here’s some words from perennially pretending county political candidate Tom Lingenfelter…

“It's like someone has a heart attack and you put a Band-Aid on his finger,” Lingenfelter said. “Another feel-good political stunt that buys votes with the left hand and picks your pocket with the right hand.”

Umm…OK; my money says that ol’ Tom doesn’t get out of the low single digits in voting percent in November. Maybe then he and Jay Russell will have time to go play bridge as half a partnership (and no, my math isn’t incorrect).

And as for Tom Manion…

In a statement, (the) Doylestown Township Republican running against Murphy, called the property tax deduction “A first step in providing real relief to taxpayers in these uncertain economic times.

“But,” Manion added, “Washington must do more to curb runaway spending and begin to cut taxes. If American families paid less in taxes they could use that money to put gas in their cars, pay their mortgages, and put food on their tables.”

Yeah, well, I know that’s about what you can expect to hear from a Repug (“Begin” to cut taxes? Where have you been?), but please allow me to point out the obvious.

If you pay no taxes, you get no benefit from government. That means your infrastructure crumbles, your water isn’t safe to drink, your air isn’t fit to breathe, and your planes aren’t safe to fly, among many other circumstances (and I’m sorry, but I’m not going to go to the trouble to find yet another link showing how economic growth under Clinton with taxes raised early in his presidency outpaced that of Dubya with taxes cut throughout his misbegotten term in office).

And health care? Surely you jest (I know Manion didn’t really bring this up, but I’m doing so anyway). Let me point out that Manion is a former pharmaceutical executive; he hardly has the same issues of coverages and expenses that we do.

But at least Manion has the sense to try and distance himself from President Stupid Head…

The Democrats' housing rescue plan faces a veto threat from President Bush, who has said that a provision in the package would force the housing administration to back as much as $300 billion in refinanced loans for homeowners facing foreclosure. Bush has said the plan would expose taxpayers to excessive risk.

He’s all bent out of shape over $300 billion for homeowners…and how much is that Iraq war costing us again, Dubya?

Fortunately in this case, though, there are a lot more Betty Ann DiNardis out there who will recognize Patrick’s efforts in November, and a lot fewer Tom Manions and others of that political affiliation, trying as hard as they can to distance themselves from the destruction of their “brand” at the hands of Incurious George.

And by the way, as long as I'm on the subject of Bucks County politics, I wanted to note the following Letter to the Editor in the Courier Times today, related to this prior post...

On Primary Election Day, Joe Pizzo, Bensalem Township solicitor, spent at least part of his day driving a van back and forth to Creekside Apartments picking up voters to take them to Polanka Hall to vote.

Pizzo provided the only non-hearsay testimony to the Bucks Board of Elections and county commissioners, initiating the change of polling place from Creekside to Polanka.

He testified with aerial photos that the voters at Creekside had cars and could drive themselves to the new polling place. Could he have been trying to increase voter turnout to anticipate future evidence that the change suppressed voter turnout? This is not even his own polling place, what was he doing there? Is it usual for him to drive a van for transportation on Election Day? Did he pick others up for transportation to other polling places?

I understand that Jim Cawley, county commissioner and head of the Board of Elections, walked the route from Creekside to Polanka and indicated that it was no problem for him. Of course it wasn't. It was a beautiful, sunny day. He's also not 70 years old, and I don't think he has arthritis or some other physical infirmity requiring the use of a cane or walker. I'll bet crossing Street Road was not too difficult either since he probably doesn't have cataracts or diminished hearing, and was able to quicken his pace when cars were speeding at him as the light changed. And he probably didn't have a couple kids in tow that couldn't be left at home.

I have to tip my hat to Pizzo and Cawley for the extreme bravery they exhibited by going to Creekside in the face of possible death by shooting or physical assault, which they said voters shouldn't have to endure!

The polling place should be moved back to Creekside, even if only for the Creekside residents. It's the right thing to do.

Joseph M. Kraher
Bensalem, PA

The paper notes that Pizzo, a former Republican committeeman, said he was asked by the local party to transport about a half-dozen voters; all but one resided at Creekside.