JON EICH for PA STATE SENATE

IN THE 34TH DISTRICT

CENTRE, JUNIATA, MIFFLIN, PERRY & western UNION COUNTIES

Dear Friends

Public service is my life's work.  As a planner, I worked with citzens, as well as elected and appointed officials of both parties to solve problems, obtain grants, provide high-quality services, and enhance the quality of life.  I donated time to help prepare grant applications for fire companies, a community center, and a museum.

As an elected official, I've kept my campaign promises, even when it was difficult to do so. 

I believe that legislators need to make doing what is right for Pennsylvania their top priority.  Doing their job should be more important than keeping their job.

You can count on me to run on the issues:

  • CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
  • TAX FAIRNESS – You pay taxes, so should they
  • TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Pennsylvania has the most expensive legislature in the nation. Voters are dissatisfied with its performance. Even in the face of this disapproval, the legislature resists reform. That makes a Constitutional Convention necessary. I have already signed the petition calling for one and listed topics that should be addressed by the delegates.

TAX FAIRNESS – You pay taxes, so should they

Pennsylvania can no longer afford to exempt portions of the business sector from paying their fair share of taxes.  We live in the only state that exempts cigars and smokeless tobacco from the tobacco tax. This is the only state where natural gas companies don’t pay a severance tax and are exempt from county, municipal, and school district taxes. And almost 3 of every 4 corporations doing business in Pennsylvania escape paying the corporate net income tax.  No wonder you pay so much!

And what is worse, when the State Senate looked for ways to balance the state budget, where did Jake Corman turn?  Not to these companies –- some of which are worth billions -- but to groups that are essential to the fabric of our communities:

Jake chose to:

  • Cut library funding by over 20%, forcing the elimination of jobs, hours, and programs – right here in our towns.
  • Extend the sales tax to museums, zoos, and the arts (a measure later rejected by the House).
  • Put a 20% tax on fundraisers held by fire companies, vets clubs, service organizations, and churches (another Senate-approved measure struck down by the House before the final budget was adopted).

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Pennsylvania has more roads than any other state in the nation. The condition of these roads and associated bridges is not good. In fact, Pennsylvania has 5,600+ structurally deficient bridges -- the most in the nation.

There is a billion dollar PER YEAR shortfall in funding. Time was wasted on such schemes as Leasing the Turnpike and Tolling I-80 -- proposals that shifted the responsibility for making decisions from the legislature to someone else.  As a result, when transportation planners and community leaders sat down this year to put together their project lists, the lack of funds forced many safety and replacement projects to be delayed -- some for decades.

Additional revenue is needed to maintain our existing transportation system and deal with MISSING LINKS.