John Siptroth
Re-elect John Siptroth, State Representative, 189th
John Siptroth
In serving you in my first full term as your State Representative I have made the following issues my legislative priorities.
Reforming the School Property Tax System
In 2006 I cosponsored legislation
that expanded the school property tax rebate for hundreds of thousands
of seniors across the Commonwealth. My staff personally assisted more than 600 local seniors with their applications last year.
My legislation (HR460) which passed the House almost unanimously in January 2008 paves the way for the
total reform of the school funding formula and resulted in the Governor giving Monroe and Pike County school districts an additional $5.5 million dollars in this year’s state budget.
My legislation (HR169) which facilitates a school property tax freeze for seniors and the eventual elimination of this tax was recently moved out of committee for consideration by my colleagues in the House.
I am a supporter of numerous school property tax bills currently before the House and work diligently in a true bipartisan fashion to move these bills up to the Senate. One such bill was HB1947 which allows for the total elimination of school property taxes for all homeowners regardless of age or income. This bill passed the House in January 2008 and is now in the Senate.
I oppose any proposal to use the slots money set aside for school property tax relief for any other purpose as I have worked hard to see that Monroe and Pike County schools get their fair share of gaming funds.
Bringing back funding from Harrisburg
I have brought back many millions of dollars in state funding for local infrastructure funding projects in addition to grants for county and local governments, social service agencies, emergency responders and nonprofit groups.
Upgrading our infrastructure
I am fighting to retain highway funding for local road projects including the Marshalls Creek Bypass and SR2001 in Pike County and local road paving projects. The Governor and the Secretary of Transportation have both committed to getting these critical projects completed and understand their importance to local residents. As a member of the House Transportation Committee my vote supports funding for our local transportation needs when faced with tough budget decisions. I will not rest until the Bypass and SR2001 are completed.
Protecting our land and the environment
I have successfully supported grants that preserve tens of thousands of acres in Monroe and Pike County as conservation easements or recreational open space. I am a cosponsor of Impact Fee legislation that would help school districts recover thousands of dollars for every new home built. I am a proud supporter of many local environmental and conservation groups and my legislation (HB1319) which substantially increases the fines for littering was recently voted out of committee for consideration by the House.
Working for Pennsylvania Veterans
As a Navy veteran myself and a member of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee I have introduced legislation (HB344) to create a separate Department of Veterans Affairs by splitting the existing Dept of Military and Veterans Affairs and giving veterans their own cabinet level representation. A public hearing on my bill was recently held in Harrisburg.
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil
I am leading the way forward with a number of energy projects that I have already introduced to Governor Rendell and Secretary McGinty of the Department of Environmental protection. These new technologies can address the rising cost of utility bills and lower the cost of government. I am hosting the Poconos first Green Fair on September 14th in Shawnee-on-Delaware to help consumers save money and enhance their health and the environment.
Bringing Good Jobs to the 189th District
I have been supporting several local economic development projects which will result in many high paying jobs in the near future. These economic development initiatives include several Wall St. West related projects in addition to emerging technology manufacturing and renewable energy companies.
