The Sam Adams Alliance - Building a network for liberty

Pennsylvania Resource Guide

October 16, 2007

Sam Adams State Resource Guides are designed to help citizens get involved in their home state.

Do you have additional information that you'd like to see on this list? Please email your tips to resources@samadamsalliance.org.

Background

With 21 electoral votes Pennsylvania is a major swing state. On the national level neither the Democrat nor Republican candidates have been dominant. In both 2000 and 2004 Pennsylvania went Democrat in the Presidential election; however both races had less than a 5% differential. Pennsylvania has one Democrat and one Republican in the U.S. Senate.

In the state government, the governor, Ed Rendell, is from the Democratic Party. The Pennsylvania Senate is composed of 29 Republicans and 21 Democrats, while in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives the Democrats have a slight edge with 102 members compared to the Republican’s 101 members. There are no term limits on General Assembly members.

Democrats are strong in urban areas such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, Erie, and Johnstown. The vast rural area that comprises the rest of the state is dominated by the Republicans. Republicans have also done well in the densely populated and wealthy suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Issues

Citizen Initiative and Referendum

Pennsylvania citizen’s have no initiative and referendum rights. Neither does the legislature. There are also no recall rights in the state.

Taxes

Pennsylvania has the 21st highest tax burden in the country. When only looking at state/local taxes, Pennsylvania ranks 24th highest. Property taxes for the state also rank right in the middle of the national scale. However, many still argue that the tax system in Pennsylvania is in need of reform, particularly at the local level. Local governments are allowed to tax items not already taxed by the state, thus producing such taxes as the “occupation privilege tax.” Gasoline and excise taxes are among the highest in the country.

Think Tanks

Commonwealth Foundation
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org

Allegheny Institute for Public Policy
http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org

Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy
http://www.susvalleypolicy.org/

The Committee of Seventy
http://www.seventy.org/

Action Groups

Club for Growth- Pennsylvania
http://www.paclubforgrowth.com

Let Freedom Ring
http://letfreedomringusa.com

Philadelphia Forward
http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/

Pass Open Records Law
http://passopenrecords.org/

PA Clean Sweep
http://www.pacleansweep.com/

Stop Taxing Our Properties
http://www.grandoldusa.com/