Memo to: Steve McDonald
From: Paul Thibault, Lloyd Smucker
Re: "Public Servant Pledge"
Thanks, but no thanks. We're already doing the "reform" thing.
On another busy Saturday on the 13th state Senate district campaign trail, that was the message two Republican candidates sent to McDonald, who last week urged all four GOP hopefuls to sign his "Public Servant Pledge" on term limits and legislative perks.
"Don't listen to what I say," Thibault, the former county commissioner, said. "... Look at what I do, and what I did as commissioner."
He said he's already on record as setting a three-term limit for himself and promising not to take a taxpayer-funded car, per diems or other perks. He also kept a two-term limit and didn't take mileage reimbursement as a commissioner, so there's no need to sign a pledge, Thibault said.
Smucker, a West Lampeter Township supervisor, also pointed to his record.
In the reform-driven primary of 2006, "I was the only candidate in this race who personally and financially supported a reform candidate, long before it was popular to do so," he said.
He was referring to state Rep. John Bear, who beat incumbent Roy Baldwin that year in the 97th House district.
Smucker said he pledged "a long time ago not to take a state car and not to take the per diems."
"I'd like to welcome Mr. McDonald to the reform effort," he said. "I'm pleased he decided to join me."
Wednesday, McDonald issued a press release calling on his opponents in the April 22 race for the Republican nomination — Smucker, Thibault and businessman Bill Neff — to sign a pledge "rejecting a taxpayer-funded pension, rejecting legislative perks, committing to a three-term limit and refusing to vote for a pay raise."
Neff had said he didn't have a problem signing the pledge.
The point on which McDonald's pledge diverges from promises by Thibault and Smucker is the pension.
McDonald, the county recorder of deeds, said he declined a county pension and would do the same in the Senate.
Thibault's consultant, Scott Migli, said the campaign's attorney has advised that by law, legislators must join the pension system.
Freshman Sen. Mike Folmer, R-48th District, did not opt in to the pension plan, according to spokesman Joe Sterns, who said the law doesn't compel state employees to participate.
"Overall," Thibault said, "I think it's a good idea" to focus on reform in Harrisburg. "I hope all four of us come out for term limits."
But in addition to renouncing perks, Thibault said, candidates have to promote a "positive agenda."
Part of Thibault's agenda is working to eliminate the property tax and replace it with a sales tax or income tax.
Just as when he led the drive to abolish the county's personal property tax, Thibault said, it's a matter of resolving to do it and then figuring out how to make it happen.
He said the first step is cutting state spending, which would make the decision on how to replace property tax revenues less challenging.
"It's a bad tax," Thibault said. "We simply have to push for its elimination."
Smucker was working the phones Saturday, along with his team, making calls to Republican voters to ask for their support.
In his Golf Road headquarters, volunteers also were assembling campaign signs and stuffing envelopes.
"There are four candidates," phone banker Jeanne Peters told one voter, "but I think Lloyd's going to do a great job for us in Harrisburg."
The phone bankers had made 1,000 calls by late last week.
Smucker's campaign invited reporters to watch the phone bank. Friday, rumors began flying that the Saturday event was a press conference to dispel rumors of dissension.
"That's complete news to me," Smucker said Saturday. "There's no dissension in my campaign. ... We're all working together toward the same goal."
McDonald, meanwhile, was hosting a pizza party at his North Duke Street headquarters for a dozen members of "Students for McDonald."
The high schoolers, some of whom will turn 18 before the primary, will be "actively engaged" in the campaign, according to a press release. Co-chairs of the group are Alex Egner, the junior student representative on the Lampeter-Strasburg school board, and McDonald's son, Donovan McDonald, of Manheim Township High School.
McDonald quizzed the students, most from L-S, about how Harrisburg policies are affecting them, particularly on standardized tests.
"With me having kids who are just about your age, I'm not doing this for myself," he said. "You guys are the future of this state, and that's in jeopardy."
Egner said he appreciates McDonald's "really strong conservative views," particularly on issues such as gun rights.
"This is the guy I'm looking for," he said.
Presidential politics• Lanc4Hillary, supporting U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, is asking for volunteer entertainers to create and perform original music and dance for video and live entertainment. Videographers and editors also are needed. For information, contact Rebecca Lyttle at
lanc4hillary@gmail.com.
• While everyone else is obsessing over the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, Libertarians are wrapping up their tri-state convention today (March 16).
Libertarians from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia are meeting in Malvern to hear from eight potential presidential candidates. For information, see
www.njlp.org or
www.lppa.org.
Delegation doings• State Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-36th District, said last week that the Senate's passage of six bills targeting predatory lending practices is good news for people in Lancaster County who were affected by the bankruptcy of Berks County-based mortgage companies OPFM Inc. and Image Masters.
Senate Bills 487 and 488 create new licensing categories for mortgage originators. SB 486 requires lenders to send copies of foreclosure notices to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. SB 484 permits the state Department of Banking to release information on pending enforcement actions and fines against nondepository licensees. SB 485 amends the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act on board membership, disciplinary measures and penalties. And SB 483 amends the Loan Interest and Protection Law of 1974 to increase the monetary cap from $50,000 to $200,000, including eliminating pre-payment penalties for loans of $200,000 or less. The package goes now to the House for consideration.
• State Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-100th District, has introduced legislation to expand drug court programs across the state. Among other provisions, House Bill 2255 would authorize courts to establish drug courts and would levy a $25 surcharge on other defendants convicted on drug and alcohol offenses to help fund the initiatives.
Cutler said the success of drug courts, including Lancaster County's, shows that "taking a proven alternative approach to drug and alcohol crimes will save tax dollars, reduce addiction and crime and improve public safety." The bill is in the House Judiciary Committee.
Study commissionThe Lancaster County Government Study Commission has added a meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Room 600 of the Lancaster County Courthouse to complete the draft home-rule charter.
Study commissioners will review a charter article on miscellaneous provisions and another on transitional provisions. Changes based on public input can be made up to 60 days before the November election. The study commissioners plan to have a draft charter finished for the community meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Ephrata Library. For more information, check the Web site,
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lancastergsc.
Political potpourri• The Manheim Township Republican Committee will hear candidates for the 13th Senate District at a meeting Saturday, March 29, at the Manheim Township Municipal Building.
Smucker and Thibault have confirmed their attendance at the meeting, from 9 to 11 a.m.
• The Lancaster County Democratic Women Association will hold an indoor garage sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at American Legion Post 1388, Arcadia Road. Tables can be reserved for $10 each. Contact Leo Noble, 465-8249, or e-mail
events@lancasterwomen.com.
• The Rainbow Rose Community, which sponsored a March 9 rally against the Marriage Protection Act, is asking supporters to contact their state senators in advance of two upcoming hearings on Senate Bill 1250.
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Brubaker, would amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages or civil unions.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding hearings on SB 1250 at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the Capitol. Information on how to contact elected officials and sample letters is on
www.rainbowrosecommunity.org.
Helen Colwell Adams is a Sunday News staff writer. E-mail her at hcolwell@lnpnews.com, or phone 291-4962.
