December 21, 2011

Dear Members and Friends,

Thank you for your recent calls to the US Senate.  The Senators

seemed to have heard what they wanted to hear.

As many of you may know, the Senate decided to extend the Payroll Tax Holiday (HR 3630) for two months.  Two months?  What kind of policy is that?  

The House (especially freshmen members) is standing firm on its original bill and will not compromise.

Calls to US Senators in support of the House passed extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday (HR 3630) are still needed.

The House bill not only extends the social security payroll tax deduction, but would also require an expedited decision on the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline project which would add 20,000 jobs to the economy.

President Obama, who originally threatened to veto the bill, is sending mixed signals. 

The Democratic controlled Senate would cover the cost of the payroll tax holiday by raising taxes on "millionaires."  The plan, passed by the Republican controlled House, would be paid for by cutting discretionary spending (including a one year federal employee pay increase freeze).

Our position:  Tax increases on any Americans, at this time, would further hurt a depressed economy.

Please call 202.224.3121 or 202.225.3121 as soon as possible and

ask to be connected to your US Senators and/or Harry Reid.  Tell them to support the House passed extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday (HR 3630).

Delaware:  Tom Carper (D),  Coons (D)

New Jersey:  Menendez (D), Jon Corzine (D)

Pennsylvania:  Bob Casey (D), Pat Toomey (R)

(Casey, Menendez, and Carper are up for re-election in 2012.)

Also, use the same number to be connected to area Republican House members.  Thank them for supporting the extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday (HR 330) and ask them to stay firm!

New Jersey:  Lobiondo, Runyan, Smith  

Pennsylvania:  Barletta, Dent, Fitzpatrick, Gerlach, Meehan, Pitts

In a policy runabout, it appears Governor Tom Corbett's Administration is moving ahead with plans to jump start ObamaCare by establishing Health Insurance Exchanges.

It will be very disappointing if this is indeed the case, since, as Attorney General, Tom Corbett entered Pennsylvania in a Federal suit, along with 29 other states, against ObamaCare.

Here's why we're opposed to Implementing Health Care exchanges:  By doing so, the Corbett Administration could be undermining the credibility of the Federal suit brought by the states against ObamaCare and, at the same time, it could be  jeopardizing legislation pending in the PA Assembly to allow the Commonwealth to opt out of ObamaCare.  (Why isn't the Corbett Administration pushing Matt Baker's bill?).

Once such an exchange is created, it will be difficult to deconstruct. 

Please call or fax Governor Corbett and Health Secretary Dr. Eli Avila.  Politely ask them not to set up Health Care Exchanges pending a US Supreme Court ruling in July, 2012.  Also, ask the Governor to

back Matt Baker's bill allowing PA to opt out of ObamaCare. 

Governor Tom Corbett: 717.787.2500, 717.772.8284 (fax)

Dr. Eli Avila:  717.787.6436. 

On behalf of the Association Board of Directors,

Teri Adams, President