Oct. 8—BARNESVILLE — Election and tax reform were among the topics state legislators discussed Friday at the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Association legislative roundtable.

Held at the Mountain Valley Banquet Hall, Barnesville, the five legislators who attended were, state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp.; and Representatives Doyle Heffley, R-122, Carbon County; Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Twp.; Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp.; and Robert Schnee, R-116, Luzerne County. They discussed regulatory, election and tax reform, the economy, infrastructure and energy and the environment.

Randall M. Kalce, EMD Electronics, introduced the topics. Darlene Robbins, president of the Northeast PA MAEA, also made a few comments during the discussion.

Knowles noted that he is retiring, with Nov. 30 as his last day.

"Everybody likes you or pretends to like you when you're dying or are retiring," he said to the crowd, chuckling.

Knowles said the country is "at a crossroads because we've got one group on the left who are crazy, and we've got another group on the right who are crazy, so what we've got to do is, we've got to get back to the way it used to be where we can talk to each other."

Both sides have to compromise, Knowles said.

Election reform

Act 77, which permitted mail-in voting, was discussed at length. The act was passed by the General Assembly in 2019. The state Supreme Court upheld mail-in voting earlier this year.

Twardzik said there were "a lot of troubles when we put the new system of Act 77 in," although he was not in the Legislature when it was passed.

He talked about the 14 members of the House of Representatives who sued the state and won in Commonwealth Court. However, the state Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

He said the act was unconstitutional because "to change the way Pennsylvania votes, you are supposed to have a constitutional amendment and let the voters decide, not the legislators."

"We want to have a fair election," Twardzik said. "People want to know their vote counts."

Schnee said he believes everyone should have election day off "because then nobody has a reason for not going."

"And I believe either you go there or if you can't make it because you're older or ill, to fill out an absentee ballot," he said.

Knowles then said: "Act 77 was the worst vote I ever made. When I made that vote, I thought it was the right thing to do. It has gone well beyond the scope it was intended. I don't think that we've thought enough about what the Supreme Court could do, as far as what the government can do."

He said more time has to be spent on the future instead of discussing the 2020 election.

Tax reform

Property tax reform also provoked strong responses.

"The biggest issue is obviously property taxes," Heffley said.

He said if any money is going to go back for property taxes, " I think it should go to homeowners off their primary residence for property tax reform."

Knowles said more frugal spending is required but that taxes are needed.

"It's all about compromises," he said.

Schnee said urgent action is essential. He said tax reform needs to be accomplished.

"People keep talking about it, talking about it for the last 50 years about tax reform. This has got to be done immediately," he said.

Twardzik said another legislator in the General Assembly is putting together a constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes.

"It's a bold move and if we can get enough help, we can get that passed and put on the ballot," Twardzik said. "And I think the people of the commonwealth will vote to eliminate property tax, and that will force some other solution because we just can't get it done now."

Community impact

Argall, who had to leave the meeting for a phone call, said Friday's meeting is important.

"Never doubt that meetings like this can really matter," he said.

He said the legislators can gain insight by listening to people and learn more about their communities.

At the end of the meeting, manufacturing companies were honored, and Robbins was acknowledged for her dedication to the MAEA.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023