Letters to the Editor for Dec. 4

A tax hike for Christmas in Montco

While Santa Claus is saying HO, HO, HO, the Democrat Montgomery County Commissioners are once again saying GO, GO, GO to higher property taxes.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news this Christmas season, but your county tax bill will surge a whopping 8% next year thanks to big-government liberals in Norristown.

Unfortunately, this type of fleecing is nothing new as Democrat Commissioner Val Arkoosh has a long history of imposing money grabs (see 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022). But it wasn’t without help. The 2016 tax hike was passed with ‘Yes’’ votes from now Governor-elect Josh Shapiro and my Republican predecessor on the Board of Commissioners, Bruce Castor.

Truth be told, I am the only Montgomery County Commissioner in over a decade to vote ‘No’ to a tax increase. And I have done so consistently, as it’s my moral and fiscal duty to be a conservative watchdog for those of you who are sick and tired of wasteful and reckless spending by out-of-touch bureaucrats.

Now is not the time for more of the same. Facing the hurdles of runaway food and energy prices, empty store shelves and shrinking 401(k)s, the last thing families, retirees and small businesses need is the burden of higher taxes thrown in their faces.

In these uncertain times, the hardworking men and women of Montgomery County deserve a voice of sanity. And I will continue to be that voice in the effort to restore common sense to the county courthouse.

Joe Gale

Montgomery County Commissioner

Thanks, Congressman Fitzpatrick

I want to extend our gratitude to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for his fantastic leadership on the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which recently received overwhelming, bipartisan approval in the House with a 304-111 vote. The bill will protect Tennessee walking horses and related breeds from the cruel practice of “soring,” where pain is deliberately inflicted on the animals’ legs and hooves to force them to perform an unnatural, high-stepping gait just to win prizes at some horse shows.

This bill’s victory in the House is crucial progress in the fight to shut down the failed system of industry self-policing that has allowed violators to continue these abusive practices, as well as to eliminate the use of devices integral to soring and establish meaningful penalties. The PAST Act is supported by hundreds of stakeholder groups and individuals in the horse industry and the veterinary, law enforcement, and animal protection communities. We applaud Representative Fitzpatrick as a lead sponsor of PAST for his hard work to end torturous soring practices.

Now, we urge the Senate to keep up the momentum and pass the PAST Act soon.

Mimi Brody, federal affairs director

Humane Society Legislative Fund

Knowing and respecting thy neighbor

The all-too-often used rhetoric of “working across the aisle” is typically nothing more than a hollow campaign metaphor. Rather, it is a reflection of our increasingly divided nation.

In our nation’s capital as well as those in all 50 state houses, Republicans and Democrats are seated separately. This political segregation makes it easier for party leaders to control the members of their respective caucuses and their votes and for legislators to demonize members of the “other” party and justify an unwillingness to compromise.

For a brief instant after the 9-11 attacks, members of Congress rearranged their normal seating with Democrats and Republicans intermixed in the House and Senate chambers, providing a visual image of our country as being united. Sadly, the invisible seating wall separating the “Rs” and “Ds” resumed within a week.

Perhaps, if members of each federal and state legislative body were randomly assigned seating in their respective chambers every six-months, irrespective of party or seniority, these elected legislators might get to know some of their peers with whom they might otherwise have little contact.

They might be surprised to learn those sitting next to them are interesting and decent people who, despite disagreeing on some policy matters, share common ground on many issues and possibly face similar challenges in their personal lives.

As it is infinitely harder to hate people you get to know on a personal level … something too many of our political leaders seem to have forgotten … developing such interpersonal relationships could lead to eliminating the offensive name-calling which has become all-too-accepted and result in more bipartisan compromises and productive legislation benefiting the American people whom they profess to represent.

Dick Newbert

Langhorne

This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: Letters: A tax hike under the tree; Fitzpatrick fights for horses