Dear Friends and Neighbors,

First let me say that it has been an honor to serve you in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.   I have worked hard during my first term to represent the common sense views of the people of the 57th District.  I am truly grateful for all the support you have given my family and I during my first term.

As you know, we face difficult challenges this year.  Government is spending far more than we can afford.  In Pennsylvania under Governor Rendell, the state budget has ballooned, increasing almost 40%, from $20 Billion to $28 Billion, in seven short years.  During that same time, state borrowing also increased from $23 Billion to $40 Billion.  Efforts to shift the obligation to pay for this spending to our children and grandchildren are simply wrong.   Higher taxes, casino gambling and accounting gimmicks are not viable solutions. There is only one solution to the financial problems we face:  fiscal discipline and reduced spending.

It has been an eventful year since you elected me as your State Representative a little more than a year ago.  During my first year, I:

• Fought Governor Rendell’s proposed 16% personal income tax increase, and instead supported a balance state budget which held the line on taxes and reduced state spending;
• Opposed the 2009-2010 state budget which includes $1 Billion in new taxes and continued spending at unsustainable levels;
• Sponsored reform legislation to return the General Assembly to its roots as a part-time citizens’ legislature;
• Sponsored legislation to protect your right to purchase private health coverage and services without interference from the federal government.

This year, Governor Rendell has proposed to again increase state government, this time by another $1.12 Billion.  To pay for this additional spending, he wants to increase taxes.  We simply cannot afford to continue down the path of bloated state budgets and increased taxes.  We cannot tax, spend and borrow our way back to prosperity. And we cannot continue to saddle our children and grandchildren with the bill.

With your help, I will continue to fight for you, the decent, hard working people of the 57th District, and for smaller government, reduced spending and our Western Pennsylvania values. 

Very truly yours,

State Representative Tim Krieger