Pattye Benson

Community Matters

State Rep Kampf Supports Teacher Furloughing for Economic Reasons

In today’s Main Line Media News, Alan Thomas writes an article on our state representative, ‘Warren Kampf thinks he knows how to get the Pennsylvania Family back on track”. Thomas was able to get our state rep to offer some remarks on various topics.

On House Bill 855, teacher furloughing . . .

We learn that Kampf supports the bill that would permit the furloughing of teachers for economic reasons. Current legislation only permits school districts to lay off teachers only if enrollment declines, districts consolidate or if a program is eliminated.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 855 would permit ‘economic’ as a reason to furlough teachers. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the state’s largest teacher union, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) are at odds over this proposed legislation. Among some, there is fear this proposed legislation could be open the door to teacher layoffs. House Bill 855 would allow furloughs to occur without regard for an employee’s seniority and experience.

According to Kamp, TESD is able to “reduce by 15 [the number of teachers] by going from five to six [teaching] periods a day. However, the law prevents furloughing.” Kampf supports the furlough legislation and thinks that it may pass before school budgets are due.

On the State’s pension problem . . .

Kampf’s solution is to “go to a defined-contribution plan for new hires, a percentage of payroll for employees, but that’s the end of it for the taxpayer . . . “

On taxing natural-gas production . . .

Kampf is OK with taxing natural gas production, as long as it is a low tax at the well-head, citing substantial revenue as the reason.

Kampf makes an interesting remark at the end of the article, referencing the taxing of the natural gas production — “The governor campaigned on no tax. My prediction – not going to happen.” Apparently, Kampf believes that Corbett is going to have to reverse his campaign promise and tax the companies conducting the drilling. Could taxing those companies involved in national gas production have an effect on job growth in those areas? I don’t have an answer, just asking the question . . .

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  1. He sounds like a kindergartener at a high school.

    He’s “working on things”? Yeah, right. He has zero power. He does what he’s told. At the very least, he could be honest about it. Proves how much of a liar he is.

  2. Can we comment on the substance and not on the surface? I’m interested in hearing feedback on HB 855

  3. There is no substance to comment on. That’s the point.

    I also believe Kampf is flip flopping on the drilling tax. He is in over his head, clearly. With a staff like he has, it’s no surprise.

  4. A few things…

    First: Kampf has some limited power — that’s what happens when you are 1 of 203. However, he seems to be presenting legislation (like the Prevailing Wage Opt-Out for School Districts) that are going to get a fair hearing in Harrisburg and, maybe, a vote on the floor. That’s not doing nothing.

    Second: Why are you beating up on the Representative for laying out the facts? Maybe you don’t like the analogies of a family, but you sure can’t argue the figures or the fact that the state spent the stimulus money and borrowed a ton more.

    Third: Why do people keep saying that the natural gas drillers aren’t taxed? They paid the state nearly $800 million last year…that’s not “no tax.” In fact, they are taxed the exact same way the coal industry is, so maybe it’s the entire system that needs to be looked at.

    Can / should the gas drillers pay more? Should it be a tax? That’s up for debate. But, to be fair and honest in this debate, we have to admit they do pay taxes to the state — and realize that any “new” tax would probably be reduced by at least as much as they already pay.

    Fourth: Kampf makes a prediction that there won’t be a tax. Couldn’t be because the Governor has said he would veto a budget with it, could it? Or that there simply aren’t enough votes in the House to pass a budget with a tax? Remember: a LOT of Republican and Democrat lawmakers come from districts where drilling is pumping millions of dollars into the local economy, so it wouldn’t pass or override a veto.

    Again, the man is being honest about what is probably going to happen — but you want to call him names.

    1. Do you really believe Kampf crafted that legislation himself? HAHAHA. It was handed to him. He was told to introduce it.

      As far as a tax on drilling, you are really brainwashed – to our state’s detriment.

      Kampf talks about things on the surface because he has no deep knowledge nor answers to our state’s serious fiscal problems. It’s so easy to say “no taxes”. It’s so easy to say the surface, buzz-word things he says. He is clueless because for him it was never about serving the people. It is about his desire to be a politician – any politician.

      1. Anonymous —

        Nowhere did I say anything about crafting legislation.

        Nowhere did I do anything but present facts about (a) what gas drilling companies are currently paying and (b) the state-of-the-world in the Harrisburg legislature re: passing a new tax. Remember, to pass that tax you need the legislature (both houses) to approve and the governor to sign. The governor already said he won’t. I even included stuff on a veto override to show the chances of that are slim.

        For you to come back and attack what was a pretty straightforward post that included FACTUAL information to maybe start some intelligent debate is pretty petty.

        I understand that a highly charged partisan rant is well accepted on this board, but in this case it makes you look a little nuts.

        1. So the fact that you say Kampf is “doing something” by having his staff send an email out about proposed legislation that he didn’t even write is not nuts??? He didn’t lift one finger.

          Mine was not a partisan rant. It was a Kampf rant. Show me a Democrat who lies, who is only seeking public service because he/she wants to be a politician, and is completely clueless and some say paranoid, and I’ll unleash a rant about that person as well.

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