A L E A D E R F O R P E N N S Y L V A N I A

Your State Representative - 12th Legislative District

Winter 2008
Summer 2009

Metcalfe Leads Charge to Put Taxpayers First

Dear Friends,
What is the proper role of government?

A common theme shared by our U.S. and State

Constitutions is that our government was designed
to ensure justice in our society by protecting the
rights of the individual citizen. Many recent decisions
by elected officials in federal, state and local govern-
ment have violated the intended constitutional design
of our government.

Government officials forcing taxpayers to bailout

irresponsible bankers, car manufacturers and hom-
eowners is not just. Our state government using tax-
payer resources as collateral for Boscov’s to receive
a loan and forcing turnpike drivers to pay higher tolls
so that bus riders in Philadelphia can enjoy lower
bus fares is not just. Our local government giving Missions Accomplished:
tax dollars to charities, not of our choosing, is not
charity at all. They are giving what they have taken, ✔ Metcalfe Enters Speaker’s Race
by force through taxation, from their neighbors, and
that is not just. to Offer Choice for
‘Voice of the People’
While thousands of Pennsylvanians are losing
their jobs, our government continues to demand [READ STORY ON PAGE 2]
more from taxpayers instead of reducing waste,
inefficiencies and the size of government. This is ✔ Metcalfe Unleashes Statewide
not just. No Tax Increase Petition Drive
A common tax grabbing tactic from state and
local elected officials is to proclaim that they have to [READ STORY ON PAGE 2]
raise taxes to comply with federal or state mandates.
They pass the buck instead of accepting the respon- ✔ Metcalfe Unites GOP Lawmakers
sibility of their office by making the right decisions Behind Unprecedented Action to
to require their level of government to live within Guarantee Balanced, Tax Increase
their means. Examples of waste and expenditures FREE State Budget
that are not supported by the constitutional intent
of the proper role of government can be found in all [READ STORY ON PAGE 2]
levels of government.

Requiring our government to fulfill its proper role ✔ Metcalfe Organizes Historic
would enable us to prioritize and reduce spending, Pennsylvania State Capitol
reduce taxes, and fund the core infrastructure needs, Taxpayers’ Protest
such as our roads and bridges. I will continue my
work with integrity to protect your liberties and your [READ STORY ON PAGE 3]
best interests as individual taxpayers.

Notable Quotable:
Serving the 12th District,
“Representative Metcalfe stands as a leader among
leaders in defending our Second Amendment
right to keep and bear arms.”
Daryl Metcalfe -- Kim Stolfer, Chairman,
State Representative Firearm Owners Against Crime

[READ STORY ON PAGE 4]

See Insert for Exclusive Route 228/Road Projects Information

 Metcalfe Enters Speaker’s Race to
Offer Choice for ‘Voice of the People’
Starting in the first week of the current legislative session, Represen-
tative Metcalfe continues to lead the charge in the Pennsylvania House
for a fiscally responsible 2009-2010 state budget that puts Pennsylvania
Taxpayers First!

On December 3, 2008, he challenged top House Democrat leaders

to end their political salary reduction scam and call for a vote on January
6, 2009, the first session day of the 2009-2010 legislative term, to repeal
the legislature’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

“True leadership requires sacrifice,” said Metcalfe. “If Democrat

leadership truly wants to return the COLA, the first order of legislative
business during the 2009-2010 session must be to legitimately repeal all
legislative COLAs retroactive to November 30, 2008. If House Demo-
crat Leadership is truly sincere about protecting Pennsylvania taxpayers
during these difficult economic times, at minimum, they should also take
individual action by refusing their leadership salary increases and work
for the pre-Dec. 1 member base salary. Until those actions are taken,
Pennsylvania taxpayers should consider all ‘We Feel Your Pain’ gestures
from House Democrat leadership as smoke-and-mirrors hypocrisy.”
Since, as expected, this challenge went unanswered, Representative
Metcalfe has introduced House Bill 1314 to repeal all legislative COLAs ret-
roactive to the final day (Nov. 30) of the 2007-2008 legislative session.
Also on Jan. 6, Representative Metcalfe worked with staff, volunteers
and a few of his closest legislative colleagues to utilize the Speaker’s
election as a platform to challenge all 203 members of the Pennsylvania
House of Representatives to be fiscally responsible in order to help
stimulate our state economy.
As of New Year’s Day, House Republicans still had no candidate for
the Speaker’s race. Seizing the opportunity of the first substantive vote
of the year to speak up for Pennsylvania taxpayers, on Jan. 2, Metcalfe
announced his candidacy for Speaker to provide an alternative to the tax
and spend liberal nominated by the House Democrat majority.
In the conclusion of his Speaker candidacy announcement, Rep-
resentative Metcalfe stated: “I pledge that I will fully execute my duties
to maximize the Office of Speaker to its full potential as a voice for the
people of Pennsylvania. A voice that will be consistent in the battle to
reform and revitalize this legislature into a respected public servant that
represents our citizens with integrity; a voice that will accept nothing less
than fiscally-responsible state government; and, most importantly a voice
rallying against any and all proposed tax increases.”
Preempting the governor’s annual budget address, Representative Metcalfe joined
with nearly a dozen fiscally conservative House Republicans in the State Capitol
Rotunda, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to roll out several government-limiting solutions
that are designed to put Pennsylvania Taxpayers First!
Metcalfe Unites GOP Lawmakers
Behind Unprecedented Action
to Guarantee Balanced,
Tax Increase FREE State Budget
On Wednesday, April 1, the following letter signed by Representa-
tive Metcalfe and dozens of other state lawmakers and addressed to
House Democrat Leadership was presented during a State Capitol
press conference:
“Unprecedented legislative action is demanded by the declining
national economy, which has impacted our state resulting in job losses,
investment losses, and a significant state budget deficit. The conse-
quences of inaction will be detrimental to both the economy and the future
welfare of Pennsylvanians.
“As the June 30, 2009 budget deadline draws near, it is time to lay
aside other legislative priorities in the objective of passing a budget on
time. Not to diminish the importance of other legislative priorities, but it is
imperative that all of our energy be directed on the most important priority,
which is passing a balanced budget. The budget establishes state policy
for the upcoming year and directly impacts the Pennsylvania economy.
“We respectfully ask that you call on the individual standing commit-
tees to concentrate on reviewing the portion of the proposed budget that
is within their realm of expertise and knowledge.
“Utilizing the committee process in this new way would enable the
General Assembly to identify waste and efficiency changes that would
allow us to close the budgetary gap with no tax or fee increases.
“We urge you to utilize the next three months in a revolutionary
manner to produce a fiscally-responsible and balanced budget by June
30, 2009.”

Metcalfe Unleashes Statewide, No Tax Increase Petition Drive

“We the People of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, stand together to demand that our state lawmakers provide
NO Representation for Increased Taxation.”
This is the uncompromising message that all Pennsylvania taxpayers can now conveniently deliver to all state lawmakers courtesy of an
all-new online petition unveiled at the State Capitol earlier this spring by Representative Metcalfe, several House Republican lawmakers and
representatives from prominent state and national government watchdog groups.

“Today, we are here to unveil a solution that any Pennsylvania taxpayer can use to intervene at a time where the governor clearly does not
want to admit that his administration is in fact the economic disaster that is largely responsible for creating our state’s more than $3.2 billion
budget deficit,” said Representative Metcalfe. “Today, we are here to provide every Pennsylvania citizen with an easy-to-use tool that could not
only save them from even greater economic hardship, in the form of massive tax increases, but a convenient one-stop opportunity to call on
every elected Republican and Democrat state lawmaker to put Taxpayers First by providing No Representation for Increased Taxation.”

Concerned Pennsylvania taxpayers can sign the NO TAX INCREASE Petition electronically or download and print out
a hard copy to collect signatures from friends, family members and co-workers by visiting RepMetcalfe.com today!
 Metcalfe Organizes Historic
Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers’ Protest
Concerned citizens who descended on Harrisburg
for the all-day Pennsylvania State Capitol
Taxpayers’ Protest on Tuesday, June 9 were
welcomed by a united no tax increase coalition led
by Representative Metcalfe and 47 other Republican
state lawmakers, state and national watchdog
groups and radio talk show hosts.
“The recent history-making headlines of financial
institution bailouts, automobile manufacturer
bailouts to the governor’s Boscov’s department
store bailout scheme have left Pennsylvania
taxpayers legitimately perplexed and dismayed at
the reality disconnect by their government,” said
Representative Metcalfe. “Today’s protest is only
the beginning of the battle to stop Pennsylvania state
government’s tax-spend-and-borrow-a-thon that is
directly responsible for the unprecedented $3 billion
and growing Rendell budget deficit.”
In addition to Representative Metcalfe, other
featured speakers included: Al Bienstock, Citizens
Against Higher Taxes; Josh Culling, National
Taxpayers’ Union; R.J. Harris, WHP 580; Patrick Watch the Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers’ Protest at RepMetcalfe.com.
Gleason, Americans for Tax Reform; Kevin Shivers,
NFIB; David Taylor, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ “If you are among the thousands of taxpaying Pennsylvanians who simply can no longer afford
Association; Susan Staub, Right to Work; Jeffrey having any portion of your personal income redistributed to pay for someone else’s health care, bus
Trimbath, The Heritage Foundation; Colin Hanna, fare or excessive public welfare, then I encourage you to keep logging on to StateCapitolProtest.
Let Freedom Ring and many others. com to learn more about what individual taxpayers can do to restore a state government of the
“Despite the misleading smoke-and-mirror people, by the people and for the people.”
attempts by the governor and his spend-a-holic
accomplices, there are many options to deliver NO REPRESENTATION
a balanced 2009-2010 state budget that do not
involve a job-killing, $3.1 billion personal income FOR INCREASED TAXATION
tax increase, including cracking down on welfare
fraud and eliminating all discretionary spending or
WAMS—just to name a few,” said Representative
Join the Fight at
Metcalfe. StateCapitolProtest.com

Metcalfe Stands Up For States’ Rights

On March 16, 2009, Representative Metcalfe joined with many other state lawmakers
in an effort to secure the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the 10th
Amendment, which reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved
to the states respectively, or to the people.”
Pennsylvania and more than 30 other states have put forth legislation admonish-
ing the federal government for violating their oath of office to uphold the United States
Constitution by overstepping their constitutional boundaries on authority.
“The age old historic battle that citizens, amongst themselves and with government,
have is always for power,” said Representative Metcalfe. “Our Nation’s Founders were
very clear in their intent in the struggle for power, to divide power, in such a way, that we
should be protected throughout the future of our nation.”
Representative Metcalfe emphasized how the federal government has neglected its
constitutional duty in Article 4 Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution to secure our borders
from the illegal alien invasion. On April 14, (From Left to Right) Representative
Metcalfe, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and
“These foreign invaders commit crimes, steal American jobs, and take tax dollars nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas were
out of our pockets to pay for their health care, education and even the incarceration of among nearly a dozen distinguished panelists that
illegal aliens that are committing crimes here against us,” said Representative Metcalfe. engaged in a televised debate, Immigration and
“The federal government should not restrict states from imposing criminal and financial America: A Nation Divided at Washington &
penalties to employers that hire illegal aliens.” Jefferson College in Washington, PA.
The 14th Amendment reads: “All persons born in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the states wherein they reside.” It was
stated in an 1866 Congressional debate on the 14th Amendment that persons that are born within the United States to families that are foreign
or alien are also foreign or alien. This debate made it very clear that “anchor babies” born of illegal aliens, within our borders, are not United
States citizens.
“We the people need to rise up and serve the U.S. Congress with notice that we will not stand for violations of our Constitution any longer,”
said Representative Metcalfe. “We need to ensure that the hammer of justice resides in the hands of We the People.”
 Metcalfe Introduces Legislation Targeting Gun Banning Municipalities
During Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally
In early April, Representative Metcalfe once again brought to-
gether a united coalition consisting of more than 40 pro-Second
Amendment lawmakers, leading state and national advocates and
hundreds of gun owners and outdoorsmen in the state Capitol
Rotunda for the Fourth Annual Right to Keep and Bear
Arms Rally.
“Pennsylvania gun owners are vigilantly watching and will
never tolerate the enactment of any gun control measure that
leaves law-abiding citizens disarmed and defenseless against vio-
lent intruders who in most cases obtain their weapons illegally,”
said Representative Metcalfe.

In response to cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Har-

risburg and any other local government entity who have or plan
to violate Section 6120 of the Pennsylvania Criminal Code that
specifically prohibits local firearm laws, Representative Metcalfe
announced the introduction of his legislation (House Bill 1541)
requiring the offending jurisdiction to reimburse any plaintiff or
organization who successfully challenges an illegal local firearm
ordinance for actual damages, reasonable attorney fees and In addition to Representative Metcalfe, some of the outstanding
other legal costs. featured speakers at this year’s rally included (From Left to Right):
“Going even further than the Second Amendment of the Larry Pratt, executive director, Gun Owners of America;
United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 21 of the Penn- Stephen Halbrook, nationally recognized Second Amendment
sylvania Constitution affirms in no uncertain terms that: ‘The defense attorney and best-selling author; Marinelle Thompson,
right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves founder, Second Amendment Sisters; John Sigler, president,
and the state shall not be questioned,’” said Representative National Rifle Association; Kim Stolfer, chairman, Firearms
Metcalfe. “The purpose of my legislation is to financially deter Owners Against Crime, and many others.
and/or punish any local government official for blatantly violat-
ing the clearly established boundaries of our state law and our
Constitutions.” For the latest Second Amendment updates or to
sign the Say ‘NO’ to gun control petition,
visit RepMetcalfe.com.

Stop Short-Changing The Children:

Yes We Can Expel Teacher Strikes!
With approximately 22 Pennsylvania public school dis- Despite ranking fourth in the nation for the highest
tricts at risk for an immediate teachers strike due to expired average teacher salaries, when adjusted for the cost of
contracts; and an additional 126 public school districts facing living, between 2002-2008 more than 186,000 Pennsylvania
the possibility of a strike before the end of 2009, on March 11, students have had their learning experiences interrupted and
Representative Metcalfe participated in a State Capitol press adversely impacted by unconstitutional teacher strikes.
conference to officially reintroduce the STRIKE-FREE Educa-
tion Act (House Bill 1369) to protect every Pennsylvania child’s “The majority of citizens do not begrudge teachers making
right to an uninterrupted strike-free public education. a reasonable salary and benefits,” said Representative Metcalfe.
“Militant teacher unions have no legitimate right to shut “However, as public servants, public school teachers should
down a public school solely for bargaining purposes,” said Repre- not expect raises and benefits above and beyond what the
sentative Metcalfe, who also referenced that the 12th Legislative taxpayers, who are paying their salaries, are receiving. I am
District has been negatively impacted by two public school-clos- committed to continuing the fight to create a long-term vi-
ing teacher strikes (Seneca Valley and South Butler County sion that ends teacher strikes and protects the families and
school districts) during the past two school years. taxpayers of our Commonwealth.”
“Ultimately, teacher strikes are really the hammer that forces
property taxes through the roof because taxpayers are left footing
the bill for union-driven salary increases and lengthy arbitrations.
Eliminating teacher strikes is a fundamental quality of life issue
that I’ve been working on for several years and will continue to
do so for the benefit of our students, parents and taxpayers.”
During the 2007-2008 legislative session, the STRIKE-FREE
Education Act was recognized both statewide and nationally in
the Wall Street Journal for its unmatched potential to ban both
teacher strikes and other public school lockouts by recognizing
in legislative statute that teacher strikes and other types of public
school lockouts are prohibited by Article III, Section 14 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution.
Currently, 37 states, including both neighboring NewYork
and New Jersey, prohibit teacher strikes. With an average of
12 teacher strikes per year and as the home to 60 percent of
all America’s teacher strikes between 2000-2007, Pennsylva- In addition to being one of the most outspoken voices for outlawing teacher strikes,
nia remains the undisputed “Teacher Strike Capital” of the as a senior member of the House Education Committee, Representative Metcalfe
United States. has repeatedly taken State Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak to task for
moving forward with the governor’s fiscally irresponsible, non-legislative sanctioned
$19 million graduation testing mandate.