Critics rally for bill to abolish Pa. property taxes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Scores of citizen activists staged a rally today at Pennsylvania’s Capitol to protest property taxes.

The demonstrators cheered sponsors of legislation that would replace local property taxes with higher personal-income and sales taxes.

They say the property tax, which provides most of the local share of public school funding is, a form of tyranny that can drive people out of their homes simply because they cannot afford to pay.

One of the activists, Jim Rodkey of Lebanon, described how his mother struggles to pay the taxes on her home and is tempted to sell it even though she would lose money. He said no tax should have the power to leave people homeless.

Similar proposals have been made in past years, but have gone nowhere.