Hays and Lee Sign the Public Service Pledge

The following was submitted by Timothy Potts:

Two candidates for the state House of Representatives have become the first to sign a Public Service Pledge, committing them to following the will of PA citizens as documented by state-of-the-art public opinion research.

Michael Hays, seeking election in Chester County’s 26th district, and Christopher Lee, running in the 171st district in Centre & Mifflin counties, have signed The Majority Party PA's pledge.

“Lawmakers always claim to speak for the majority of voters, but the majority want a government that is far better than the one we have,” Hays said. "True public service is about addressing the needs of the people, not those of special interests and Harrisburg lobbyists."

“I signed the pledge because the government reforms citizens want are the most important issue demanding attention,” said Lee. “Without a state assembly that truly represents voters, we might as well turn our government over to lobbyists.”

The Majority Party PA is a political action committee whose goal is a government that faithfully represents the majority of citizens on ordinary policy issues. All surveys must meet the standards of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, www.aapor.org, to be considered by The Majority Party PA.

Polling about individual rights never becomes part of The Majority Party PA agenda. Also, each item on the agenda must be documented by multiple opinion polls to ensure that the majority opinion is settled.

The Majority Party PA Chairman Tim Potts congratulated Hays and Lee for being in the vanguard of restoring representative government to Pennsylvania.

“The bedrock idea of America is that people have the right to govern themselves, and the role of government is to help them do it,” Potts said.

“The days of a government that truly represents us are just beginning, thanks to candidates like Mike Hays and Chris Lee who are determined to put the ‘public’ back in public service,” he added.

The agenda Hays and Lee have pledged to support includes:

Public Integrity and Government Reform

• Reform how political campaigns are financed. 88% of voters support reforms; 7% oppose.
• Reform the structure and operations of the legislature. 81% of voters support; 12% oppose.
• Hold a Constitution convention to review the basic frame of government. 68% of voters support a convention; 28% oppose.
• Change how state and local governments are financed. 82% of voters support; 9% oppose.

Education

• Do not cut funding for public schools. Cuts opposed by 79% of voters; supported by 19%.
• Do not cut funding for state universities. Cuts opposed by 65%; supported by 28%.

Budget & Taxes

• Tax Marcellus Shale. Favored by 74% of voters; opposed by 19%.
• Tax smokeless cigars and tobacco. Favored by 77% of voters; opposed by 23%.
• Sell the state liquor stores. Favored by 61% of voters. Opposed by 28%.
• Reduce the number of state employees. Favored by 61% of voters ; opposed by 32%.
• Do not raise the state income tax to balance the budget. 59% of voters oppose raising the income tax; 36% support.
• Do not raise the state sales tax to balance the budget. 58% of voters oppose raising the sales tax; 38% support.
• Do not put tolls on major highways to balance the state budget. 59% of voters oppose tolls; 39% support.

Links to all public opinion surveys are at www.themajoritypartypa.com.