MERCER COUNTY

Local state Senate candidates weighed in Tuesday on a special legislative session on property tax reform that is to begin today in Harrisburg.

Both candidates agreed reform is necessary and that the special session should ultimately lead to positive reform. But they had different takes on the motives behind the session and no concrete plans of their own.

Democratic challenger Kyle Klaric of Hermitage sees pure, non-partisan motives behind the session, while incumbent Republican state Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins of Salem Township sees it as an election-year stunt forced by Democrats posturing for votes in November.

Gov. Schweiker was to launch the session at 4 p.m. today with a speech before members of both the House and Senate.

Legislative leaders also were expected to make comments, and then the session was to be recessed until lawmakers reconvene their regular session on Sept. 23. The special session can run until Nov. 30.

"I don't know of anyone who doesn't want something to be done about the property-tax issue. But obviously this (session) is something political wrapped up in the middle of a campaign," said Robbins.

"Both gubernatorial candidates had already called for a special session starting at the beginning of next year when this was proposed," Robbins said.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat, led a petition drive among lawmakers -- most of the signatories are fellow Democrats -- that forced the session. Robbins said he did not sign the petition because he was not asked to before it was presented to the governor.

Robbins said he supports "reasonable change, as long as there's a referendum."

"It affects so many people in so many different ways that lawmakers should develop a plan and then the people should have the final say. The bottom line is how the tax burden would be shifted, because the revenue is going to have to come from somewhere, and how much it costs," he added. "A lot of the groundwork has been laid with past proposals, and it's our job to sift through them, come up with some real numbers and reach a compromise."

Robbins said he does not believe reform will come out of this session, but he believes it will generate enough discussion to lead to change when the proposed session at the turn of the year rolls around.

Klaric, who will not participate in the upcoming session, said he "prays that some reform will come out of" the session and that he is "100 percent in support" of it.

"I don't think it's political posturing. I think it's a non-partisan issue that is such a major one in Pennsylvania because of our aging population -- some of our seniors on fixed incomes are being taxed out of their homes. If anyone is posturing, shame on them," Klaric said.

"Whomever comes up with a solution (Republicans or Democrats) doesn't matter. I commend Gov. Schweiker (a Republican) and give him a lot of credit -- he's a passionate man who feels strongly enough about this issue to support the session," Klaric said.

"What is fair taxation? I'm not sure. But property taxes should be frozen for those 65 and older, and I am for cutting elected officials' retirement packages and office budgets," he said.