News & Issues: Candidate Interviews

PA Senate 10th District (Bucks) Candidate Chuck McIllhinney (R)

1. What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly? As a member of the House of Representatives, I have followed a simple principle: work hard to make a positive difference in the lives of the residents I represent. I will follow this same principle as a member of the State Senate.
2. What do you believe are the major problems facing the Commonwealth and your legislative district? I believe the major problems facing both the 10th District and Pennsylvania are: rising property taxes; growth management and open space preservation; and government spending and borrowing.
3. Initially instituted as a temporary tax, the realty transfer tax has evolved into a large source of revenue for PA. Would you support or oppose legislation which would increase appropriate monies from the realty transfer tax to fund programs such as open space preservation, urban revitalization and the like? I oppose raising the realty transfer tax as it would have a detrimental ripple effect on our economy, hurt the real estate industry (and related industries) across Pennsylvania, and adversely impact housing prices.
4. The General Assembly and the Governor’s Office are discussing ways to reform property taxes. What do you believe is the best way to reform this issue? There is no one “silver bullet” to reforming the property tax system across our state, because the needs of our communities differ so greatly. Because of this, I support giving local residents (by school district) the power to choose their own school funding method (be it a shift to a local income tax, a mix of an income tax and property tax, or something else). I also believe that all funding collected at the local level must remain at the local level. Finally, I believe any gaming money provided to our school districts should be done on a per-pupil basis that ensures equitable treatment for the 10th District.
5. Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code provided local municipalities authority for comprehensive planning and zoning. What sort of authority do you believe local governments should have in this area? The intent of having local officials in control of land-use and planning decisions is that they are on the frontlines and can better see and understand the issues in their communities. Today, with growth and the impacts of growth crossing all borders, I believe the state needs to do more to encourage regional planning and other initiatives that promote a more comprehensive approach to the issue of balanced growth, while still preserving local control.
6. Many properties in Pennsylvania suffer from blight as a result of tenant neglect and/or absentee property management. What role do you believe government should play in this area? Examples of successful anti-blight legislation have been seen across the nation and even in our state (Harrisburg). These initiatives focus on keeping communities vital and attractive places for both employers and residents to settle, resulting in stronger local economies and stronger property values. Because of these benefits, I believe the government has a role in promoting fair but firm anti-blight and absentee management legislation.
7. States are struggling with the issue of providing affordable housing to its residents. What do you feel are the necessary components to address this issue? I believe we can best help provide affordable housing in Pennsylvania and the 19th District by supporting efforts to revitalize our urban centers and older communities and boroughs. Due to their age, these communities tend to have housing units of a more reasonable size, and therefore cost, for first-time buyers, down-sizers and working families.
8. Do you favor or oppose legislation that would require the state to consider the impact of proposed regulations on the rights of individuals to use their private property? I favor legislation that would require the state to consider the impact of proposed regulations on private property owners. Quite simply, private property ownership is one of the main goals of the American Dream and we should ensure that governments’ use of eminent domain is limited and closely monitored.
9. What is your position on campaign finance reform in PA and to what extent do you believe PACs should be restricted in state legislative campaigns? Our system must be based on the idea of full disclosure and will work toward a reporting system that provides clear and easy public access to where funding for candidates is coming from and how much they are receiving.
10. What are your views of the REALTOR profession and the role of your local REALTORS in this community? The Realtors of my community are known for their professionalism and serve a much- needed role in our community as advocates for both buyers and sellers while adhering to a strict code of honesty, integrity and commitment.
11. Has your campaign been endorsed by any other state or local organization? To date, I have been endorsed by the Republican Committee of Bucks County.