TAMAQUA — State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, announced Wednesday that he will seek re-election to the House of Representatives.
“Since my election, I have proudly fought to protect the tax dollars of the hard-working residents and retired seniors of the 124th District,” Knowles said in a press release. “Pennsylvania does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. Now more than ever, with Governor Wolf unwilling to give up his plans for record high tax increases, I need to return to the state Capitol to keep up this fight.”
During his tenure, the Tamaqua Republican said he has helped defeat a 16 percent personal income tax hike and cut more than $1 billion in wasteful spending from the state budget. Over the past year, Knowles said he has been opposed to Wolf’s massive tax and spending proposal — a proposal, he said, includes a tax increase amount higher than all other 49 states combined saw in 2015.
“The people of Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties have told me in no uncertain terms that now is not the time for broad-based tax increases, it is the time for responsible fiscal leadership that doesn’t increase their burden,” Knowles said.
“They cannot afford to pay more in taxes, and I will continue working to make sure they don’t.”
Knowles said his number one legislative priority continues to be Senate Bill/House Bill 76. The legislation will eliminate the failed property tax system that hurts local schools, homeowners and senior citizens, Knowles said.
“I will continue to push other legislators to support school property tax elimination,” Knowles said.
In addition to his various committee assignments, Knowles was also recently elected vice chairman of the bipartisan, bicameral Government Reform Caucus that focuses on reducing the size and scope of government to save taxpayers money and institute commonsense reforms.
A former proprietor of a successful retail grocery store in Tamaqua, Knowles also was a full-time police officer. He was originally elected to the state House in a 2009 special election to fill the seat vacated by Sen. David Argall, R-29. He is married to the former Lorraine David, McAdoo, for 42 years. They have two sons and two grandsons.