State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, believes Pennsylvania must live within its means, and he wants to return to Harrisburg for two more years of pushing that philosophy.
"Government gets in trouble when it does more than we have to do," Knowles said during a session with The Republican-Herald's editorial board during his campaign for the Republican nomination to return to his 124th District seat.
Knowles, a former county commissioner and Tamaqua mayor, has served in the state Legislature since 2009, when he was picked in a special election to replace state Sen. David Argall, R-29, who had won a special election to replace the late state Sen. James J. Rhoades.
He is facing a challenge from New Ringgold Borough Council President Larry Padora for the GOP nomination in the April 24 primary election. That nomination is tantamount to election in the heavily Republican 124th District.
"For the most part, it has been an issue-oriented campaign," he said of his contest with Padora. "I will stack my community service and my public service against my opponent any day."
Knowles said that the state's economic situation has improved since Republican Gov. Tom Corbett was elected in 2010, along with GOP majorities in both houses of the Legislature.
"We've gotten spending under control. It's headed in the right direction," he said. "There is much more to be done."
In the category of "much more to be done," Knowles lists abolition of property taxes, and he is convinced there is a chance that could occur soon,
"We need to move away from the property tax. If we don't do it now, it will never be done," Knowles said.
He said he favors increasing the sales tax to 7 percent from its current level of 6 percent, and raising the personal income tax, to make up for the loss of property tax revenue, but not to have any increases that would make the change a cash windfall for the state.
"Any tax has to be revenue-neutral," he said.
Knowles believes Corbett's $27.14 billion budget proposal for 2012-13 will undergo changes before it gets back to his desk, but he does not think those changes should be huge ones.
"It's just a starting point," he said. "I think it's a good starting point."
Education and public welfare spending comprise the largest sections of the budget, so Knowles believes it is only natural that those be the most thoroughly examined in efforts to save money.
"There are people who genuinely need help," but others who are getting welfare who do not need it, he said.
Another accomplishment of Corbett and the Legislature that Knowles views as a good one is the impact fee, as opposed to a severance tax, the state has imposed on Marcellus Shale producers.
Counties where natural gas is produced from the shale can enact, and will receive the revenue from, the fee, as opposed to having it go to the state, and Knowles believes the money should stay where it will be needed to deal with the effects of the industry.
"I voted for that bill. They are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs," he said of the producers. "The impact fee was a reasonable approach. This was a compromise."
Knowles said these positions demonstrate his conservative approach to government and his putting into action the proposals of Padora.
"I have done what he says he's going to do," he said. "I am a fiscal conservative. I drive my own car. I love my job."