Press release For immediate release

S.T.O.P. Petition Signatures Surpass 100,000.

Verification at Bob Logue (412) 881-4553

What began in January, 2002 as a small, regional, grass roots movement, has mushroomed

into a growing taxpayer revolt that is spreading into other areas of Pennsylvania. One-hundredthousand

(100,000) signatures have now been collected demanding the abolishment of all

property taxes on homesteads and farmsteads throughout Pennsylvania.

Additionally, the S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Our Properties) property tax abolishment legislation

SB 717-718 and HB 1572 and 1573 now have 53 legislators as co-sponsors; eleven Senators and

Forty-two Representatives from both major political parties. Copies of the legislation can be

found at www.grandoldusa.com

S.T.O.P. supporters believe it is time for the Governor and Legislative Leadership to stop

ignoring the more than 100,000 Pennsylvania citizens who demand abolishment of all property

taxes on homesteads and farmsteads, not a meaningless reduction on just one of the taxes.

S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Our Properties) has developed a sensible plan to:

* ABOLISH the hated property taxes and replace them with taxes that spread the burden

based on one’s ability to pay—which is NOT true of the property taxes.

* Stop the invasion of privacy by assessors.

* Stop tax increases when owners improve their homes.

* Stop sheriff sales for back taxes, a cruel practice that is often based on faulty assessment

numbers. Sheriff sales confiscate a person or family’s home ; most or all of their equity; and

seriously damages their credit.

* Cut the size of government, because assessment offices, sheriff’s offices and court costs can

be diminished in every county once 3/4ths to 4/5ths of properties would no longer be assessed

and reassessed.

* Reverse the out-migration of Pennsylvanians, especially young people and retirees.

* Create thousands of jobs and increase business in home building, remodeling, banking,

building supplies and materials, and other related fields.

* Revitalize our cities, neighborhoods and towns. Since buying and improving existing

homes would NOT result in higher property taxes, individuals and families would have the

incentive to move into our older neighborhoods.

* With an emergency declaration, the constitutional change could be done in 2004. And

Pennsylvania can immediately begin to grow and prosper again. (End)