The most frequent criticism made by potential Democratic opponents and other political critics against state Rep. Kurt Masser is that the first-term legislator can be expected to follow the "party line" by voting for whatever Gov. Tom Corbett and the House Republican leadership want.
Masser said such assertions couldn't be further from the truth. Although he makes no apology for being philosophically in tune with and supportive of much of the Republican agenda, Masser said he carefully considers how every bill would impact his constituents.
"With every vote I cast, I do my best to represent the (107th House) district," Masser remarked. "That is my job. It is not my job to please the leadership by going along with whatever they want."
The most recent example of Masser's independence, he said, was his vote against the voter ID law. Masser agreed with the "heart of the bill," he said, but strongly believed its implementation should have been delayed until 2013.
"I was concerned about rolling this out in a presidential election year," Masser said. "As a former county commissioner, I know the strains that a high-turnout election can put on election boards that are already overburdened and underpaid."
Offering two more examples of voting against the Republican leadership, Masser mentioned legislation to create a bond issue that would have funded projects he believed were unnecessary, such as an Arlen Specter Library and the John Murtha Center; and a proposal for a public-private partnership for the state transportation system. "The public-private partnership is a great idea, but the proposal did not ensure that Interstate 80 would never again be proposed for tolling," he said. Masser is emphatically opposed to placing tolls on the interstate.
"There were bills passed during this term that were not exactly as I wanted," Masser said, "but you will never get a perfect piece of legislation. You have to look at legislation and ask: Is it good for my district and the commonwealth as a whole?" He said it is impossible for legislators to be successful if they are not open to reasonable compromises.
Masser is unopposed in the Republican primary, and faces either Chris Pfaff or Ted Yeager, the Democratic primary contenders, in the fall.
AAA, education funding
Masser said he was proud that he, along with other like-minded legislators, including many first-termers, were able to enact some significant reforms. He points with pride to the fact that legislators now contribute toward their health care, no longer use state cars and must now submit receipts to qualify for per-diem payments. "I was also part of the first on-time, no-tax increase budget in nine years," he noted.
Masser said he and other legislators have been working hard to make sure that Act 22 does not negatively impact the operation of Area Agency on Aging programs at the county level.
"In the past, there was a policy of 'close your eyes and authorize' in the Department of Public Welfare," Masser remarked, noting there is a need for cutting program waste and abuse. "However, we (local legislators) are fighting that part of Act 22 that messes with county AAAs. I have told the Secretary of Welfare that the model we are using now (for senior citizen programs) is very efficient. I have always been a strong advocate of the county AAA, first as a commissioner and now as a state legislator."
Masser disagrees with those who blame the Corbett administration and the Republican-controlled legislature for the fiscal problems experienced by many schools districts.
"They (critics) claim there have been massive cuts to education," Masser remarked. "Actually, state support of basic education increased by a half-billion dollars (in the 2011-12 budget)." Masser cited a series of memos in 2009 and 2010 in which Senate Republican leaders cautioned local school districts about state budget challenges and the likelihood that federal stimulus funds would disappear.
Statewide over the last 10 years, Masser noted, enrollment has declined by 35,000 students, but staff has increased by 35,800.
"Each school district is different," Masser said. "Some have done a better job than others in managing expenses." He added that the principal factors that have been driving education costs are pensions, salaries and contracts approved by local school boards.
"I am going to each of the school districts in the district and trying to get a handle on the situation," Masser remarked. "I want more money to go towards books and instructional aids to help give students a better education.
"But," Masser said, "more money does not equal a better education. At some point, we have to look out for the taxpayers."
He favors changes in how districts furlough teachers, specifically the elimination of the "last in, first out," policy because he believes this approach leads to districts losing some of their better teachers.
Smaller legislature
Masser, who described himself as a proponent of smaller government, voted for the constitutional amendment that would decrease the size of the legislature, although he has some concerns about how larger districts would affect constituent access to legislators. "Ultimately, this should be up to the voters," he said, noting that a statewide referendum would be held on the reduction plan after it is passed one more time during the next legislative session.
Masser said jobs will continue to be a focus for him if he is re-elected. He said he works with the Governor's Action Team on a regular basis, and has talked to several businesses about what the area has to offer. "I am cautiously optimistic there may be some announcements soon," he noted.
Eradication of blighted properties is another priority, Masser said, and he believes his hosting of a Community Blight and Abandoned Property Summit last October for local officials has helped municipalities, as well as county government, better focus on solutions to what has become an important quality of life issue. The initiative resulted in formation recently of a county task force that is charged with developing an anti-blight strategy.
Although there has been some movement in the right direction - such as the fair share act on tort reform, legislation to create a one-stop business license and permitting portal, unemployment compensation and workmen's compensation reform and repeal of costly sprinkler mandates for new home construction, Masser said much more needs to be done to make the state more competitive in attracting businesses. "Pennsylvania is not welcoming with its business tax rates," he said.
'Balance' on Marcellus
Masser said the law allowing local impact drilling fees strikes a balance in the debate about how much, if at all, Marcellus shale drilling should be regulated. "Some areas of the state, such as the northern tier and western Pennsylvania, where drilling is prevalent, did not want any regulation. Other areas, such as southeastern Pennsylvania, were crying out for an exorbitant tax. The legislation we passed, though not perfect, strikes a balance," he said.
"We have made great strides to make Pennsylvania more competitive in creating jobs," Masser said in making his case for a second term. Masser said he is a proven advocate for senior citizens, children and people who need state government's help in caring for themselves.
"The reform measures that the legislature continues to address are an indication of what I stand for - less government, less taxes, less spending and less borrowing."
His service as a House member has become the primary focus of his professional life, Masser said. Because of the time he spends on legislative duties, both in Harrisburg and in the district, he is not as involved with the Masser family businesses as he was two years ago.