Conservative Sam Rohrer, who served in the Pennsylvania Legislature for 18 years and ran for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor in 2010, plans to announce Monday he will run for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2012.

The announcement is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the Governor's Ballroom of the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill, Pa.

Rohrer, a leader of the state's conservative movement and tireless proponent of the elimination of Pennsylvania's onerous property tax, challenged Tom Corbett in the Republican gubernatorial primary last year.

While Corbett won the nomination and eventually was elected governor, Rohrer made a surprisingly strong showing considering the party establishment (and money) went mostly to Corbett. (Rohrer routed Corbett in Berks County by an 80%-20% margin, and Rohrer beat Corbett in Lancaster County by a 52%-48% margin).

Rohrer, who retired from the Legislature at the end of 2010 to take the post of state director for Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania, will run for the Senate seat held by first-term Democrat Bob Casey Jr., one of the most liberal members of the Senate and a close ally of President Obama.

Pennsylvania's other Senate seat is held by conservative Republican Pat Toomey.

For more information on Sam Rohrer and his bid for U.S. Senate in 2012, visit www.RohrerforSenate.org

Can conservative Sam Rohrer follow in Pat Toomey's footsteps and win a seat in the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania?

Toomey knocked off incumbent Arlen Specter in 2010.

If Rohrer can oust ultra-liberal Bob Casey Jr. in 2012, it would give Pennsylvania two of the most conservative Senators in the country.

Although the Republican field is crowded, Rohrer is the early frontrunner. He's the only candidate who has run a statewide campaign. Rohrer ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 2012 against eventual winner Tom Corbett.

And Rohrer has the same support that Toomey did from the conservative base of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania.

Former Berks County state rep. announces run for U.S. Senate - pottsmerc.com

The Pennsylvania Freedom Foundation today announced its unanimous support for two candidates in the May 18 Republican Primary: Sam Rohrer for Governor and Russ Diamond for Lt. Governor.

"These two candidates represent the true spirit of reform desperately needed here in Pennsylvania," said Foundation spokesperson Tom Lingenfelter. "We believe Rohrer and Diamond best represent the unique and historic mandate of our Constitutional government to defend, preserve, and promote personal freedom and responsibility. Anything less, or anything else is bad government."

Read the full release at the link below:

Pennsylvania Freedom Foundation Endorses Rohrer and Diamond

From the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, which represents 36 grassroots taxpayer groups working for the elimination of school property taxes in the Keystone State:

The time for choosing has arrived! This Tuesday, May 18, is the date for the Pennsylvania primary election.

As you know, the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition (PTCC) and The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA) have endorsed Sam Rohrer for Governor because of his unwavering efforts for property tax elimination and his promise to accomplish this if elected. PLEASE be sure to vote for Sam on May 18 if you’re a registered Republican. I know that many of you have changed your party affiliation so you can vote for Sam and your help is greatly appreciated.

If you're a Democrat, please consider voting for Jack Wagner for Governor. His stance on property tax elimination is not nearly as definitive as Sam's but at a gubernatorial forum in Hershey a few weeks ago he said about property taxes, "Sam Rohrer has some great ideas and it's really time to listen to him." This is more than any of the other Democratic candidates have offered and it's great to hear a possible Democratic opponent considering Sam's plan.

All 203 seats in the PA House of Representatives are up for grabs as well, although there are not very many primary election contests. If you live in a district where there is a primary opponent, please do some research before you vote to determine who supports property tax elimination. Remember, "relief" and "reform" are not what you want to hear. ELIMINATION is the only acceptable word!

One last note on the election: This Saturday, May 15, at 10:00 AM, Sam Rohrer will be having a rally on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg with country music star Aaron Tippin. It's going to be a great event, the weather forecast is for a beautiful day and a huge showing should get lots of media attention, so please attend, bring some friends, and help to swell the crowd! There will be buses available from some areas to make transportation simple. Details of the rally are here: http://www.samrohrer.org/stand-for-pennsylvania.html. It's free!

A coalition of grassroots political activists has endorsed Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer for governor of Pennsylvania.

UNITEPA is a non-partisan grassroots organization comprised of five Pennsylvania chapters in Lancaster, Reading/Berks, South Eastern PA Region, Pottstown and Chester County with more than 1,000 members.

The groups are "dedicated to upholding the principles and values set forth by our Founding Fathers" and have vetted each gubernatorial candidate in accordance with those principles and values, according to a UNITEPA press release.

More from the group's endorsement of Rohrer, a Republican challenging Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett for the Republican nomination on May 18:

It has become crystal clear to UNITEPA, that Rep. Sam Rohrer, a true constitutional conservative, is the only gubernatorial Candidate that reflects our principles and values. He is the epitome of what our Founding Fathers and William Penn envisioned when they passed the baton onto the next generation of statesmen. This is an opportunity for Pennsylvania to finally see the return of a "culture of honor and integrity". Rohrer has been a humble servant to the people of Pennsylvania for over 18 years, and has a Constitutional voting record of over 20,000 votes. He wholeheartedly supports the second amendment, personal privacy rights, the 10th amendment, and the elimination of school property tax. He is a champion for the 'right to life', religious freedom, the expansion of school choice and is a sponsor for the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment.

UNITEPA's mission statement is "To educate and motivate voters to affect elections, preserve the principles and values set forth by America's founding documents and uphold the ideals of our Founding Fathers." We have educated and motivated voters and upheld the ideals of our founding fathers - it is time to affect elections by making a choice for Governor, before the choice is made for us!

This decision to "come out of the political closet" was not taken lightly as many of us are simply just concerned citizens moving into the political spectrum. But our hope is that by UNITEPA spearheading this endorsement effort, other Grassroots organization will follow suit. We are in a 'Freedom Recession' and this election is about Freedom, Liberty and Truth. With the encroachment and commandeering of the Federal Government on our Commonwealth, we have to elect a Governor that has conviction in what he/she believes. They must have humility, integrity, honor, good judgement and believe in personal responsibility. Sam Rohrer represents those values.

UNITPA goes on to say that its endorsement is a 'Principled Statement' - not a financial endorsement on behalf of the organization. "We have asked our members to support Sam Rohrer as individual citizens for the survival of our Constitution through financial contributions to his campaign and volunteering."

For more on Rohrer, visit his campaign Web site at www.samrohrer.org

The National Board of the Republican Liberty Caucus voted unanimously to endorse four candidates running for office in Pennsylvania.

The candidates, referred to by the Caucus as "advocates for liberty" are Pat Toomey (running for U.S. Senate), Pat Sellers (seeking the 6th District Congressional seat), Doug Walters (running for 93rd state House District) and Sam Rohrer (seeking the GOP nomination for Pennsylvania governor).

(Doug Walters is one of four Republicans on the May 18 ballot for the York County House seat currently held by Republican state Rep. Ron Miller, who is seeking re-election.)

From a Republican Liberty Caucus press release:

Republican Liberty Caucus National Chairman Dave Nalle observed that “These candidates represent the best the Republican Party has to offer. They believe in the traditional GOP values of individual liberty and limited government and will bring desperately needed integrity back to our government. We urge voters to go to the polls in the primary and elect all of these candidates to send a clear message to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama that we demand accountable government, protection of our rights and fiscal responsibility."

This is a year when Liberty Republicans are becoming a major force in elections all over the country. The goal of the Republican Liberty Caucus is to elect at least five Senators and at least 25 Congressmen who are truly dedicated to the principles of small government, free enterprise and individual liberty. With a core of newly elected, principled representatives in Washington we can swing the debate away from the big government status quo and towards putting the best interests of the people first.

In 1774 John Adams wrote that the revolution had been completed "in the minds of the people" before conflict ever broke out, and we believe that a similar revolution in attitude is taking place in the United States today. The people are no longer content to sit idly by and accept the dictates of out of control government. We are demanding better service and real accountability, and if we do not get it we will keep voting complacent and unresponsive office holders out until they get the message.

Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party. To find out more, visit www.rlc.org

Sam Rohrer is probably the most popular political figure in Berks County right now so when he decides to endorse a fellow Republican for the 130th state House District, it could tip the race to David M. Maloney.

Two Republicans - Maloney and Tammy Gore - are seeking the GOP nomination on May 18 to run against two-term incumbent Democrat David Kessler, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

From the Maloney for State Representative campaign:

Gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer has endorsed David M. Maloney's run for the state house. Maloney's campaign made the announcement Wednesday. Maloney is a candidate for the 130th State Legislative Seat in Berks County.

Sam Rohrer said "David Maloney is a man I will be able to count on to help me in the state house when I am governor. We will have a tremendous amount of work to do, difficult decisions to make on many important issues. I will be very glad to have David in my corner in Harrisburg."

Maloney said "Sam's endorsement means a great deal to me. I have come to know and respect Sam Rohrer over the years and I truly believe Sam is the right man to be our next governor." Maloney is a self employed carpenter and home remodeler. He is a former Oley Valley School Board member living in Pike Township, Berks County. "Sam's agenda for Pennsylvania is exactly what we need. Sam Rohrer's defense of the family, life, and freedom will be my model as a legislator."

Maloney and Rohrer agree that the keys to economic recovery in Pennsylvania are removing government roadblocks to job creation, reducing the cost of state government and the elimination of school property taxes.

When asked about Republican chances of success in November, Maloney said "Right now, we have momentum on our side here in Pennsylvania. We have strong candidates led by Sam Rohrer. For me personally, I have the energy and the volunteers and the organization behind me to win back the 130th seat, and at the same time I will do whatever I can to help Sam Rohrer become the next governor of Pennsylvania."

Former state Rep. Dennis Leh, who held the 130th House District seat for 20 years, is also backing Maloney and is serving as Maloney's campaign chairman.

For more information about Maloney, visit his campaign Web site, http://www.maloneyforpahouse.com/

A "conservative political activist" fed up with "corrupt politicians who run negative smear campaigns" launched a blog over the Easter weekend called The Real Tom Corbett, a site dedicated to "revealing the seldom-seen but verifiable facts" about Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett, who wants to be Pennsylvania's next governor.

The blogger remains anonymous, using the name Only The Truth to post his or her articles about Corbett.

It's unlikely the site has any direct ties to Corbett's political rival, Sam Rohrer - the Berks County state lawmaker also seeking the GOP nomination for governor - but it's also clear that the blogger is a Sam Rohrer supporter.

So far, the site contains two posts: "The big elephant in the room," which claims Corbett is misrepresenting Rohrer's 2005 vote on the legislative pay raise, and "The curious case of the Facebook fans," which claims the Corbett campaign is somehow manipulating the number of "fans" its candidate has collected on Facebook.

If only elections were decided on Facebook.

The blog also includes links to two other blogs that are often critical of Corbett, CasablancaPA and PennPatriot.

Check out The Real Tom Corbett for yourself here.

State Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks), who is also seeking the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor, issued the following statement Monday in response to the approval in the House of Representatives of the health care overhaul bill:

"Last night the world watched the U.S. House of Representatives act with stunning disregard for the constitutional rights of every American, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. What passed under the rally call of civil rights and human dignity was in fact one of the strongest challenges to individual freedom in a generation.

In winning passage for the healthcare overhaul using every unsavory procedural tool, threat and backroom promise, they broke faith with their own pledge of openness and transparency. But far worse than hollow campaign promises is the shame in knowing that public officials who knowingly violate their oath to defend the Constitution, commit an act far more injurious to the public trust than bowing to raw politics.

If and when President Obama signs this unconstitutional healthcare bill into law, the roadmap for Pennsylvania’s legal challenge is clear. From the disintegration of the separation of powers between the state and federal government to the misapplication of the Commerce Clause to the lack of congressional authority to apply a direct tax on citizens, the Congress has given us an obvious framework to oppose this bad law.

As Pennsylvania's governor, I will use the powers of the office to defend the rights of every citizen to make private decisions, like the purchase of health insurance, for themselves. I will vigorously defend the responsibilities of our elected state legislative bodies, under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, to make decisions about any restructuring of laws that regulate the conduct of health insurance companies and providers. This is simply not the role or right of the federal government.

In my administration, I will never hesitate to defend the constitutional rights of every citizen. This will be my first and highest priority."

For more about Rohrer's campaign for governor, visit http://www.samrohrer.org/

State Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks), who voted Wednesday against a measure approved by the House to legalize table games such as poker and blackjack at Pennsylvania casinos, issued the following statement explaining his opposition to the Democratic-led expansion of gambling:

"Five years ago, Governor Rendell sold the people of Pennsylvania a bill of goods when he signed the slots legislation into law," Rohrer said. "At the time, Rendell and the gambling lobby falsely promised the bill would create thousands of jobs, spur an economic boom and provide property tax relief. Today, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is higher, its economy is faltering and homeowners are still burdened with excessive property taxes. With this record of failure, the legalization of table games amounts to doubling down on a bad bet."

Gov. Ed Rendell threatened to lay off nearly 1,000 state workers if the table games bill was not approved by the General Assembly by the end of the week. Rendell falsely claimed the bill was necessary to fill a supposed $250 million hole in the state budget.

"If you could fill a $250 million hole by laying off 1,000 state workers, that would mean that each of them would have to be earning approximately $250,000," Rohrer noted. "Does the governor really have that many excessively paid staff working under him? I would note that of the 1,000 state workers the governor threatened to lay off, he only threatened one in the governor's office. By comparison, he threatened to lay off 112 people who work with the Pennsylvania State Police, 38 who serve our military veterans and 19 who work in the Department of Health."

Rohrer further argued that the $250 million in revenue the legalization of table games is expected to generate are just an estimate.

"We still have some casinos that aren't up and running five years after that bill was signed into law," Rohrer said. "Somehow, the governor blindly thinks these table games are going to be set up and raking in the money in the next five months before the fiscal year ends in June. That naive belief represents a detachment from reality."

Rohrer pointed out the faulty logic used by gambling proponents, who suggest the legalization of table games would generate new jobs.

"If a Pennsylvanian spends $20 at a blackjack table, he or she can't spend that money at the local diner," Rohrer said. "Sure, it might create a job in one area of the economy, but it will do so at the expense of a worker in another area. The blackjack dealer benefits at the expense of the waitress. Taking water from one end of a bathtub and dropping it in the other won't raise the overall water level. This law will merely benefit the well-connected gambling industry at the expense of other Pennsylvania workers."

Rohrer also chastised those who propagated the false belief that legalizing table game would somehow help homeowners struggling to pay their property taxes.

"Like slot machines before them, table games offer homeowners nothing but the false hope that their property tax burden will be reduced," Rohrer said. "The truth is, the governor is betting on table games to bring in more revenues to subsidize his spending habit. Make no mistake, legalized gambling has done little for homeowners, but it has been and will continue to be a boon for free-spending politicians in Harrisburg. Pennsylvanians are tired of these 'bait-and-switch' schemes where politicians promise them property tax relief but deliver something far different. The only way to truly deal with the property tax issue is by eliminating them. No tax should have the power to leave you homeless."

The bill now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.

"Whether you oppose legalized gambling based on economic or moral principles or because it fails to deliver on its overblown promises, today represents a step backward for Pennsylvania," Rohrer said. "The Commonwealth will take a further leap backward if and when the governor places his signature on this sham of a bill. Pennsylvanians deserve better than this."

State Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, a candidate for Pennsylvania governor, has sent a scathing message to supporters blasting the current governor and the Democratic leadership in the House for linking state funding to colleges with passage of expanded gambling.

Here is Rohrer's comments:

Lobbyists for Organized Gambling are at it again! This time, their ally-in-chief, Governor Ed Rendell and a majority in the state House of Representatives are holding up hundreds of millions of dollars in higher education funding to Pitt, Penn State, Lincoln and Temple in an unprecedented push to legalize high-stakes, casino table games.

This bill is truly insidious.

In addition to giving casino operators a discounted 14% tax rate (as opposed to a 55% rate for slots), they will now be able to issue lines of credit to prospective gamblers. That’s right, predatory, credit card gambling.

Friends, you know the truth about this destructive lie. When Pennsylvania approved a state lottery, it was billed as the savior for senior programs. When they approved off-track betting, small games of chance and later 67,000 slot machines were proposed and approved, they came with a promise - easy cash to fund worthy programs.

To date friends, Pennsylvania's political leaders have embraced gambling, but failed to deliver the promised windfall profit. Sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me doesn't it?

This afternoon, we're headed back to the House floor to debate this bad bill. The deck is stacked, the special interests are getting ready to celebrate, but there is still hope!

Will you please contact your state representative this afternoon? Visit the Pennsylvania Family Institute to see who needs to hear from you, and the best way to get connected.

This battle is worth the 5-minute investment of your time and energy. Will you help take on Organized Gambling?

Pennsylvania State Rep. Sam Rohrer, who is also a candidate for governor, will the guest speaker at the Winter Commencement at Albright College in Reading.

The school announced that 124 students from both Albright's traditional undergraduate program and Accelerated Degree Completion Program will receive diplomas at Albright College's Winter Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 19. Diplomas will be presented by President Lex O. McMillan III. The ceremony will be held in Memorial Chapel at 2 p.m.

Rohrer, who represents Berks County's 128th House District, will be the main commencement speaker, the school announced this week.

First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1992, Rohrer is the ranking chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. He also serves on the House Finance Committee and previously served as the ranking chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee and has spent 12 years on the House Appropriations Committee.

Best known as the architect and prime sponsor of the School Property Tax Elimination Act, Rohrer has earned statewide recognition as the champion for property tax reform.

He hopes to parlay that work in his bid for Pennsylvania governor in 2010.

No surprise here. A coalition of nearly three dozen taxpayer groups has endorsed state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, for governor of Pennsylvania.

Rohrer, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, has been the leading proponent of eliminating property taxes in Pennsylvania.

A member of the Legislature since 1993, Rohrer is the primary sponsor of House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations sees Rohrer's election as the best chance of killing the state's onerous school property tax.

From a press released issued by PCTA:

Rep. Rohrer has, through many legislative sessions, introduced the School Property Tax Elimination Act, legislation that would abolish school property taxes for all Pennsylvania homeowners and restructure a crumbling, antiquated education finance system. During the announcement of his candidacy on Nov. 17, Rep. Rohrer emphasized that school property tax elimination will be one of the five main planks of his campaign platform and a priority of his administration.

Rebecca Heller of The Patriot's Voice, one of the PCTA member groups, said, "Sam Rohrer is not just a candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, he is a true statesman and patriot. Rep. Rohrer selflessly devoted many years of his life to work for the citizens in his district. I do not live in his district, but because of his initiatives, I have always felt he was "my" representative. His goals have always reached much further than district lines. We will work for Sam Rohrer as hard as he has always worked for us."

Joel Sears of the York County Taxpayers Council, a PCTA member group, added: "The first time I met Sam, I knew there was something special about him. He is a true servant of the public whose principles align him with the vast majority of Pennsylvanians, not just his constituents. His approach is tireless, independent of any special interest groups, and always focused on the 'rightness' of the outcome. I am proud and privileged to know Sam."

The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations is an alliance of 35 grassroots taxpayer advocacy groups from across Pennsylvania that is dedicated to equitable education funding reform through the enactment of the School Property Tax Elimination Act. For more about PCTA's efforts, visit the group's Web site.

For more information on Rohrer's bid for for governor, visit his campaign Web site, www.samrohrer.org

State Rep. Sam Rohrer is expected to announce his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor at a Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Spring Township Fire Company in West Lawn, Berks County.

Rohrer sent the following e-mail today to potential supporters:

Over the past few weeks Ruth Ann and I, and our entire family have been weighing the decision to seek the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania Governor. We've approached it understanding the risk, but knowing fully the incredible need for leadership in our state and nation.

There have been few other moments in my lifetime when the collective call of duty has been greater, and the responsibility to act so urgent. More than winning elections for political parties or discovering a way for Republicans to reach a legislative majority, the 2010 campaign must be waged to give voice for the ideas and principles that matter most.

I want to personally invite you to a special Townhall on Tuesday, November 17 at the Spring Township Fire Department, 2301 Monroe Avenue in West Lawn, PA. I'm organizing this forum to announce the decision on the race for governor, and begin a statewide conversation about the challenges and real opportunities facing Pennsylvania.

We can change the direction of our state, but it will take all of us – "We the People!"

Rohrer, who has represented the 128th House District in southern Berks County since 1993, is best known for leading the fight to eliminate school property taxes in Pennsylvania. He has also taken the lead in the state's rights movement.

If Rohrer decides to enter the 2010 Republican Primary, he will face a crowded field that already includes Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and Congressman Jim Gerlach, R-6th Dist.

Rohrer announced the Town Hall Meeting at http://samrohrer.org/, which will probably turn into his campaign Web site after Nov. 17.

Until then, you can find out more about Rohrer at http://www.samrohrer.com/