Raja releases another misleading ad

Dubious plan will increase property taxes for seniors, middle class
County Executive candidate D. Raja continues to run false advertisements that mislead the public about Rich Fitzgeralds record and his own plans for Allegheny County. Rajas latest ad touts his drink tax plan but fails to mention that he is refusing to outline how he will pay for it until after the election because he knows that he will raise property taxes to pay for it. This past Sunday, the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette ripped Rajas plan in an editorial because of his refusal to offer specifics. Raja built his fortune by shipping jobs overseas and now he has a risky plan that will increase property taxes, which will hurt the countys seniors and the middle class hardest, Fitzgeralds campaign manager Mike Mikus said. Rajas campaign commercials are filled with one falsehood after another because he knows that voters will never vote for a CEO like Raja who outsources jobs and was caught not paying the minimum wage. This is especially true when they learn that hes going to raise their property taxes.

Rajas Rhetoric vs. Reality

Rajas Rhetoric Allegheny County needs a big idea. A game changer. Meet Raja. Raja has a plan to eliminate the drink tax, without raising property taxes. Reality

Raja has a secret plan to eliminate the drink tax and will not reveal the specifics until after the election because he will raise property taxes to pay for eliminating the tax. [TribuneReview. October 7, 2011] Raja was chastised in an editorial because he refuses to offer specifics for how he would pay for eliminating the drink tax. [Pittsburgh PostGazette. October 9, 2011] Raja voted to increase 297 fees and created 30 new fees, most of which disproportionately affects low-income seniors. [Mt. Lebanon Fee Schedules for 2009, 2010, & 2011] Raja cast the deciding vote to create a new Sewer Tax where the amount paid is the same if a person millionaire or a low-income senior. [Mt. Lebanon Budget Hearing November 29, 2010]

Raja will also freeze property taxes for low income seniors.

Rich Fitzgerald says it can't be done.

Fitzgerald has frozen property taxes for lowincome seniors and all county taxpayers because property taxes have remained level for the last 10 years. In fact, Fitzgerald sponsored the creation of the Homestead Exemption which reduced property taxes for every property owner. [Allegheny County Council. Legislative File 0677-02 March 19, 2002] Raja knows that Fitzgerald served as a parttime member of Allegheny Council which paid $9,000 per year and provided no benefits. Fitzgerald has been a leader in reforming county government supporting streamlining 911 services, consolidating row offices, enacting merit pay and making county government more transparent. Rajas company outsources jobs overseas. (www.ceiamerica.com) A news publication highlighted how Raja was planning to triple the number of employees in his overseas office from 85 to 250. [Business Standard. March 8, 2005] Raja was quoted saying the he hoped that 80% of his company revenues would come from outsourcing jobs overseas. [Business Standard. March 8, 2005] Rajas company Facebook page boasts of his state-of-the-art outsourcing center at his overseas office. [CEI Facebook Page]

The choice is clear. Fitzgerald is a career politician.

He stands for politics as usual.

Raja is a proven leader with a record of creating jobs.

Raja for Allegheny County Executive.

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