HARRISBURG -- Two top House Republican leaders yesterday listed their legislative goals through the end of December: reducing or eliminating property taxes, rolling back the state's personal income and business taxes, and "controlling government spending."

But Speaker John Perzel and Majority Leader Sam Smith refused to consider one method of controlling state expenditures -- repealing the 16 percent to 34 percent pay raises legislators gave themselves July 7.

"There has been some discussion about it in our caucus, but I don't foresee that being one of the items we will take up," Mr. Smith, R-Punxsutawney, told reporters.

The pay raise issue "is contentious" in the caucus, he added.

"What the General Assembly is paid is always something that is contentious. We will always have people who don't appreciate or approve that. We recognize that [our salaries] aren't the most popular thing in people's eyes. But we are doing our job. We will continue to move forward on our agenda."

Mr. Perzel, R-Philadelphia, didn't say much yesterday, but in the past has said he won't bring the pay raise repeal bill up for a vote until there are at least 102 votes -- a majority of the 203 member House -- in favor of it.

Currently, the repeal bill is buried in the Rules Committee, which is controlled by House leaders, and no votes are planned.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Perzel were surrounded by about 30 other members of the House Republican caucus, but one member who wasn't there was Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, who plans to submit a "discharge petition" next month on a pay raise repeal bill submitted by Reps. Tom Creighton, R-Lancaster, and Greg Vitali, D-Delaware.

The discharge bill can't be voted on until the 15th day of the current legislative session occurs, which isn't expected until Nov. 16. If 25 House members sign the petition, the bill will at least get out of committee, but whether a floor vote will be held still is in question.

Mr. Smith did set an ambitious schedule of bills for discussion and action this fall.

Next week, discussion and possibly votes are set on bills to roll back the personal income tax rate from its current 3.07 percent; phase out a tax on cell phones enacted in January 2004; cut the corporate net income tax from its present level of 9.99 percent; prohibit the use of Social Security numbers on state forms; and require that English only be used on state forms.

Gov. Ed Rendell has said he's opposed to reducing the income or cell phone taxes but is willing to discuss cutting business taxes.

During the week of Dec. 5, the House will discuss changes to the July 2004 slot machine law, toughening penalties for sex offenders, increasing fines for driving without insurance and hiring more state troopers.

Discussion of what may prove to be the toughest issue, reducing property taxes, is set for the week of Dec. 12. At least a dozen plans have been offered.

Mr. Rendell wants to use slots revenue to reduce property taxes in all 501 school districts. Other plans involve expanding the sales tax to lower property taxes.