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For Immediate
Release
6/17/09
Scarnati: No Tax Increases
WARREN--Governor Ed
Rendell's proposal to hike the state's personal income tax by almost 17
percent is the worst thing to do for Pennsylvania at the worst time
according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati who said such a
move would be job-crushing and fiscally irresponsible.
"At a time when we are
facing an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression, the last
thing we can afford to do is raise taxes on working people and job
creators who are already struggling to make ends meet," Scarnati said.
"There is no support in the Republican Senate for this type of
broad-based tax increase, and it will certainly not sit well with
Pennsylvania families who have to make tough financial choices right now
and control their own spending."
The governor has proposed
hiking the Personal Income Tax to 3.57 percent from the current 3.07
percent for three years to raise approximately $1.5 billion per year in
new revenue. This increase is approximately 17 %. He also proposed
stopping the phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, which
would be another burden to job creators and, quite frankly, workers
looking to find family-sustaining jobs.
Scarnati also noted that
the Senate passed its own proposed budget in early May, one that
includes no new taxes and is fiscally prudent. Since then, the
Administration has repeatedly used scare tactics to drum up opposition
to Senate Bill 850.
"Now, with the clock
ticking, the governor is asking us to support a fiscally irresponsible
tax increase that could cripple our economy and prevent us from
recovering from this economic downturn," Scarnati said. "Increased
taxes will only ensure a prolonged recession and will only ensure that
working families and businesses will not be able to invest in their
communities."
"I certainly look forward
to seeing a vote in the House on the Governor's newly proposed budget,"
Scarnati concluded. "The Senate has passed a budget and it failed in
the House. Therefore, I anxiously await a vote in the House on a tax
increase, balanced budget. At that point we can begin sincere
negotiations."
Contact:
Todd
Nyquist
(717) 787-7084
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