Evankovich Urges House Leaders to Reject Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan
HARRISBURG – Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny) today sent the following letter, calling for the rejection of the tax plan included in Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 budget proposal, to House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) and House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).
The text of the letter is as follows:
Rep. Majority Leader Reed,
After several weeks of reviewing Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal, as well as hearing from interest groups and constituents, it has become clear that the Wolf spending plan seeks to tax and spend at levels that are not only unsustainable for the average Pennsylvanian, but contrary to the desires of the families that we represent.
For the last four years, working families in Pennsylvania have seen their state government spend within their means. They have witnessed their elected officials put the working taxpayer ahead of the spending establishment, regardless of the pressures to spend more.
We all recognize the need to adequately fund core functions of our government so that we can continue to:
- Support good, world-class performing schools;
- Provide for social programs that protect those who are less fortunate and lift them out of poverty;
- Support law enforcement, courts and prisons that protect the citizens, defend victims and punish criminals; and,
- Support agencies and programs that encourage businesses to thrive and also protect our environment, workers and communities.
The reality is that the Wolf tax plan does not require our state government to perform more efficiently or at a higher capacity. It does not provide taxpayers with a state government that is new and innovative. Rather, it demands that workers, seniors and our employers give more of their hard-earned money to the state. My concern is that the Wolf tax plan will be damaging to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Wolf tax plan will force small businesses to pass massive sales tax increases on to their customers and our constituents will pay more of their income to the state.
In short, our neighbors will see less money in their paycheck AND higher prices at the store.
I do not believe that the people of Pennsylvania should be expected to bear the burden of large tax increases to fund their government without first having their government do precisely what the Wolf tax plan demands of them – to do more with less.
When we return to session, I respectfully ask that you bring the Wolf tax plan, in its entirety, up for a vote on the House floor, where I expect the proposal to fail. We can then move forward with an honest budget discussion grounded in realistic revenue expectations.
Thank you,
Rep. Eli Evankovich
54th Legislative District
Representative Eli Evankovich
54th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
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