Oct. 07, 2015
HARRISBURG – The House today defeated a plan submitted by Gov. Tom Wolf that would have increased state taxes by $2.5 billion per year. Following the vote, Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) explained why he opposed the governor’s proposal:
“Most constituents I’ve heard from oppose the governor’s proposed tax increases. But I have heard from special interest groups urging me to support what they called a ‘reasonable’ severance tax and a ‘small’ increase in the Personal Income Tax. Unfortunately, the governor’s plans to increase severance and personal income taxes aren’t ‘reasonable’ or ‘small’ by any objective analysis,” he said.
“I have gone on record as willing to support a 5 percent severance tax that incorporates the existing environmental impact fee on shale gas wells. However, the plan proposed by the governor amounts to an effective severance tax rate of more than 10 percent – far from ‘reasonable.’ Likewise, the governor’s proposed 16 percent PIT increase would be one of the largest in the history of our Commonwealth.”
Truitt added that while he is encouraged by the governor’s property tax relief proposal, it is temporary fix at best. Local school boards will only continue to increase taxes and over time the reductions will be rendered moot. Truitt said we must go a step further and eliminate property taxes.
“There are other ways to provide more money for education than massive tax increases with no real relief,” Truitt said. “For starters, we can begin with the elimination of ‘corporate welfare’ programs, which I view as a root of much evil in government.”
While finding the governor’s current tax plan lacking, Truitt expressed optimism that the governor finally appeared willing to negotiate after nearly seven months of obstinance.
“On the bright side, the governor has finally made real movement from his original take-it-or-leave-it tax plan that failed to gain any support in the House when it came to the floor last June,” said Truitt. “I’m hopeful that the results of today’s vote will finally encourage him to put a viable proposal on the table – one that can garner 102 votes needed to pass the House.”
For more information, visit
RepTruitt.com and
Facebook.com/RepTruitt.
Representative Dan Truitt
156th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis, (717) 260-6335
rtravis@pahousegop.com