Oct. 07, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Adam Harris (R-Franklin/Juniata/Mifflin) today voted against a measure considered and rejected by the state House that would have increased the state Personal Income Tax by 16 percent. The House vote was 73 to 127.
“For months, the governor has insisted that he has the votes for his massive tax increase plan. Today we gave him his vote. Even though he watered down his proposal at the last minute, it was still overwhelmingly rejected by both Republicans and Democrats in the House,” Harris said.
The governor’s tax plan included an expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, but it would have only affected less than 2 percent of the population beginning July 2017, despite the PIT increase being effective Jan. 1, 2016, for all wage earners.
A severance tax was also included in his tax plan. In addition to the nearly $225 million paid annually by natural gas drillers in Act 13 impact fees, Wolf proposed a 3.5 percent extraction tax with an additional charge of 4.7 cents per thousand cubic feet. At a total tax rate of 14 percent, this would have been the highest severance tax rate in the nation.
“I hope the rejection of the state Personal Increase Tax increase sets a new tone for negotiations as we enter the 100th day of this unnecessary and harmful budget impasse,” Harris said. “It’s clear that the House does not support such extravagant tax increases on the backs of hard-working Pennsylvanians, so we need all parties – including the governor – to realize that we must prioritize our needs. With that in mind, I am confident that we will be closer to passing a budget.”
Representative Adam Harris
82nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
aevans@pahousegop.com
RepAdamHarris.com