Jun. 01, 2015
HARRISBURG – The House voted unanimously today against an amendment which included the tax plans found the Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said. Grove authored the amendment in order for the plans to receive fair and timely consideration on the floor of the House.
He released the following statement following the defeat of the amendment:
“The tax increases proposed by the new governor earlier this year are so unpopular that every member present voted against it today. With increases proposed for the income tax and the sales tax on a host of other products and services, Pennsylvanians cannot afford another $12.7 billion in new taxes over the next two years. From day care and diapers to caskets and grave markers, this cradle-to-grave tax would impact nearly every resident.
“The Independent Fiscal Office recently indicated the tax hikes would negatively impact residents all across the state from all income groups. The budget plan includes an expansion of the sales tax, applying it to many more products and services under the governor’s proposal. Items the governor is proposing to tax include newspapers, magazines, diapers, caskets and textbooks. The tax also would apply to services like room and board for college students, day care services for working parents, and nursing home services for senior citizens.
“The governor is also seeking an increase in the cigarette tax and a new tax on other tobacco products, as well as a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
“Time after time, during House Appropriation Committee hearings regarding the budget this spring, we heard from administration officials that this budget needed to be considered “holistically.” Today we did that and it failed to get even a single vote.
“I look forward to further consideration of a budget which funds the Commonwealth’s needs, but spends within our means.”
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nick Ruffner
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