From a release issued today by the GOP:
HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason voiced frustration with Gov. Ed Rendell and House Democrats as they continue to cling to hopes for a state budget proposal that will impose a major tax increase on hardworking Pennsylvania families. Gleason again denounced House Democrats for pushing the most expensive state government budget in the history of the Commonwealth, which uses higher education funding as a political pawn to force a major tax increase.
"Gov. Ed Rendell is trying to convince taxpayers that taking an additional $500 out of Pennsylvania families’ budgets is not a lot of money while in the same breath admitting that he doesn’t even know how much money he makes because his salary is directly deposited into his bank account," Gleason said. "The Governor needs to understand that many families are living paycheck to paycheck and every dollar is very critical to addressing the growing burden of Pennsylvania families. Pennsylvanians just can't afford to pay another dime for Gov. Ed Rendell's and the House Democrats out-of-control spending proposals.
"Rendell and the House Democrats' push for a major tax increase serve as evidence that they do not understand the struggles of hardworking Pennsylvania families. The House Democrats' latest proposal uses higher education funding as a political ploy to force a major tax increase. Our Party will be paying close attention to the votes taking place in the state House as we look for Democrats who are willing to support the House Democrat leaders' plan for the largest state government spending budget in the history of the Commonwealth that will raise the taxes of all Pennsylvania families. Democrats voting for higher taxes are standing with Democrat leaders in Harrisburg and not their hardworking constituents."
In their latest attempt to push a broad-based tax increase, the Democrat-controlled House Appropriations Committee voted to strip $1.3 billion in higher education funding out of the budget. Democrats are hoping to require education programs be funded by a broad-based tax increase or other new revenue sources. The Democrats proposal increases the cost of operating government by $1.3 billion over last year's budget.
Gleason concluded, "I applaud our Republican legislators in the state Senate and House for continuing to fight for a fiscally responsible budget that does not raise taxes."
