Democrats want more of your money

The Tax Foundation released its annual ranking of the worst states for taxpayers. Know what the bottom 10 have in common? All are run by Democrats.

The fog of trillions: How Americans lost sight of their own sacrifice

The fog of trillions: How Americans lost sight of their own sacrifice: Every dollar spent by the government was first earned by a citizen, and every act of redistribution is a moral decision, not a mechanical one.

A Hidden Tax: What Americans Are Really Paying for Illegal Immigration

A Hidden Tax: What Americans Are Really Paying for Illegal Immigration: In a time when families are tightening budgets and questioning every dollar spent, one cost remains largely invisible, yet it drains billions from our economy and erodes the moral foundation of our republic. That cost is illegal immigration. Not the emotional narrative, not the political theater, but the real, measurable, taxpayer-funded burden that most Americans haven’t been told they’re carrying.

How much of our tax money does the school district deserve?

How much of our tax money does the school district deserve?: We all venerate certain teachers from our early years.  They were the ones who inspired and challenged us.  It’s natural to expand that veneration to schools.  After all, schools are where we were taught, where teachers work.

We all agree that education is of paramount importance.  So it’s natural that we want to support the schools.  Before we do, let’s look a little more deeply into the topic of schools and taxes.

Trump wants to end the tyranny of federal income tax

Trump wants to end the tyranny of federal income tax : Donald Trump has suggested that, given the chance, he’ll abolish the federal income tax in favor of a tariff-based federal revenue system. Because the federal government is a behemoth, tariffs won’t provide enough funding, but it’s a wonderful start. There are fair ways to raise money in addition to tariffs and, of course, the federal government must be cut down to size.

Kamala Harris gets that coveted IRS endorsement for president

Kamala Harris gets that coveted IRS endorsement for president: While the Teamsters have decided to withhold a call to vote for Kamala Harris in this election, the tax collectors for the welfare state have put out their enthusiastic endorsement.

Kamala forecast: Vanishing jobs, trillions added to the deficit, capital gains nearing 50%, and taxed unrealized gains

Kamala forecast: Vanishing jobs, trillions added to the deficit, capital gains nearing 50%, and taxed unrealized gains: The Kamala forecast isn’t looking so sunny, at least according to three leading groups that are largely known for being economically and fiscally aware — Americans for Tax Reform, the Cato Institute, and the Tax Foundation think tank based in Washington D.C.

Lowman S. Henry: Gov. Tom Wolf's latest tax grab

By Lowman S. Henry
Guest Columnist

Pennsylvania motorists already pay one of the highest state gasoline taxes in the nation thanks to what was effectively a 30-cent per gallon tax hike during the Tom Corbett Administration. Now, a new multi-state compact advocated by radical environment interests threatens to add to that tax burden.

As with most policies pushed by the Left this one has a lofty sounding name, it is called the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Its goal is to ratchet up the war on carbon-based fuels by setting new goals for the reduction of their use. And, of course there is the usual tug at the heart strings rhetoric as the "initiative" seeks to "maximize environmental, economic, social, and public health benefits."

If you cut through the spin what it actually is being proposed is a tax grab to fund dubious "low carbon technologies" which cannot compete in the marketplace because they are ineffective, overly expensive or both; and — surprise — re-direct more money to urban mass transit systems. As Inconvenient Facts author Greg Wrightstone puts it: "They want to take money from Perry County (rural Pennsylvania) and give it to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh."

As Wrightstone explained the compact on a recent edition of Lincoln Radio Journal the Wolf Administration has entered into an agreement with nine other mostly northeastern states to cap each of the states' carbon emissions from transportation (your car). The states have one year to come up with a plan. Such plans will most certainly include additional taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel. Then, Wrightstone concluded, the money will be "redistributed" to "low carbon transportation systems" — in other words urban mass transit.

Those urban transportation systems, specifically the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in the Philadelphia region and Port Authority Transit (PAT) in the Pittsburgh area have an insatiable appetite for public dollars and annually develop new schemes to fleece taxpayers from other regions to subsidize the many and well documented inefficiencies and outright corruption that regularly plaque those agencies.

Thus the lofty sounding Transportation and Climate Initiative allows Governor Wolf to advance two of his top agenda items: establish a new revenue stream to keep urban mass transit afloat, and penalize users of carbon based fuels. Keep in mind those users include you every time you start your car or use a product that was delivered to the store by motor vehicle, which is to say everything.

In addition to the cost to consumers, higher taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel will increase the cost of doing business for companies based in Pennsylvania. This will put them at a competitive disadvantage with states that are not part of this ideologically driven compact. Notably, the state of Ohio declined to participate in the boondoggle, correctly seeing an opportunity to gain a competitive edge over Pennsylvania-based businesses.

All of this raises the issue of how new and or higher taxes will be imposed. Since this is an administrative agreement it is entirely possible, even likely, the Wolf Administration will attempt to bypass the General Assembly and impose the new cost as a regulatory fee.

There are many reasons to believe the governor will try that route. First, with Republicans in control of both houses of the General Assembly the chances of winning legislative approval for a fuel tax increase, especially in the House, are slim to none. Second, the General Assembly has a recent history of allowing its constitutional authority to be usurped by other branches of government without putting up an effective fight.

For example, last year the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in clear violation of the state constitution abrogated the legislature's power to draw congressional district lines and instituted by judicial fiat a new congressional district map gerrymandered to favor Democrats in the 2018 election. Legislative Republicans howled in protest, even appealed to the federal courts. But they failed to take the one action that would have been effective: impeach the offending justices, especially one who in a blatant breech of judicial ethics campaigned on doing exactly what was done.

So Gov. Wolf can be forgiven if he believes he can impose an entire new layer of taxation on We the People of Penn's Woods without the legislature taking any effective action to stop him. But this is an issue where legislative leaders, particularly those in the state Senate, need to stiffen their spines and take a stand.

The policy goals of the Transportation and Climate Initiative are dubious at best, this is a clear tax grab for urban mass transit, and consumers are already over-burdened when it comes to gas and fuel taxes. Even for the legislative faint of heart this is a battle worth fighting.

Lowman S. Henry is chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His email is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org

Dragging That Old Thing Out Again

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Sen. Bob Mensch: State Budget Redux

State Budget Redux

By Sen. Bob Mensch

On Feb. 9, Gov. Ed Rendell delivered his eighth — and final — budget, and not surprisingly the greatest applause during the speech was for his statement to have the budget finished by June 30. It's not surprising this comment would be met positively. After all, last year was painful and caused a lot of financial difficulty for Pennsylvanians.

But when I'm asked if I think the budget will be done on time this year, my response is a skeptical, "I doubt it." The newly proposed budget is, in my opinion, not affordable, not sustainable, and must be rejected by the taxpayers and the legislature — but more on that in a moment.

First, let's look at history. We have not had a budget completed on time in any of the past 7 years — but that has not always been true. To find the next most recent budget that was not completed on time, you have to go back through many administrations, to I believe, Gov. Raymond P. Shafer in the late 1960s. So past performance by this administration is not encouraging.

And when we take a closer look at last year's budget mess, you will realize that the House majority leadership (Democrat) did not even put a budget in front of the House until July 13. That's right, despite the Constitutional requirement for a balanced budget to be completed by June 30, the House majority leadership decided to ignore the Constitution and do what it wanted. More importantly, last year's budget was unaffordable, just as this year's budget is unaffordable, so there is a great probability there will be another "battle" similar to last year’s 101-day impasse.

Some residents just want us all to go along and agree, but had we last year we'd have higher taxes this year, and we'd have even worse spending that we can't afford. Please realize that February 2010 is the 24th consecutive month of negative revenue collections by our state. That's right, we haven't been able to meet our spending obligations for two solid years. Yet this year's proposed budget has a further spending increase of $1.155 billion, and it includes two very significant tax increases — a sales tax increased designed to raise $1 billion or more; and an onerous business tax strategy that will chase more jobs out of Pennsylvania.

We can't afford the increased spending. We can't afford to pay more in sales taxes. We can't afford to lose any more jobs from Pennsylvania. So when someone suggests there is disagreement about this year's budget, instead of someone asking why we can't all just agree, the question should be why must the administration insist we need to spend more than we can afford?

The sales tax proposal will hurt our seniors with new taxes on medical and pharmaceutical services. We'll all pay more for financial and legal services. We'll all pay new taxes on 74 new categories of items to be taxed — we can't afford it.

Our businesses will be further stressed for providing jobs. Pennsylvania is already the 44th lowest state in new jobs creations. But the solution offered by the administration is to "close the Delaware loophole," which is actually a tax increase.

The easier solution is just lower our corporate tax rates to be competitive with other states — we presently have the highest rate in the nation - and then our businesses won't feel the need to incorporate in Delaware. But the strategy offered in the budget is actually a tax increase so don't look for a lot of compromise on corporate net income tax.

I welcome any comments regarding these thoughts. Call me at 215-529-1215 or write me at bmensch@pasen.gov

State Sen. Bob Mensch is a Republican who represents the 24th District, which includes parts of Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Americans Against Food Taxes

Check out the group's Web site by clicking here.

Video: All the Tax Hikes Considered for Obamacare

Ed Spendell Strikes Again

Pennsylvania is 40 days into a new fiscal year, but state officials are no closer to agreeing on a new budget than they were on June 30, the last day of the 2008-09 fiscal year.

In a recent poll, 30 percent of the state's voters placed the blame for the budget impasse on Gov. Ed Rendell, but 17 percent blamed the Republicans in the Legislature while 11 percent blamed the Democrats and 28 percent blamed everyone equally.

Pennsylvania finished the 2008-09 budget year with a #3.25 billion deficit, but Rendell wants to spend even more money for 2009-10. And a newspaper is now reporting that Rendell has also spent more than $360 million in borrowed money.

The man has a serious problem, which is why he is being referred to more often as "Ed Spendell."

From a story by Debra Erdley in today's edition of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Faced with the growing impact of a prolonged recession and revenue shortfalls, Gov. Ed Rendell last fall froze state hiring, ordered spending reductions and hunkered down for a coming budget battle.

On the surface, it appeared Pennsylvania was mired in a financial morass that would affect spending at all levels.

But records obtained by the Tribune-Review show one thing hasn't been hampered by the state's revenue woes: Rendell's ability to spend borrowed money.

While he was battling revenue shortfalls and lobbying for an income tax increase, Rendell was running his own economic stimulus program, quietly handing out $361 million in bond money across the state.

Read the full story, "Pennsylvania Governor Rendell doles out $361 million in borrowed money," at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Tell Ed Rendell what you think

The Pennsylvania Cable Network will dedicate Wednesday evening's programming to the state budget impasse.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, PCN will air a block of special "On the Issues" programs featuring key lawmakers involved in the budget process.

Following these one-on-one interviews, Lieutenant Governor Joe Scarnati and Governor Ed Rendell will take viewers' calls during two separate LIVE PCN Call-In Program specials set to air starting at 6 p.m.

Each hour-long Call-In program will give viewers an opportunity to talk directly to the featured guest by dialing toll-free at 1-877-PA6-5001.

The schedule, including replay times, for this special PA budget programming block is as follows:

Wednesday, July 8:

5:00 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Mario Civera (R) – House Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Rep. Dwight Evans (D) House Majority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R) – Senate Majority Floor Leader
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

5:15 p.m. – On the Issues: Sen. Jay Costa (D) Senate Minority Appropriations Chair
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 8:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.

6:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Sen. Joe Scarnati, Lieutenant Governor/PA Senate Pro Tempore
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m. (LIVE) – PCN Call-In program: Governor Ed Rendell
Replays – Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m; Thursday, July 9 at 1:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

For updated information about special budget programming and other programming information, visit the daily schedule at pcntv.com

Tell Rep. McIlvaine Smith not to raise your taxes

Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith is a Democrat who represents the 156th House District in Chester County.

McIlvaine Smith has an important vote to cast on behalf of the residents of the 156th District. Gov. Ed Rendell wants to spend $29 billion for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The only way to balance Rendell's budget is through major tax increases. Rendell's current budget is expected to finish $3.2 billion in the red but he still wants to spend more of your money next year.

McIlvaine Smith is being pressured by Rendell and the Democratic party bosses in Harrisburg to raise taxes on his constituents to continue the out-of-control spending in Harrisburg.

If you live in the 156th House District -- the borough of West Chester; the townships of East Goshen and West Goshen; part of East Bradford Township (South 1 and South 2 precincts) -- you need to remind Rep. McIlvaine Smith that if she votes to raise your taxes, she will not receive your vote in 2010 when she seeks re-election.

You can send an e-mail through his Web site http://www.pahouse.com/bsmith or use the following contact information:

Hon. Barbara McIlvaine Smith
107 East Chestnut Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 696-4990
Fax: (610) 738-2163

Hon. Barbara McIlvaine Smith
121A East Wing
PO Box 202156
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2156
(717) 705-1922
Fax: (717) 780-4778

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Video: Reject Obama Class Warfare

Tell Rep. Houghton not to raise your taxes

Rep. Tom Houghton is a freshman Democrat who represents the 13th House District in Chester County.

Houghton has served in the Legislature for five months. His first major vote will be on Gov. Ed Rendell's $29 billion budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The only way to balance Rendell's budget is through major tax increases. Rendell's current budget is expected to finish $3.2 billion in the red but he still wants to spend more of your money next year.

Houghton campaigned on the promise of reducing property taxes but he is being pressured by Rendell and the Democratic party bosses in Harrisburg to raise taxes on his constituents to continue the out-of-control spending in Harrisburg.

If you live in the 13th House District -- the townships of East Fallowfield, East Nottingham, Elk, Franklin, Highland, London Grove, Londonderry, Lower Oxford, New London, Penn, Sadsbury, Upper Oxford, West Fallowfield, West Nottingham and West Sadsbury and the boroughs of Atglen, Modena, Oxford, Parkesburg, South Coatesville and West Grove -- you need to remind Rep. Houghton that if he votes to raise your taxes, he will not receive your vote in 2010 when he seeks re-election.

You can send an e-mail through his Web site http://www.pahouse.com/Houghton or use the following contact information:

Hon. Tom Houghton
3157 Limestone Road
Suite 101
Cochranville, PA 19330
(610) 593-6565
Fax: (610) 593-7041

Hon. Tom Houghton
121B East Wing
PO Box 202013
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2013
(717) 772-2426
Fax: (717) 787-6727

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

What taxes would you like raised and by how much?

A guest column by state Sen. Rob Wonderling about Pennsylvania's budget crisis and the disingenuous way Democrats approach taxes and spending.

An honest conversation

By Sen. Rob Wonderling

"I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money." — Arthur Godfrey

When a conversation begins "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" you have to brace yourself. So here goes, brace yourself.

The bad news is the White House has revised its budget for the year stating that the deficit will rise by $89 billion to above $1.8 trillion — about four times the record set just last year. The red ink comes from the recession, the economic stimulus bill, and the imbalance between what the government spends and what it takes in.

The bad news is that Pennsylvania has been hit hard too by this national economic crisis. Pennsylvanians have lost jobs, businesses have cut back, and our state revenues have fallen dramatically.

As of May 1st, the actual revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year is $2.6 billion. We expect that shortfall to grow to 2.9 billion by June 30th — a drop of more than 10 percent from the official revenue estimate.

Unlike the federal government, Pennsylvania cannot operate with a deficit. We cannot borrow without limit to balance the budget or to attempt to stimulate the economy. Pennsylvania's constitution requires a balanced budget.

So you are thinking, "Where's the good news Wonderling"?

Recently, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a budget, Senate Bill 850. It is a balanced budget that does not increase taxes.

This budget represents a responsible spending plan that preserves the core governmental functions of public health, public safety, and education.

More bad news.

Budget cuts always come with pain, and I recognize that. Hundreds of difficult choices were made in this budget. Many good and important programs had to be put on hold to bring the budget into balance. I believe this short-term sacrifice is the best long-term approach for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

I have supported these programs in the past and look forward to the day when funding for these programs can be restored, but families and businesses across Pennsylvania are making cuts in their own budgets, and state government needs to do the same. We must live within our means.

I believe taking these difficult steps now will allow our Commonwealth to restore many important programs as soon as possible without a tax increase in the future. Senate Bill 850 is built on a spending level that is in line with our revenues. This budget will position our state to rebound quickly when the national economy begins to improve.

The only honest alternative to cutting spending is increasing taxes, and history shows us that solving a budget crisis with tax increases kills future economic growth.

This budget maintains the $750 million Rainy Day Fund, which we will need for future year budgets when we no longer have an infusion of national stimulus funding.

Unlike many other line items, basic education spending is preserved by using federal stabilization funds. Combined with the additional federal stimulus funds which are being sent directly to school districts under Title 1, Title 2, and I.D.E.A., this budget represents a real net increase in funding for school districts.

For example, in my Senate district, every school district will received more than it did last year. For example, East Penn School District will receive a 10.7 percent increase, Palisades School District will receive an 11.9 percent increase, and North Penn School district will receive a 20.2 percent increase.

The Pennsylvania Senate has taken unprecedented steps to further reduce spending including implementing a hiring freeze, donating the cost of living increase to charity, instituting a co-pay for health care for all state employees, eliminating automobile leases for public officials, and applying any legislative surplus to reducing the deficit.

Since voting in support of Senate Bill 850, I have received numerous e-mails from constituents supporting efforts to control spending and live within our means and then urging me in the next sentence to restore funding for independent colleges and universities, public television and the arts, to name a few programs.

To those citizens, I would ask that you e-mail me to let me know exactly what taxes you would like raised and by how much to fund your program. You may reach me at rwonderling@pasen.gov

If we are going to have true transparency in government then we must have a frank discussion about how we intend to pay for programs we simply cannot afford.

State Sen. Rob Wonderling is a Republican who represents the 24th district in Pennsylvania which includes parts of Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties.

Obama pushes National Energy Tax

Obama, Dems target small business with higher taxes

Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats have targeted America's small business owners with massive new tax hikes.

From Associated Builders and Contractors:

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today voiced its opposition to the proposed tax increases in the fiscal 2010 concurrent budget resolutions under debate in both the U.S. Senate (S. Con. Res.13) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (H. Con. Res. 85).

"The vast majority of ABC's 25,000 members are small businesses — businesses that will take the hardest hits from increases to the top individual tax rates and limits on amounts those small business owners can take in itemized deductions," said 2009 ABC National Chairman Jerry Gorski, president of Gorski Engineering Inc., Collegeville, Pa. "Tough economic times are forcing many of our members to face difficult decisions to cut costs and jobs in order to stay in business. Unquestionably the last thing these small business owners and the workers they employ need is significant tax increases."

According to an analysis by the U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee, "S. Con. Res. 13 raises taxes by $361 billion and allows for $1.3 trillion in additional tax increases." In addition, the analysis found that "the resolution raises taxes on small businesses and others in the top two tax brackets, raises capital gains and dividend taxes, and allows the death tax to return."

"ABC also has serious concerns with the emissions tax, or 'cap-and-trade' proposal, contained within this budget," added Gorski. "This tax increase could have both direct and downstream impacts on ABC member companies by increasing the costs of fuel and building materials. However, it is unclear at this point how such a program would be constructed."

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. Visit us at www.abc.org