Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes

Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com

Wolf Tax 3.0: No Relief, No ‘Fair Share,’ Just Higher Taxes

Latest Plan Raids $750 from Paychecks of Pennsylvania Families  

October 6, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Refusing to waver from his obsession with higher taxes for Pennsylvania families, Gov. Tom Wolf today released key details of his latest tax-increase plan, tentatively scheduled for a vote tomorrow in the state House.

“The fact is, Pennsylvanians would pay a whopping 16 percent more in state income taxes under Wolf’s latest tax scheme,” stated Matthew Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation. “What Pennsylvania family wants to see their taxes rise by one dollar, let alone by $750? It’s incredible that as governor of the state with the 10th-highest state and local tax burden in the nation, Wolf is intent on telling Pennsylvanians to pay even more to fund his agenda.” 

Wolf’s newest tax plan—calling for the highest-in-the-nation tax hike—demands a $2.4 billion tax increase when fully implemented, costing taxpayers nearly $750 per family of four. The vast majority of this money comes from personal income taxes on Pennsylvanians of all income levels—including low- and middle-income earners.

“For more than three months, Governor Wolf has kept Pennsylvania stuck in a budget stalemate and is holding hostage funding for students and the poor to satisfy his fixation on higher taxes,” Brouillette continued. “If the governor truly wants to expand economic opportunity, stabilize Pennsylvania’s fiscal future, and give hardworking families real relief, he’ll end his infatuation with tax hikes.”

“It’s also disappointing to see the governor offer special funding favors to legislators to persuade them to support his tax plan,” commented Brouillette, “That’s not the ‘different kind of governor’ Pennsylvanians thought they were electing.”

Matthew Brouillette and other Commonwealth Foundation experts are available for comment. Please contact Gina Diorio at 862-703-6670 to schedule an interview.

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The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.