Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform

Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania.

Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on hardworking taxpayers.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is on a collision course with higher taxes. Due to years of spending growth, Pennsylvania faces a $4.8 billion structural deficit. Lawmakers’ options for addressing this deficit are limited: They can either cut spending or increase taxes.

Yet, Gov. Josh Shapiro seems to be embracing a riskier third option: ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Instead of reining in spending, Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget proposal demands $51.5 billion – a 9% increase from the current fiscal year. The governor also wants to illegally transfer $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, the state’s savings fund reserved for economic emergencies only.

Read more at RealClearPennsylvania.