HARRISBURG – Tri-County state House delegation members Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) and Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) have joined their colleagues in unanimously defeating the tax increase legislation proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in his March 3 budget proposal by a vote of 193-0.
The vote was taken on an amendment to House Bill 283 that would have raised taxes by nearly $5 billion. The amendment proposed to increase the state’s Personal Income Tax by 21 percent, the Sales and Use Tax rate by 10 percent and would have subjected items such as diapers, day care expenses, textbooks, professional services and nursing home care to sales tax for the first time in Pennsylvania history.
The three members issued the following statement after the vote:
“The vote we cast is a direct response to the overwhelming opposition to the Wolf tax increases that has been voiced by our constituents. Many of the hard-working people who live in our districts have spoken out loud and clear against what would be the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania history – and a huge tax increase on the middle class – since the day it was proposed.
“The vote was a referendum in favor of fiscal responsibility. Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars means spending what you have and not what is on your wish list. For the last four years, we have moved Pennsylvania in the right direction, paring down a huge deficit without relying on the Pennsylvania taxpayer to foot the bill.
“Governor Wolf’s tax plan, which we defeated today, is irresponsible and reckless. The people of the 66th, 73rd and 75th districts who have approached us about it know it. The proposal would hit their wallets from ‘cradle to grave’ and have a negative effect on our economy. In the end, it sends money to Harrisburg – a place where tax dollars too often go to die.
“This vote allows us to move the budget process forward in a manner that spends wisely and responsibly. We look forward to supporting proposals that continue us down a responsible path to prosperity.”