As Democrats get ready to force through Biden’s coronavirus relief bill containing billions in aid to states, one Democrat governor isn’t waiting around to see if that happens.
Pennsylania Governor Tom Wolf has become the first Democrat governor to propose an increase in state income taxes, and wants to funnel almost half of the gains to schools, many of which have been partially or fully shut down for the last 11 months. The rest of the increase would fill a budget shortfall caused by the coronavirus–and Wolf’s response to it, which caused many businesses to shut down for significant periods of time, costing the state tax revenue.
Wolf’s initial budget proposal for the next fiscal year beginning July 2021 calls for a massive jump from 3.07% to 4.49%, which Wolf expects to bring in almost $3 billion more per year. PennLive.com reported that it could be the largest tax increase in the state’s history, with some taxpayers seeing a 46% increase in their state taxes.
But Wolf was quick to point out that the majority of taxpayers will actually see a cut because of a tiered system where lower income earners will get tax forgiveness. A family of four making less than $85,000 will get a tax cut, and those with $50,000 or less in earnings will not pay any state income taxes.
Most taxpayers would benefit
According to Wolf’s calculations, 67% of taxpayers would see their taxes stay the same or be reduced, while the top third would pay thousands more each year. With the change, Pennsylvania would join 32 other states that have graduated income taxes where those with higher incomes pay more.
Of the nine states with a flat income tax, Pennsylvania was the lowest, but seven states have no state income tax at all.
Wolf’s budget also calls for a severance tax on shale oil production in the state and an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour, with 50-cent yearly increases until it hits $15 per hour.
Critics say such a drastic increase in the minimum wage would hurt small businesses and may end up with a net job loss if employers are forced to cut jobs to make their ends meet.
What Wolf doesn’t realize
Wolf’s calculations for how much income the tax increases will gain the state could be flawed because of a factor Wolf doesn’t seem to have realized.
When states raise taxes on upper income earners, particularly in a drastic way, the risk is that a significant number of those earners will move out of the state, taking their businesses and high earnings with them.
The coronavirus has already made people far more mobile than they ever used to be, and people are fleeing from places with high taxation and restrictive environments, like Pennsylvania has had during the coronavirus.
Wolf may end up costing Pennsylvania more revenue than he thinks with his plans, if the Republican-dominated legislature in the state doesn’t put the kibosh on his lofty increases.
14 Responses
This guy thinks he’s the king.
One who has a low IQ and thinks he’s a King can always tumble….wait n watch he is not a strong man let alone a King…he’s a weakling want to be….not going to happen…he does not have what it takes to be successful…he is already a failure…when you remove 11,000 jobs on the second day that either means you r an idiot…or you simply do not have a thought process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t spend money you don’t have…..sound familiar?? Why do we have to bail out Calif. Illinois, New York because their governors foolishly overspent their budgets. Why don’t they learn to live within their means, like the rest of the country has to. Why don’t governor’s cut their own budgets or live within them; or at least try to cut corners within their budget? You think it is bad now, just wait until the Democrats in power get done with us. Venezuela here we come!!!!
Well, families will just have to manage their budgets better, you know a few cutbacks here and there, so tom can keep mismanaging his.
Tom Wolfe is a prime example of the necessity for a state constitutional amendment to impeach or recall a governor. Currently there is no legal way to get rid of a sitting governor in Pennsylvania.
WOW!! Leave it to a DEMONAZI to raise taxes…not cut spending in other areas, and especially now, when the folks are hurting from this Wuhan virus putting many out of work. Any DEMONAZI just loves taxing the little people. Hope PA is happy they went blue for Resident Bribem – more to come.
DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED FOR TRUMP
F–k biden family
Democrats have always used tax and spend, that is why I did not want a democrat in office.
Democrats are nothing but Chinese commies
Not good biden family is stealing tax payers money
Brain dead Biden cant write his name anymore his wife is forging his name
I hope all the democrat commies go to hell
My suggestion to Wolfe, confiscate all savings, all pensions , all stocks, bonds, land , and anything worth money of Congresspeople who are DEMOCRAT/Left Wing and USE THEIR net worth to fund the schools. Let us see how they will then manage their income. Let’s say the Clintons and Obamas got $500,000 per speech, a TAX on THAT would be 90% . Then there is Pelosi with THREE mansions and other properties, and SELL ALL of those and put it back into Social Security. Let us see how the left lives now. AOC would really flip her {?} toupee and just watch how really bug-eyed you would get.
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