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Back to (budget) business

After a short break, I am glad to be back to work commenting on the latest political news of the day. Last week was a busy news week, as our governor and state legislators continued to debate the budget. Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed 16 percent tax increase is a nonstarter and I applaud our Republican leaders in the state Senate and House for rejecting his proposal and standing up for Pennsylvania taxpayers. Watch for the Rendell administration to continue working the newsroom, pushing the Governor’s plan for more taxes and more spending. However, I would argue that Rendell may want to focus all of his efforts towards trying to win over his fellow Democrats serving in Harrisburg, who may be anxious themselves about voting for a tax increase. I don’t know a lot of Democrats who want to be linked to a major tax increase while tough elections loom next year.

The Inquirer has a great article today that examines some of the numbers that Gov. Rendell has been throwing around to support his plans for a major tax increase and finds that they just don’t add up. Perhaps one of the best quotes I have ever read came from Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo, who seems to admit the Governor speaks in half-truths by saying: “The governor uses numbers to make a point. His numbers are not inaccurate, although sometimes they do not tell the whole story.”

While the Governor continues to ramp up the rhetoric, Republicans have been offering a clear and concise message—NO MORE TAXES. Remember, while the Governor is reluctant to cut state government spending, he seems more than willing to force Pennsylvania families to cut their budgets by $500 or more.

Watch these negotiations closely as the proposed tax increase will be a major issue in the gubernatorial and state legislative races next year.

Stay tuned for more on what should be another exciting week in Harrisburg as budget negotiations continue.

July 6, 2009 at 12:33 pm

--Michael Barley

Tags: Budget, Ed Rendell, Republicans

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