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Nine Democrats joined all House Republicans Wednesday to vote down Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget.
With no end in sight of the 99-day old impasse, the House members voted 127-73 against Wolf’s plan to increase the state’s personal income tax rate by a half percentage point and create a new extraction tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas production.
While it was a sound defeat, Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan said the governor was pleased with the marked increase in support from House Democrats, many of which had been opposed to his plan.
State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, said, “Winning an election does not grant you a mandate to get whatever you want; it simply empowers you with the responsibility to govern and governing means building the necessary consensus to overcome conflicting viewpoints for the greater good.”
Yudichak, who sits in the senate, didn’t get to vote on the budget.
“Republicans and Democrats must get beyond narrow partisan interests and pass a state budget that improves fiscal stability and prevents further devastating cuts to education, job growth and human service programs,” he said.
State Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre; Mike Carroll. D-Avoca; and Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, all voted for the budget. State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, voted against it.
Pashinski said he supported the “modest tax increases” in order to restore education funding and provide additional property tax relief.
“I did not come to Harrisburg for a job; I came to the Capitol to try to improve the lives of our Pennsylvania citizens,” Pashinski said. “I know tax votes are tough; no one wants to raise taxes, but Gov. Wolf did his homework. He heard the people say they expect the gas industry to pay their fair share and the people want their schools funded appropriately to reduce or eliminate their property taxes.”
Pashinski said the governor is trying to put Pennsylvania on sound, stable and predictable financial footing. He said without this additional funding, another $1 billion would be cut in education, resulting in increased property taxes, and more cuts to programs and staff, and human services will continue to be underfunded.
“It is my hope that this vote will force all parties back to the table to negotiate a final agreement,” he said.
According to an Associated Press story, Wolf had proposed the tax package on Tuesday after Republican leaders who currently control both chambers of the Legislature offered him a floor vote to demonstrate whether there was support for his approach.
The AP story said Wolf and his Democratic allies want new revenues to plug a billion-dollar-plus structural deficit and to send more money to schools and for human services. But Republicans argued the income tax increase would be borne mostly by working families and warned the gas tax, on top of an existing impact fee, could damage the industry.
Mullery said he voted for an amendment that would bring Pennsylvania closer to property tax elimination.
“I am proud to say that the amendment I supported would eliminate school property taxes for more than 330,000 Pennsylvanians and significantly reduce school property taxes for an additional 240,000,” he said. “This legislation offered a victory for Pennsylvania’s senior citizens, disabled and veterans. We no longer would have to worry about a World War II veteran losing his home due to his inability to pay property taxes.”
Mullery said, although the legislation was defeated, he remains committed to working with Wolf and leaders of both parties on a more comprehensive plan for property tax relief for all.
“Harrisburg has begun to realize that Pennsylvania homeowners need meaningful property tax relief,” he said.
Carroll said he supported the effort advanced by House Democrats to reach a budget agreement.
“It is indisputable additional state funding is necessary to resolve our state’s structural deficit, including funding for our schools and human service agencies,” Carroll said. “Predictable revenue that allows all levels of government to serve our citizens must be a priority. Today’s legislation was a reasonable compromise that deserved bipartisan support. I’m disappointed that did not occur.”
Megan Sweeney, state GOP communications director, offered a news release from Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason.
“Once again, the State House has rejected a series of tax hikes from Tom Wolf,” Gleason said. “For months, Gov. Tom Wolf has supported the largest tax hike in the nation. For months, Republican leaders told Tom Wolf that his tax hikes didn’t have the support of majorities in the State Senate and State House. Now, Tom Wolf’s refusal to recognize the reality of our budget situation has cost our schools and social services millions of dollars. It is time for Governor Wolf to start holding meaningful negotiations about the budget with the State Senate and State House.”
Kaufer said the proposed 16 percent increase in state income tax is too much to ask Pennsylvanians to pay.
“People are struggling to get by and they can’t afford another 16 percent for state taxes,” he said.
Kaufer said there needs to be a broader compromise that will address property tax relief and hopes to see progress soon.
Kaufer said he met with Wolf Tuesday and encouraged the governor to use the stop-gap funding in areas where there is agreement.
“We need to get needed relief out to agencies that are struggling,” he said. “We are hurting the most vulnerable people in our society.”
