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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2009
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Orie Calls Governor's Plan to Hike Personal Income Tax Fiscally Irresponsible

Senate Majority Whip Jane C. Orie (R-40) strongly criticized Governor Ed Rendell's plan to raise the personal income tax on working Pennsylvanians by 16 percent, calling the move unnecessary, fiscally irresponsible and a threat to Pennsylvania's future.

Orie said that raising taxes during the worst recession since the Great Depression would only hurt the economy and lead to more job losses at a time when the Commonwealth can least afford it.  She also took issue with the Governor's "budget scare tactics," calling them unnecessary and not productive to negotiations.

"With two weeks until the budget deadline, the Governor is threatening to close parks and using tax dollars to fund PR efforts to gain support for this ill-conceived tax increase," said Orie.  "Now he wants a massive tax increase and more spending at a time when most families are struggling to make ends meet.  We cannot and should not mortgage the future of this state through higher taxes and bloated government spending."

Orie urged passage of a Senate budget that is currently awaiting action in the House.  The measure, Senate Bill 850, includes no new taxes and cuts in spending to balance a $3 billion revenue shortfall.  She said the bill was passed in early May, and since then neither the House nor the Administration has offered an alternative.

"Our budget makes some difficult decisions, but it is based on the revenues we have available and will control spending until our economy recovers," Orie said.  "I've heard from hundreds of folks in my district and there is no support for a tax increase."

"This Governor is one step away from being a lame duck," Orie said.  "And he's going out the same way he came into office, calling for higher taxes and more spending."

Contact: 
Nate Silcox
(717-787-6538)