Mayor Nutter scores victory with sales tax
Friday, August 7th, 2009
By: Susan Phillips
sphillips@whyy.org
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter scored a victory in Harrisburg on Wednesday, gaining support from the House to raise the city's sales tax. But Nutter could have a tougher time in the Republican controlled Senate where the leadership says the issue has to wait until the state budget is resolved. But it's not clear when lawmakers will resume budget talks.
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Nutter spent three days in Harrisburg this week, and says the Senate should take up the issue independent of the state budget.
Joe McGloughlin is a political science professor at Temple University and spent 20 years lobbying Harrisburg for the city.
McGloughlin: I've never seen a Mayor in my time spend as much time in Harrisburg and from what I hear anecdotally, he's been well recieved and is making an effective case. But there are larger issues that are not resolved this year and that makes it more difficult.
McGloughlin says Nutter will likely get what he wants from Harrisburg.
But if the Senate rejects Philadelphia's request, it could mean thousands of layoffs and library and recreation center closures.