Tax cut for Philadelphia’s poor repealed

A tax cut for low-income Philadelphians scheduled to go into effect in 2016 has been repealed.

The tax credit was championed by late Councilman David Cohen. It would have given about $300 to the average low-income Philadelphia taxpayer.

Sherry Cohen, the councilman’s daughter, says it was wrong to repeal the tax break.

“They are increasing the misery and hardship or working low-income Philadelphians,” she said.

Councilman Bill Greenlee, who worked with David Cohen, voted to repeal the law.

“I understand the other argument. This is one of those issues where there are arguments on both sides. I get it,” Greenlee said. “I just think the better approach when you are talking about wage taxes that are a burden to many people around the city is that we send the message that we need an across-the-board wage tax cut.”

The Nutter administration is trying to reinstitute across-the-board wage tax cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July of 2013