GOP in PA propose cuts to economic development agency and income taxes

By: Scott Detrow

A group of fiscally conservative Republicans is making another case for reduced state spending in Pennsylvania. This time, they’re focusing on a department that already took a major hit in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget.

By: Scott Detrow

A group of fiscally conservative Republicans is making another case for reduced state spending in Pennsylvania. This time, they’re focusing on a department that already took a major hit in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget.
Caption: Republican House Whip Mike Turzai

Transcript:
Rendell’s spending plan would trim $291 million from the Department of Community and Economic Development’s budget. Republican House Whip Mike Turzai, who represents parts of Allegheny County, wants to go further. He is proposing an additional $170 million in DCED cuts. Turzai wants to use the savings to trim the state’s personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 2.99 percent.

Turzai: “The goal here is that we want to show that state government is willing to tighten its belts just like families and small businesses are. And that we’re willing to help stimulate the economy by returning some of the dollars to them.”

Cuts proposed by Turzai and other House Republicans include the elimination of the $28 million opportunity grant program, and $16 million allotted for community and regional development. Turzai says DCED cuts are an area Rendell and Republicans can reach common ground on, though he says he’ll outline proposed spending reductions in other departments, as well, over the next few weeks.

Listen:
Click on the play button below or right click on this link and choose “Save Link As” to download. [audio: reports20090318gopcuts.mp3]