Pennsylvania state capitol sees rare "raise my taxes" rally

Last week, Pennsylvanians filled the Capitol rotunda to rally against tax hikes. But on Monday the other side got its turn.

A pro-tax rally isn’t something you see every day, but that’s what happened at the state Capitol.

Last week, Pennsylvanians filled the Capitol rotunda to rally against tax hikes. But on Monday the other side got its turn.

Listen:
[audio: 090615sdprotax.mp3]

A pro-tax rally isn’t something you see every day, but that’s what happened at the state Capitol.

A coalition led by the left-leaning Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center made the case for a personal income tax increase.

Director Sharon Ward says a budget balanced solely by cuts would eliminate too many valuable services.

Ward: To keep your libraries open, to make sure you’re not paying more for your grandmother who’s in a nursing home, or to keep local property taxes down-it’s probably a worthwhile investment.

Matt Brouillette, the president of the conservative Commonwealth Foundation, disagrees with that premise.

Brouillette: The problem that we have in Harrisburg is not a lack of revenue, it’s a lack of priorities and how we spend that.

Brouillette points to a tax credit for the film industry as one example of misplaced government priorities.

Upping the income tax by one percentage point would mean a $500 tax increase for a Pennsylvania resident making $50,000 a year.