Rally in Harrisburg: Enough with the taxes

Turnout was relatively sparse at an anti-tax rally in Harrisburg yesterday but the attendees had a clear message: Lawmakers need to cut spending instead of raising revenue in next year’s budget.

Turnout was relatively sparse at an anti-tax rally in Harrisburg, PA yesterday but the attendees had a clear message: Lawmakers need to cut spending instead of raising revenue in next year’s budget.

Listen:
[audio: 090609sdtaxprotest.mp3]

About 80 people showed up for the rally organized by Butler County Republican Daryl Metcalfe. While an afternoon crowd for free ice cream sundaes on the Capitol steps was much larger.

Cumberland County resident Thelma Spurner was there.

She says her family trimmed spending after losing money in the markets, and she doesn’t understand why the commonwealth can’t do the same.

Spurner: For the governor to threaten us every year by saying we’re going to close the libraries,  we’re going to close the parks now. We’re going to take money away from the schools-that’s not mature thinking or talking.

Pennsylvania is facing a likely 3.2 billion dollar deficit this year, and some Democrats are considering raising the personal income tax from its current 3.07 percent level to help fill that gap.

Governor Rendell says that’s a last resort, but House Appropriations Committee Chair Dwight Evans, a Philadelphia Democrat, says some sort of a tax increase has to be part of the final budget.