HARRISBURG – Republican members of the state House of Representatives are expressing concerns about Governor Tom Wolf’s $33.8-billion state budget proposal. State house member Kurt Masser (R-107th, Elysburg) says the budget gives him cause for concern.
Masser said, “He is projecting historic spending in the state of Pennsylvania and historic tax increases on the backs of all Pennsylvanians. I’m not sure it’s a great way to start. He campaigned on restoring a lot of funding for different programs, but what he didn’t campaign on was a 20 percent increase in the personal income tax and a 10 percent increase on the sales tax, on the backs of working families.”
Masser said the Governor’s plan would increase state spending by $4.7-billion and create a new gas severance tax, which he says would be among the highest in the nation. An average Pennsylvania household with a median income of $52,548 would pay an additional 21% in state taxes under the Governor’s plan. (Ali Stevens)