Gov. Rendell's proposal to raise income taxes

Gov. Ed Rendell today proposed an increase in the state personal income tax of one-half percent for the next three years [ read PG story ]. What's your reaction?

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 Waste is the biggest cost to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.   The first place to save money should be reduction in the size of the legislature.   There is no reason to have the large number of representatives and senators roaming the halls of the state capitol.

Dont put more of a burden on the taxpayers with another half-percent increase.  Pennsylvanians are already burdened with the one of the heaviest tax loads in the USA.  

Don't do it Uncle Eddie.....let me keep part of my allowance.....

 Ed,

Thanks for the $300 pay cut. 

 Your $300 pay cut is going to a good cause....the pay raises for the bureaucrats.....come on now be a good Quaker State resident and support your local representatives way of life.....

 Anyone gullable enough to believe that Fat Ed and the Harrisburg gang will only tax for three years should read about the Johnstown Flood Tax of 1936. This was to have been repealed in 1942 when the tax had generated the required income. It is STILL in place today and generates PA $200 million annually! If you are still believe them, please send your personal information--I'd like to discuss a swamp land purchase with you!

Actually Mr. Rendell I think that you need to tighten your belt just like I would have to if I had a budget defecit at home.  I am unable to raise additional money to pay my bills - the Pennsylvania Legislature needs to learn to live within their means and stop spending money they don't have.  I am tired of being taxed out of this world!

Yeah you will take back the .05% increase just like the Federal Income Tax was only suppose to be temporary - here we are how many years later still paying that. 

Ed Rendell is a professional sleezebag politician from Philadelphia. Anyone with any common sense would have recognized that when he ran for Governor. He spent and spent and spent when revenues were good, and now that they are not, his only answer is to tax. He claims there is nothing left to cut, and my response to that is he should look at the state Capitol and the legislature and all of their perks, plus his own perks. Until they are willing to sacrifice, why should we?? Cut the legislature first, then we can talk.

And what Obama gave us in tax relief with the reduction in payroll withholdings, Rendell taketh away.

 Big Ed should try missing a mortgage payment, or having his utilities cut off.  It's hard enough to buy gas to get to work to pay the mortgage, utilities, health care, insurance, food, Rxs and all the other taxes, and now he wants more taxes so he has fuller pockets?  This guy's gotta get a grip.  Come on down to our level, and make ends meet and raise a family while you're making minimum wage.  How can anyone keep it "family-friendly", while using the words "Ed Rendell" ?

 Who is surprised by this? Raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Seriously, why can't we just reduce the legislature? What would it take to do that? I will start emailing and calling my reps, but I doubt it will make a difference.

Well, at least I am unemployed right now, so I won't have to pay that tax. But most likely this will just make it harder to get a job.

WELL, THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE THREE GREATEST LIES, AND NO I WILL NOT REPEAT THEM.

Everyone knows that Rendell is a tax and spend addict. Look at the income tax he left behind in Philadelphia. I think its high time to cut spending and not raise taxes. A real hereo would find a way to eliminate waste, pork and unnecessary spending to close the fiscal gap in these hard economic times. It takes a tough decision maker like former Gov Ridge to make such a call. We all know that Rendell is a tax and spend liberal and the more he takes out of your paycheck, the better he feels about it.

 When are Americans going to wake up they destroy the value of our currency causing inflation,then they destroy our manufacturing jobs and unions,they over tax us yet they pay no taxes check this over 70% of the government doesn't pay taxes!The income tax is illegal because you are only supposed to pay taxes on profit and an hourly wage is not profit it is equal trade for an hour of your labor!Tell them to take down some of the millions of cameras that are everywhere violating our 4th amendment watching us at every corner and every light!I believe we should audit our government and see where they spend all that gas tax money and cigarette tax money and toll money and sales tax money and property tax money,but UPMC doesn't pay taxes and they own everything!

 I fully understand the fact that the State has a financial crisis and that we must do all we can to help during these troubling times. Instead of taking the easy way out and raising taxes, why don't we look into cutting the Legislature in half and see how much this will save. At the very least we should save a lot in legal fees since we will only have half as many to prosecute for robbing us blind, as many have done all these years. Of course we know as long as the fox is watching the hen house we will continue to be at their mercy and suffer under the largest Legislature in the Country.

How in the world did we ever vote this guy back in...???  We must wise up next time.

Ed, in my household when we can't afford something we don't buy it.  I DO NOT WANT TO PAY MORE, I would like for you to SPEND LESS.  Also, please do not insult us by saying PA has the third lowest PIT...  Take a look at our realestate taxes, they are out of control.  Add them together and I'll bet we are much higher than 48...  Oh, and how about the sales tax....  Wait, when is the extra precent in Allegheny county going away....ahhh  NEVER.

Fast Eddie is just another typical criminal politician with an insatiable lust for spending other peoples money. No matter how much they take, it will never be enough because they will always find a way to spend more than they take in. After all, this is how these criminals get re-elected, by bribing us with our own  money and then telling us how much good they are doing for us. Is there anybody left out there who still falls for this shell game? The simple truth is that the budgets at the federal, state, and local levels could be cut at least in half, probably even more, if the criminal politicians would simply stick to providing those services which are in the proper sphere of government, and not trying to have government's hands in everything, when there is no sustainable to pay for it. And those members of the public who think massive, all encompassing government is a good idea should be prepared to explain how it is going to be funded in a way that is sustainable. Or we can just march off a financial cliff like in California or D.C.

Senator Logan and Representative Dermody,

As one of your constituents and a fellow Democrat, I am requesting that you oppose the proposed income tax increase Governor Rendell is advocating.  Now is not the time to increase the burden on the taxpayers. 

Everyone is fighting the increased costs of everything.   People are losing their jobs, losing the limited benefits they may have, if any, and in some cases losing their homes.  The increase, while across the board, hurts those in the lower income brackets.  

The person with a family making $50,000 will pay an additional $250 per year.   Does not sound like much, but that $5 per week can mean someone not being able to make it to work on public transportation for a day.  What a way to lose a job!!!!   That $250 could be used to help toward a medical plan deductible that is very common these days.  What a way to avoid medical help…..

It is not right to ask for the already burdened taxpayers to shoulder more of the commonwealth’s sloppy spending habits.   There is too much waste as it is today.   Look for savings by streamlining some government programs.   Agencies are overloaded with overpaid, under-utilized staff.   Let’s face it why do we need a legislature that is comparable in size to the California legislature.  

I do not want to hear that reducing the legislature will reduce the people’s opportunity to work with their legislator.  Let’s face it the vast majority of the population never, I repeat never, interact with your office or any other legislator’s office.  Look at the voting records compared to the actual population.   I see much apathy by the public because of the perception of the political machinery in Harrisburg.

And by the way, I believe we have paid off the Johnstown Flood many times over.   Why don’t you move to have that tax abolished.

Do the Right Thing!!!!