Patrick M. Gleason of Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, told Capitolwire, “It's a clear tax increase whose burden will be borne by consumers, not companies. Unless offset, it is a blatant violation of the pledge that he made to Pennsylvania taxpayers. “
Since the point of the cap-lifting is to raise more than $1.85 billion – in a couple of stages over a couple of years, while the state gets projects shovel-ready – no offsetting tax cuts are planned to accompany the cap-lifting, state officials confirmed to Capitolwire.
Now the Governor’s spokesman, Kevin Harley, is saying there has been no public statement by any administration official confirming the governor would lift the tax cap. But, according to Capitolwire, there have been private ones.Gleason said raising the cap would be the third time, by their count, Gov. Corbett violated his no tax pledge. The first time was an initiative by the Corbett Administration to ensure residents paid sales tax on items they bought online. The second was imposing the Marcellus Shale drilling fee last year.
The Corbett Administration will likely announce its transportation funding plan on Thursday putting to rest whether or not the governor will raise the wholesale tax.
