Wolf’s Tax Hikes: 3 Strikes and You’re Out!

Time to Abandon Tax-Hike Obsession   

October 7, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—This spring, Governor Wolf swung for the fences with a $1,400-per-family-of-four tax hike; in September he whiffed at a $1,000 increase; today, after choking up for a $750 rise, Governor Wolf has struck out.

Matthew Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, issued the following statement after Governor Wolf’s tax plan failed 127-73 in the House today:

“Governor Wolf seems determined to land highest-in-the-nation tax hikes no matter the cost—even if funding for schools and social services is sacrificed. Repeatedly, Wolf has failed to convince lawmakers—including those of his own party—to impose his massive hikes on Pennsylvania families. For the governor, it’s ‘three strikes and you’re out.’ The message is clear: smarter spending, not more spending, is what Pennsylvanians want.

“The governor recently said if he loses, Pennsylvania loses. But today, Pennsylvania won because lawmakers—Democrat and Republican alike—refused to bow to the governor’s demands.

“Now, the governor can either continue to pursue his tax-hike obsession, like Captain Ahab chasing Moby Dick, or he can finally admit that demanding working families pay for his agenda isn’t the path of leadership.”

Matthew Brouillette and other Commonwealth Foundation experts are available for comment. Please contact Gina Diorio at 862-703-6670 to schedule an interview.

# # #

The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.