HARRISBURG — In anticipation of Tom Wolf’s anniversary as Governor, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania is taking a look back on some of the major issues that occurred during his first year in office.
Today, we highlight Governor Tom Wolf’s giddiness about Pennsylvania’s $2 billion deficit while speaking to the New York Times.
“It’s not often that Democrats admit their excitement about raising taxes, but that’s exactly what Tom Wolf did nearly a year ago. Just hours after being sworn into office, Tom Wolf admitted about Pennsylvania’s budget deficit excited him. Just a few weeks later, Tom Wolf introduced a budget with more tax hikes than all of the other budgets in the country combined. Tom Wolf viewed Pennsylvania’s deficit as an excuse to raise taxes on Pennsylvania’s families to historic levels and further the agenda that earned him the title of the ‘Most Liberal Governor in America.’” — PA GOP Communications Director Megan Sweeney
Tom Wolf: “A $2 Billion Budget Deficit in a Preverse Way Excites Me”
Governor Wolf told the New York Times that “a $2 billion budget deficit in a perverse way excites me.” (Jennifer Steinhauer, “Pennsylvania’s Governor Breaks Through a G.O.P. Tide,” New York Times, 1/23/2015)
The Independent Fiscal Office found that Governor Wolf’s budget would increase taxes across all income brackets. Despite his claim that increasing the income tax would give more money to middle class families, the IFO found that every Pennsylvanian can expect to pay more under Governor Wolf’s Plan. (Steve Esack, “Taxes would rise across all income levels under Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget, report says,” Allentown Morning Call, 4/25/2015), (“Analysis of Revenue Proposal: FY 2015-16 Executive Budget,” Independent Fiscal Office, 4/23/2015)
- “…high-minded rhetoric might work on the campaign trail with voters, but economists with calculators are not as easily swayed.” “We must change if we’re going to give to our children and our grandchildren — and to ourselves — the state that we all want and need,” [Policy Secretary John] Hanger said Friday. That kind of high-minded rhetoric might work on the campaign trail with voters, but economists with calculators are not as easily swayed. (Eric Boehm, “Higher taxes all ’round: 3 things to know about IFO report on Wolf’s tax plan,” org, 4/27/2016)
Governor Tom Wolf’s proposal increases taxes on Pennsylvanians more than the other 49 states…combined. “Not only was Pennsylvania a ‘driver’ of state tax increases, Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax increase is greater than the total for the rest of the country—which is a net tax decrease.” (“Fiscal Survey of States: Spring 2015,” National Association of State Budget Officers, 8/14/2015), (Nathan Benefield, “How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?,” Commonwealth Foundation, 6/18/2015)
- Wolf tax hikes are EIGHT times greater than next closest state.“In fact, Gov. Wolf’s proposed increase of $4.6 billion is 8 times the next highest (Connecticut).” (“Fiscal Survey of States: Spring 2015,” National Association of State Budget Officers, 8/14/2015), (Nathan Benefield, “How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?,” Commonwealth Foundation, 6/18/2015)
Governor Tom Wolf has been named the most liberal governor in America by research website FindTheBest with research from OnTheIssues. (FindtheBest, OnTheIssues, “Every U.S. Governor From Most Liberal to Most Conservative,” The Huffington Post, 7/31/2015)
- On a scale from 0 to -10, with -10 being the most liberal stance possible, Governor Tom Wolf’s economic stances scored a -9. (“Tom Wolf, Current Governor of Pennsylvania,” InsideGov, Accessed 8/14/2015)
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