Want to pay more taxes?
Rep. Jeff Coleman (60th District) plans to introduce legislation for the creation of a “Voluntary Revenue Enhancement Fund,” to which Pennsylvania citizens can make tax-deductible contributions and avert any need for new tax increases.
“The 'Tax Me More Fund' is a way to prevent tax increases,” says Coleman. “Any new spending from either side of the aisle needs to come with check in hand,” he added. Coleman says even in a dismal budget year, the hints for increased spending are becoming louder than hallway whispers. “While the Governor is calling for fiscal restraint and a lean, conservative budget – we’ve got to swear off new spending programs and initiatives.”
Similar measures have been proposed and adopted in other states, as a means to oppose tax and spending increases. Coleman says he simply wants to give Governor Rendell “some meaningful encouragement” in the days ahead.
Visit www.TaxMeMore.org for more information.
___________
Related News Stories
Rep. Coleman proposes voluntary 'Tax Me More' fund.
Armstrong County Republican says it could help Rendell pay for any new spending plans.
By Michael Race
Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (March 3) -- If Gov. Ed Rendell plans to fund any new state programs in his first budget proposal, he should avoid tax increases by asking Pennsylvanians to voluntarily kick in a few extra bucks, one lawmaker suggests.
To that end, Rep. Jeff Coleman (R-Armstrong) is crafting legislation to set up a “Tax Me More Fund” -- a state coffer into which Pennsylvanians can donate money above and beyond what they already pay in taxes.
Coleman, one of several state lawmakers who has taken a no-tax pledge, suggests the fund could be used as a gauge to judge the popularity of any new spending programs Rendell might unveil in his budget address Tuesday.
"Then the governor can go on his bus tour ... and if he can make his case (to taxpayers), the checks will come," said Coleman.
The idea of voluntary tax contributions isn't new. Perhaps the best-known instance came in 2001, when Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee set up a "Tax Me More Fund" as a sarcastic response to various interest groups who wanted the state to fund their programs during a tight fiscal year. Huckabee described it as a "put-up-or-shut-up" initiative.
Coleman's effort has a similar tongue-in-cheek tone. A co-sponsorship memo he circulated to House members last month included a small cartoon depicting a suit-and-tied man carrying two bags with dollar signs on them.
He also has set up a Web site -- www.TaxMeMore.org -- to promote the proposal. The site bills itself as "the official website of undertaxed Pennsylvanians."
His bill would set up a "Voluntary Revenue Enhancement Fund," allowing taxpayers to donate any portion of their annual state tax refund. Taxpayers also could send money directly to the state Treasury.
"The proceeds generated would specifically be used to fund new gubernatorial spending initiatives. Taxpayers could earmark their contribution for a proposed publicly funded program, thus averting the need for future tax increases," Coleman's co-sponsorship memo states.
As an added incentive, the contributions would be tax deductible, he notes.
If Coleman was trying to prod Rendell with his unorthodox no-new-taxes strategy, the governor's staff was trying just as hard not to be provoked.
"We applaud Representative Coleman's creativity and understanding that if we're going to fulfill our moral obligation to invest in children and seniors, it will require funding," Rendell spokesman Ken Snyder said. "We're looking with some interest (at Coleman's idea) and hope that he'll be successful."
Others weren't as diplomatic.
"It would be nice if some people took a $2.5 billion budget deficit more seriously," said Mike Manzo, chief of staff to House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-Greene). "We're at the table trying to make some very painful cuts, and now's not the time to be making jokes."
Coleman said his bill, which he plans to introduce Tuesday, has at least 25 co-sponsors, including Democrats and Republicans.
-30-
Gov. Rendell pitches budget to Pennsylvanians.
By MARTHA RAFFAELE
Associated Press Writer
HARRISBURG (AP, March 5) - Gov. Ed Rendell hit the road Wednesday to rally popular support for his budget-in-progress, while Republicans who control the House of Representatives prepared to put the $21 billion first part of his package to a swift vote against his wishes.
The House scheduled a vote Thursday on part one of the budget, which would maintain services for the fiscal year that starts July 1 by slashing spending by $1.6 billion and tapping one-time revenues.
"This budget keeps the core functions of government running. He's given us the meat and potatoes," said Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader John M. Perzel. "We can come back after he presents us the gravy, but that gravy will stand on its own."
If the first part of the budget passes the House, the Senate expects to put it to a final vote on March 12, said Erik Arneson, an aide to Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill of Lebanon County.
In his budget speech Tuesday, Rendell stressed that he would unveil the rest of his proposals on March 25 and urged lawmakers to defer action on the budget until they had both halves.
Rendell has said the second part of his budget would boost state spending for public schools, reduce local property taxes and make billions of dollars available for economic development. To finance it, Rendell advocates legalizing slot machines at racetracks and has said he will likely propose a major tax increase.
Republican leaders have said they want to pass the initial spending plan before special interest groups could lobby individual legislators to vote for their programs. But Rendell dismissed their claims, saying hearings should be held so such groups can be heard before any final vote is taken.
"If I were the people I'd say it's the same old gamesmanship, It's the same old partisanship. Why don't they at least debate the governor's overall proposal? What was the harm in waiting three weeks?" Rendell said.
Lawmakers have until June 30 to pass a budget in time for the new fiscal year.
House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese said he was lobbying members of his caucus heavily to vote against the legislation because it only constitutes half of Rendell's plan.
"The governor would obviously prefer a 'no' vote, and I would hope that our recalcitrance could be numbered in single digits. I have not yet given up the hope that we could get close to 100 percent" Democratic opposition, DeWeese said.
Rendell said he might sign the budget if the GOP is unwilling to support his other proposals, but he also did not rule out the possibility of a veto.
"If down the line, this is all there is, I will sign this budget," he said.
Rendell met with reporters before the state plane whisked him to Greensburg, his first stop on what Rendell described the trip as the first leg of "probably a four-month-long" campaign - through the end of the fiscal year in June - to rally support across the state for his overall budget.
At a firehouse in Greensburg, Rendell announced a $25 million grant program to help volunteer fire companies buy equipment - one of the few increases contained in the first part of his budget.
A group of rank-and-file House members suggested that if taxpayers agree with Rendell's argument for spending that exceeds the basic budget, the state should ask them for voluntary contributions earmarked for specific programs.
Rep. Jeff Coleman, R-Armstrong, has proposed legislation that would establish the Pennsylvania Voluntary Revenue Enhancement Fund, or "Tax Me More Fund," along with 27 other Democratic and Republican co-sponsors.
"I think it is an accurate way to gauge the popularity of new government spending. This is a way that taxpayers can be able to voluntarily spend a check to support one of the programs that I think will be very articulately argued (about) in cafes, diners, and pool hall in every corner of Pennsylvania," he said.
-30-