Irvin Issues Statement on Governor’s Budget Plan to Increase Taxes on Working Pennsylvanians

February 3, 2021

Governor’s budget plan does nothing to prioritize vaccine distribution in the state
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) issued the following statement on the governor’s budget proposal to increase the Personal Income Tax, the minimum wage and the tax burden on the natural gas industry during a global pandemic, while Pennsylvania remains in the bottom fifth of states when it comes to vaccine deployment:

“The governor’s budget priorities are simply wrong. Right now, we need to focus on efficient and effective vaccine distribution to everyone who wants and needs it.

“Instead, the governor is focusing on raising the Personal Income Tax on working Pennsylvanians; crushing businesses that are already on the brink following his drastic pandemic shutdown orders by forcing a minimum wage increase; and raising energy bills and hurting job-producing businesses with additional tax burdens on the natural gas industry.

“This is absurd. We need to stick to a financially sound budget that funds our priorities while NOT raising taxes. His proposed Personal Income Tax increase alone is not even for the purpose of fulfilling a specific need, but rather to generate money for an even larger state budget.

“While the governor seeks to continue to erode the financial health of every man, woman and business in the state, House Republicans are working to redesign the governor’s failed vaccine distribution plan with legislation to use the National Guard to set up county vaccination sites and handle logistics, as they have been doing in more than 20 other states with great success. Once people are vaccinated and we can get them back to work, back to school and back to business as usual, our economic revitalization will follow.”

Representative Rich Irvin
81st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepIrvin.com / Facebook.com/RepIrvin