Would be-Pa. Gov: Cut wages, pensions, taxes to boost prosperity
Says Bruce Castor
Would be-Pa. Gov: Cut wages, pensions, taxes to boost prosperity
Joseph N. DiStefano
Montgomery County commissioner Bruce Castor, who hopes to unseat fellow Republican Tom Corbett as Pennsylvania's Governor in the next primary election, has put out a program he says will make Pennsylvania "the most prosperous state in America" by ending property taxes, cutting income taxes, trimming state and teacher pensions, and cutting construction workers' wages.
We're not sure how the math is supposed to add up -- how do lower wages and benefits mean more prosperity? and how will you pay for public schools without the property tax? Here's a point-by-point summary:
- "Cap spending by all levels of government" including state, local and school agencies to "the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth" as a way of forcing more government spending cuts...
- "Reduce the Personal Income Tax from 3.07% to 2.80%."
- Reduce "the Corporate Net Income Tax from 9.99 to 7.99."
- Reduce "Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Compensation programs, which are among the most expensive, liberally allocated, and defrauded in the nation," by $1.5 billion a year. Castor estimates Pa. benefit fraud at $700 million a year, though he doesn't cite a source.
- Stop unions from charging "forced" dues at workplaces where they have contracts to represent employees
- End "prevailing wage" contracting rules; let hourly rates on state jobs fall to the "market wage." Corbett estimates savings at $2 billion.
- Refuse federal funds for "Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion" and offer Florida-style "meaningful choices of customized managed care plans." Castor says this would save taxpayers "$3 billion annually."
- End "corporate welfare," though Castor isn't specific as to whether this refers to business grant programs or business tax breaks, or both. "Estimated savings to the taxpayer would be $380 million annually."
- Freeze the current state pension plans and replace them with a "unified defined-contribution pension plan."
- End the public school property tax, which "is un-American" and unfair.
- Promote tax-free savings for private education; pay favored public school teachers extra; end the public school teacher right to strike.
- Sell the state liquor stores and use the proceeds to pay off some of the state's bonds.
Typical republican. Fantasy land plan to prosperity, on the backs of the working class. Castor is a powderpuff politician. Dimmest bulb on the chandelier.— Herbert2- This nitwit isn't living in reality. Maybe the Tea Baggers believe this fantasy, but not anyone with a clue.— The Fundamentals of the Economy are Fine
- all he's doing is professing the basic tenets of the republican platform. he's just doing it in a blunt straightforward way that makes average people realize how truly horrific their ideas are. they would create (and since reagan have been creating) a dystopian nightmare out of what used to be a great country.— Ryan
- hey castor first advice i will gve to you is you dont hurt the very peope that vote.If this is your plan your just another loser so dont waste your time.How come you cant get creative and figure out how to generate jobs so revenue can increase.?same ol bull cut taxes cut jobs .dont even waste your time you sdont have a chance with that attitude.— cityslicker
- All of these would be politicans are vilifying corbett for his drastic budget cuts. Wait until the full effect of the budget deficit comes clear to people and they realize that the state is near Bankruptcy and that all those state workers realize that the pension fund is short almost 50 million dollars and that it can't possibly make up the difference for another 30 years if "ALL" goes right. The dems have stuck their heads in the ground and want to keep on kicking the can down the road. Just take a peak at california or Detroit and they should give you a real close look at Pending Bankruptcys. It is this kind of voter ignorance that led this country into the mess that it is in now. Everybody wants something for nothing. It is over you have got to work for your fortune. The government doesn't give you anything for nothing. the pols get rich and you get poorer.— rduexpress
- Another reason to move out of this corporate welfare state— intelliwoman
Cuckoo-cuckoo.— TopCat#1- seeing with the most recent election i seriously doubt ANY republican would be elected anytime soon to any office anywhere, so my castor is just blowing steam, better luck next time around bruce....— eddiot
- I'm sure Dom Pileggi will come up with some type of vote rigging idea to insure Corbett's reelection. Not a word about the potential Electoral College scheme on this website today, and it's going to be introduced this week....— gloriousglo2
Ahh...the typical nuts are on here. This plan may not be a answer but sure is a start. of course, these are the same leeches on the dole. FYI- your savior is about to tear off another layer of skin from the middle class. According to you momo's 1 1=5...Keep it up! I belive there still a bit more to steal from us working people....losers!
Why doesn't he just propose to sell Pennsylvania to a Chinese Sovereign Hedge Fund and make the state, er province of China the warehouse for The People's Army AK-47 import business. With direct rail delivery to the Mexican drug cartels, the state will renew its prosperity with blood money from every street massacre in Tiajuana. Then he can rip up the public roads or better yet, put a toll at the end of every block so you have to pay the private owner a fee to walk up on the avenue to get the WaWa. The GOP, Grand Oil Profits party of stupidity.
