Still, a Daily News straw poll of the city's Harrisburg delegation shows that many local members are wavering on the sales-tax increase. We reached out to the 33 Philly members of the state House of Representatives and state Senate with this question:
If a vote were held today on Philadelphia's temporary sales-tax increase, would you be a yes, no or undecided?
A total of 18 responded - 7 said yes, 2 no and 7 were undecided. State Sen. Vincent Hughes said that he was "leaning yes" and state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson declined to comment.
Those in favor largely said that they would vote yes because the alternative was so much worse.
"The mayor says he needs it," said Rep. Ronald G. Waters. "If we don't do it, I'm afraid of what that means."
Rep. Mike O'Brien, who is opposed, said that he'd prefer to see the city use gaming revenues to plug the budget gap. Though the city has said that this isn't an option, O'Brien said that he wasn't convinced.
And the undecideds said that they are still mulling over the options - stressing that this is a complicated time in Harrisburg.
"I think it would depend on what the overall situation is in terms of our budget," said Rep. John Taylor, who added that he wasn't sure that the proposal to raise the sales tax had the votes. "Right now, if it came up today, it probably wouldn't be passed."
Is it really surprising that passing a sales tax hike that puts Philly products at a higher price point than the surrounding regions would be the death knell for many businesses in a recession? Think of the appliance stores, the furniture stores, car dealerships, and other large ticket items that would have to move away or fold entirely. The city has to stop trying to kill business every time it wants more cash until we have row after row of boarded up businesses. We only just started to reverse that, now we are going to re-start boarding up the city shops again? Think it through.— CleanupPhilly- It looks to me that a sales tax hike is not ever going to get out of the PA Senate. It's not "iffy" or "not certain." Why not simply say so? There's not a snowball's proverbial. So, what's next? When can we start talking about what to do now?— CleanupPhilly
- I wouldn't want to be running for re-election, and be on this Yes list. Let's get them all.— FJG JR
MONEY AND JUSTICE DON'T MIX
WILL THE NEW COUNCIL GIVE YOU A SAY?
Tips? Comments? Questions?
Contact:
Doron Taussig:
215-854-5307
doron.taussig@gmail.com
@dorontaussig
Holly Otterbein:
215-854-5809
hm.otterbein@gmail.com
@hollyotterbein
Juliana Reyes:
215-854-5855
juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com
@juliana_f_reyes
 | Follow on Twitter |
- Philly Clout
- Metropolis
- Attytood
- Heard in the Hall
- Commonwealth Confidential
- Philebrity
- Phawker
- Young Philly Politics
- OurPhiladelphia
- Capitol Ideas
- Grassroots PA
- PA Policy Blog
- Media Mobilizing Project
- The Notebook
- Dave Davies Off Mic
- Committee of Seventy
- The Independent
- Naked City
- Plan Philly
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
