Key Pa. Lawmaker Says It Will Be Hard To Avoid Budget Cuts Without Tax Increases
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG (CBS) -- The chairman of the state House Appropriations Committee says it will be very difficult to avoid cuts in this year's budget without revenue increases so most likely there will be tax increases or new taxes.
Delaware County Republican Bill Adolph, who briefed members of the Main Line Chamber of Commerce on the bleak budget situation Friday morning, says it will be nearly impossible to maintain current spending without new revenue.
Adolph says, "if we want to have a balanced budget, just to get back to where we were last year, you're going to need new revenues."
When referring to new revenues Adolph is talking about tax increases or new taxes.
Adolph says the only tax on individuals he's heard discussed so far involves cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
He laments that if the state Senate had approved a liquor privatization bill passed by the House last year, a sale of liquor store licenses would likely be producing revenue that would help right now.
But while the Senate is expected to take up liquor reform legislation this week, its plan is expected to leave state stores intact.
