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- February 4 Non-Partisan Training: HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013: HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Republican Governors Opt-In to Medicaid Expansion
- The Reports of Unions' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
- Ask Allyson Schwartz to run for Governor
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- Jan. 14 Workshop:HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013; HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Seth Williams on Guns, Jasmine Rivera on School Closures @PFC Meetup Wednesday
- PA Revenue Strong Midway Through Year; Tax Cut Could Have Big Impact
- What to Make of the Fiscal Cliff Deal?
Do you have budget questions for Mayor Nutter?
Submitted by Ben Waxman on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 10:59am.
This Saturday, "It's Our Money" will be teaming up with "It's Our City" to record a half hour program on the budget crisis.
Dave Davies will interview the mayor and want also want questions from you. What would you ask Mayor Nutter about the budget crisis if you had the chance?
We have 100 million dollars
We have 100 million dollars coming into the City to cut the wage tax next year. Do you think cutting wage taxes in this environment is appropriate? Why not use that money to offset many of these cuts?
(And yes, I know that specific money is 100% earmarked for lowering taxes, but we can offset it, increase the rate by the same amount, and still be at exactly the same level of wage taxes we are at now, with 100 million dollars per year that can be put towards service cuts.)
What about Harrisburg
Why aren't we teaming up with other cities, towns and school districts to demand that the State put together a fiscal assistance program for distressed communities? Philadelphia would necessarily have to get a major share of that aid. An easy way to do this would be to impose a temporary surtax on personal and corporate income tax rates, and also to slow or freeze corporate franchise tax cuts that I believe are now written into law.
Sounds good
but Harrisburg is facing cutbacks in state government as well. And good luck getting tax increases passed in an R State Senate and with a whopping D majority of 3 in the State House. Ask Marc about the state and health care, for example.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.
Stadiums used to be an impossible dream too
I remember well when the idea of building new stadiums was ridiculed as being impossibly expensive to build. But the movers and shakers just kept talking about it. And then it happened.
We shouldn't accept no for an answer, especially given that the Speaker of the House (although he may be replaced) and the Chair of the Appropriations Committee are both from Philly. And they have massive leverage, at least when the budget comes around again in June. Their position should be no aid no budget.
And they should be asked to do a little outreach. This is a problem that is going to hit small towns and cities across the Commonwealth, including many that are represented by Republican Senators. There's pressure that can be mobilized if the Dems get off their duffs.
Fair enough
I too often forget the degree to which we are willing to subsidize for-profit big business because they own sports franchises as one of their holdings. Good point.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.