TARTAGLIONE, SENATE DEMOCRATS DISCUSS BUDGET PRIORITIES

            HARRISBURG, February 3 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione joined Senate Democratic colleagues today to discuss priorities in advance of next week’s budget address.

            “We want to begin momentum toward innovative policy reforms that will save taxpayer money while investing in jobs and infrastructure,” Tartagione said. “We want to get it done on time, in balance, and in line with the priorities of the people of Pennsylvania.”

            The Senate Democratic plan called for passage of Tartaglione’s legislation aimed at closing the “Delaware Loophole” that gives large multi-state corporations significant tax advantages over local small businesses.

            “We can lower taxes on Pennsylvania companies and recoup lost revenue,” Tartaglione said. “Pennsylvania is way behind other states in creating a fairer tax climate for business.”

            The Senate Democratic plan also contains a new job creation strategy that would retool underperforming economic development programs, establish a new jobs program for people unable to find work and generate more jobs in energy-related industries.

            Senate Democrats also reaffirmed that they will not support a broad-based tax increase this year and will work to hammer out a budget on time and within the two-year framework agreed to last year.

            The initiatives would be paid for with policy changes, new program efficiencies and by leveraging federal dollars. 

            Tartaglione, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Democratic Leader Sen. Robert J. Mellow and Appropriations Chairman Sen. Jay Costa at the news conference.

            The leaders said that they will focus on five general areas: passing a responsible budget on time, creating jobs and bolstering the state’s economy, continuing the progress on education, saving tax dollars and reforming the state’s campaign finance laws. 

            Some of the specific issues Democrats plan to focus on include: 

• retooling a few underperforming Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) programs and refocusing its job creation efforts;

• closing the “Delaware Loophole” and using those funds to reduce the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax;

• passing a job development bill that leverages federal monies to help people struggling to find work, those who exhausted unemployment benefits and young people;

• establishing smarter prison policies and promoting cost-effective alternatives for non-violent offenders;

• renewing the health care agreement with the Blues to help fund the state’s adult health care insurance program (adultBasic);

• ensuring that the state lives up to its long-term school funding commitment and adopting equitable standards to measure results and ensure student success; and

• utilizing state and federal dollars to create energy industry-related jobs in the fields of weatherization, alternative energy and green product development.

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