By Sen. Scott Wagner
Over the last few weeks I have repeatedly read articles in various newspapers saying government-funded non-profit organizations and social programs are running out of money because the PA State budget did not pass on June 30.
These articles are misleading and deceptive.
As a small business owner, I know for a fact that cash continues to flow into Harrisburg.
How do I know this?
Since June 30, PA state taxes have continued to be deducted weekly from employee paychecks at my various companies.
In addition, these companies also continue to pay corporate and federal taxes.
I know for a fact that the cash flow into Harrisburg continues to be very strong and has not stopped because we are REQUIRED by the state to wire transfer Pennsylvania state taxes withheld weekly from our employees’ paychecks to Harrisburg.
Last Friday, August 14, one of the businesses I own issued 345 payroll checks and deducted $8,170 in employee withholding taxes.
Those withholding taxes will be wire transferred to the State of Pennsylvania today.
So far for 2015, we have sent $266,177 in employee deducted state taxes to Harrisburg.
In July, we purchased four waste collection trucks for a total of $918,477.
We paid Pennsylvania sales tax in the amount of $53,718 for the trucks which went to Harrisburg immediately.
We also paid $104,540 in federal excise taxes on those trucks.
The misleading information that is being fed to Pennsylvanians by the Wolf Administration makes me extremely angry and is an insult to Pennsylvanians that have payroll taxes deducted from their paychecks and it is also insulting to business owners all across Pennsylvania who continue to generate tax revenue each and every day.
It is a poor attempt to get the general public to think Governor Wolf’s budget proposal is the only option we have.
Guess what – there was another option.
Governor Wolf could have chosen to approve 270 line items for passage so cash flow would have continued to these agencies and organizations – he made the decision to veto the entire budget despite that option.
Governor Wolf made a huge mistake.
It is time Governor Wolf takes responsibility for his poor decision and put an end to the political games.
I’m curious – did you stop paying taxes on June 30?
Sen. Wagner represents the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate.
My new hero!