Democrats still pursuing tax and spend policies

Benjamin Franklin is generally credited with this 18th century statement: Nothing is certain except death and taxes. Today, the Democrats’ tax and spend playbook is equally certain: Those two main chapters have long and voluminous histories.

Sadly, the Biden administration has doubled down on the Democrats’ playbook’s third chapter. Democrats are aggressively pursuing taxpayer funded abortions by rescinding the “Mexico City” policy and proposing to fight the Hyde Amendment.

Now, Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf is proposing progressive income taxation for Pennsylvania, increased spending, and legalization of recreational marijuana. Already suffering from the governor’s draconian lockdowns, Pennsylvanians should be discouraged by Wolf ’s proposals that apparently originate in Wolf ’s alternative universe.

Compared with Pennsylvania’s 3.07% flat rate, the Tax Foundation reports the three highest 2020 state income tax rates are in California (13.3%), Hawaii (11%) and New Jersey (10.75%). Many expect to see New York and basket-case Illinois on this list. New York does lead in total tax burden — state and local taxes paid — residents pay on average 12.7% of their income in taxes (Illinois, 11%). These results happened over time, beginning with modest proposals like Wolf ’s.

Friends, Trump’s behavior cost him the election and caused his subsequent implosion. But the Republican Party is our only defense against proposals like Wolf ’s.

James Largay

Upper Saucon Township