GOP holds line against Rendell

Washington Times ^ | Friday, December 19, 2003 | By Ralph Z. Hallow

[JohnHuang2]

Republicans in Pennsylvania are showing that they can play the kind of hardball politics for which Democrats long have been famous, both sides say -- with almost equal astonishment.

"Surprisingly, Republicans showed they can be shrewd, smart and savvy," said Tony May, a Democratic political consultant and former Democratic state party chairman.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, December 19, 2003

Quote of the Day by Political Junkie Too

[Paleo Conservative]

"Surprisingly, Republicans showed they can be shrewd, smart and savvy,"

Why can't we do this at the national level?

[ChicagoHebrew]

Mr. Rendell, a former Philadelphia mayor who was Democratic national chairman under President Clinton, thought he had forced the Republican-controlled legislature to give him a full percentage-point increase in the state income tax. Instead, in a deal announced yesterday, he got less than three-tenths of a percent, Mr. May said

How is this a GOP victory? I call it another PA socialist tax hike.

[Lancey Howard]

Instead, in a deal announced yesterday, he got less than three-tenths of a percent

What "victory"? - - The scumbags just raised my taxes.
Rendell and the Democrats must be laughing their behinds off.

[this_ol_patriot]

Bah, no spending cuts AND they sold this as going to education BUT instead it goes into the general fund. Where is the property tax break we were supposed to get when the income tax was raised? Haha, that's forgotten. All the poor schmucks bobbing their heads and drooling because taxes didn't go up as much as they could have will be out in droves on election day putting these same do-nothings back in office. Nothing new to see in the Commonwealth today.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

It is actually a 10 percent hike in the personal income tax. More money for the teacher unions.

The Republican leadership is from Philly - and Speaker of the House Perzel is afraid that if he did not give Rendell what he wants, that Rendell will campaign against him personally - and perzel has a very close district and would lose. So - They raised everyone's taxes.

The only good news is that it is only a 10% hike - to 3.09% - Rendell wanted a lot more.

And I gotta give DEM Senator FUMO from Philly credit - he and Rendell hate each other and Fumo introduced a bill to tax the 7 pro sports teams in PA for like $70 million a year - since most of them are playing in - and making record profits from, new (taxpayer-built) stadiums. Yeah - it is a new tax on the teams, but I will not cry for them. I doubt the measure will ever become law.

[Hoverbug]

House Speaker John Prezell, a Republican from Philadelphia, crows over having put one over on Mr. Rendell. "He said he hated this budget with every fiber of his body, so we passed it in 48 hours,"

Rendell was also quoted as having said, "Please don't throw me in that briar patch!!!

THEY RAISED TAXES!!!!!!!!

Don't worry though Republicans in Pennsylvania! The California Republicans will be on the thread shortly to explain how LUCKY you are to have a smaller tax increase than you could have, and that you'd better vote Republican next time too, or your tax increases could be bigger.

Hb

[William McKinley]

I think this article is telling me that I should be excited about an increase in our income tax.

But I do not feel excited.

[freedomcrusader]

Only a Republican could gloat after giving a demonRAT governor a 10% increase in the income tax. This article is pure spin, and not very good spin at that.

PA Republicans == Losers.

PA taxpayer == biggest loser.

[bmwcyle]

But the Republicans, filled with jolt of testosterone, uncharacteristically did the right and smart thing

They have a job in the US Senate if they want it.

[cynicom]

Conservatives would have CUT the income tax.

[freedomcrusader]

"But the Republicans, filled with jolt of testosterone, uncharacteristically did the right and smart thing."

This guy is a first-class jerk. They give in on a tax increase (not much testosterone there), and then said it was the right thing to do.

Yeah, raising the income tax by 10% is the right thing to do if you want to lose three seats in Congress in 2010, instead of the two seats you lost in 2000. Can you say "Continued economic stagnation?" I knew you could!