‘Blue Dog’ Dems growl at Rendell’s plan

Times Leader (Wilkes Barre PA) ^ | 7/13/09 | MARC LEVY

[Born Conservative]

HARRISBURG — As powerful politicians clash over Pennsylvania’s lengthening state budget impasse, members of a small band of largely backbench conservative Democrats are exercising a little muscle of their own.

The so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats in the House have openly defied a call by Gov. Ed Rendell and leaders of the House Democratic majority to support an increase in the personal income tax. And they did so in a building in which rank-and-file legislators generally fear the punishment that might result from thumbing their noses at their caucus leaders.

Many of the 25 or so Blue Dogs are from western Pennsylvania, where many towns are still struggling to overcome the loss of heavy industry. Incomes in the region tend to be lower than the state average and bankruptcy rates higher.

“Our voice has been heard and that’s what we tried to accomplish,” said Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria.

Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Allegheny, said the group’s members had misgivings about defying caucus leaders. But they felt that an income tax increase during such economic difficulty would be so unpopular in their districts that they could not afford to be good soldiers and support it — or even quietly oppose it, he said.

“I don’t know how you justify that to the public, and that’s where we said, ‘We’re going to make a stand here,”’ Kotik said. “I know the leadership doesn’t like it, but my original obligation is to the district. If I don’t represent them, then I’m gone.”

[Born Conservative]

Ping

[SECURE AMERICA]

Kotik said. “I know the leadership doesn’t like it, but my original obligation is to the district. If I don’t represent them, then I’m gone.”

Wow.A Politician that just about gets it.
Mr Kotik your ONLY obligation is to your district and the people that elected you.
If more politicians of all stripes remembered this and understood this we would not be in the dire straights that we now are.

[03A3]

If I don’t represent them, then I’m gone.

Yeah but still all he cares about is his own arse.

[Steely Tom]

Make it a tax on white people only!

You’re welcome, Ed.

[McGruff]

Gee. Someone on our side should try to work with them to find common ground.

[EmilyGeiger]

That plan includes a three-year, 16 percent income tax increase while raising spending by more than 3 percent above what was to be spent in the state’s just-ended fiscal year. What in the world? And this is good how? They really are trying to kill our economy!

[Tribune7]

ping

[Tribune7]

I should have said “cut spending, don’t raise taxes” ping.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Rendell’s income tax rate hike ran into some serious opposition from the GOP as well. I got a note from my local legislator, who helped organize an enormous state-wide petition drive to stop it, that the hike is DOA, much to Rendell’s displeasure.

[fortunecookie]

Many of the 25 or so Blue Dogs are from western Pennsylvania, where many towns are still struggling to overcome the loss of heavy industry. Incomes in the region tend to be lower than the state average and bankruptcy rates higher.

Yes, and Rendell has long been a fan of 'share the wealth'. He overspends in Philly, and then raises taxes on the rest of us to pay for it. Only now, there is more unemployment in the western half, coupled with lower salaries, just how much more would he have to raise it (this year alone) to make a dent? It's a neverending story. Philly's been teetering on the brink for a while, only now the 'deep' pockets of the rest of the state are pretty much empty. (Apologies to our Philly freepers, who are probably frustated, too.)

We are looking to Rendell to help us recover, not tax us further.