Free Republic

House Republicans called up Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's tax-shifting plan on Monday, and the House shot it down by a unanimous vote. Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, called the vote on an amendment that contained Wolf's tax plan “a political stunt.” “It does nothing to move this process forward,” Dermody said. “I would never ask (Democrats) to vote for a stunt.” Wolf denounced the vote as “gamesmanship” and said it was an effort to “‘see if we can embarrass the administration.'”

Three days after the newly elected Senate majority leader opened the door to negotiations on a natural gas drilling tax, industry leaders reiterated their stand that such a tax would harm the state's economy. Additional taxes would have a "crippling effect on jobs" said Stephanie Wissman, executive director of the Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania. "It threatens to stifle energy production and the jobs that go with it," Wissman said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday. The prospect of a severance tax on gas production in the lucrative Marcellus Shale - an issue dormant since Gov. Ed Rendell left...

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Congress will have to raise taxes to resolve its budget impasse, making him yet another top Republican to suggest that the no-higher-taxes pledge may be outdated. … If taxes aren’t raised, Corbett said, “every state is going to be affected” through cuts to military contracts and spending for senior citizens, special education and other programs relied on by millions. …