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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 9, 2019 08:49 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Elizabeth Fiedler |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Uniformity Clause Repeal |
| Pennsylvania has the seventh most unfair state and local tax system in the nation, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. One of the reasons our tax laws are more regressive than progressive is our flat income tax rate. For example, the typical low-income family sees about 12 percent of their household income going to state and local taxes, a middle-income family pays about 10.3 percent, and households with annual incomes over $400,000 pay about 4.2 percent. One solution to this inequity would be to implement a tiered personal income tax system, in which higher-income Pennsylvanians are taxed at a higher rate than lower-income Pennsylvanians. Unfortunately, the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibits our Commonwealth from adopting a more progressive personal income tax. That is why I am introducing legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to repeal the Uniformity Clause. This legislation will allow us to consider tax policies that would boost our General Fund and provide fairness to Pennsylvania families. Please join me in giving our Commonwealth one more tool to make our laws work better for hardworking Pennsylvanians. Your consideration and co-sponsorship are appreciated. |
Introduced as HB1299