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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 2, 2019 11:20 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Mike Folmer |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Reintroduction of “Tax Me More Fund” |
| I plan to reintroduce my “Tax Me More Fund”, which was previously Senate Bill 275 cosponsored by Senators Reschenthaler, Eichelberger, Wagner, White, Stefano, and Hutchinson. This legislation is modeled after a 2001 Arkansas law, the "Tax Me More Fund", which was offered as an alternative to tax increases and budget cuts in that state. In his book “From Hope to Higher Ground” former Arkansas Governor Huckabee said that from 2001 to 2005, 56 people contributed to the Arkansas fund – collecting $2,077 total. Virginia passed a similar measure in 2002, which saw total annual contributions range from a low of $19.36 to a reported high of $6,602. Nonetheless, the Virginia “Tax Me More Fund” gave those who did not share the goal of controlling taxes, spending, or borrowing an opportunity to make voluntary contributions to their favorite programs and initiatives simply by sending a check to the State Treasury. This proposed legislation is consistent with both my SB 7 (the “Taxpayer Protection Act”) and my ongoing efforts to control state spending, which I continue to believe is a key to cutting taxes. Taxes hurt job creation and squeeze taxpayers – especially the middle class. A Pennsylvania “Tax Me More Fund” would allow those who support higher taxes to first demonstrate that commitment by donating their own money before imposing their will on others. |
Introduced as SB343