Dear Legislator,
The
Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG) urges you to
oppose Senate Bill 884 when it is considered on the House floor. Senate
Bill 884 represents a dramatic change to the way government funds
important social service programs, but has not been the subject of a
single public hearing.
Also
known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), SB 884 caps state
spending to a formula that would not allow the state to meet its
obligations to fund critical public services, such as transportation,
health care and education. The public overwhelmingly supports
investments in these services, but TABOR would tie the legislature’s
own hands and lead to cuts even if sufficient revenue was available.
As
you know, investments in transportation, education and health care have
a positive impact on Pennsylvania’s economy and under-funding of these
programs will negatively affect our ability to attract new residents
and businesses.
TABOR
has been viewed as a failure by both Republicans and Democrats in
Colorado. In fact, Colorado voters chose in November 2005 to suspend
TABOR for five years at the urging of Governor Bill Owens. And the
President of the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development
Corporation, Robert Scott, also noted in 2004 “Elected leaders
in both major political parties as well as community leaders from
throughout Colorado have acknowledged that something needs to be done
about Colorado’s tax revenue and spending limitation constraints, known
as TABOR. Colorado’s balance sheet, i.e. the value of its physical and
service infrastructure per capita, is in precipitous decline. The
long-term impact on Colorado’s economy could be very damaging.”
The
Legislature can and should spend taxpayer dollars more wisely, and
improve accountability with the public. Closing tax loopholes,
eliminating special interest handouts in the form of subsides or tax
expenditures, mandatory audits of certain economic development
projects, “clawback” provisions that would allow the public to seek
compensation of monies spent inappropriately, and full disclosure of
all government spending are some ways to achieve greater efficiency and
accountability. TABOR will do none of these things, and will simply pit
important public programs against one another while damaging
Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness.
Please
reject SB 884 if it is considered on the House floor today, and urge
supporters of the bill to first hold public hearings before another
vote is considered.
Thank you,
Beth McConnell
PennPIRG
