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Governor Tom Wolf encouraged two Republican members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to vote against the GOP tax plan. On Wednesday, Gov. Wolf encouraged Congressmen Patrick Meehan and Mike Kelly to vote no on the GOP tax legislation. Both representatives are members of the House Ways and Means Committee. Last week, Cong. Meehan said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will provide tax relief to hardworking Pennsylvania taxpayers. Cong. Kelly shared the same view that the legislation lowers taxes for the middle and lower-income Americans.

Gov. Wolf says GOP tax plan is for the interest of the wealthy

In a statement, the governor criticized the GOP’s plan to eliminate federal tax deductions important to Pennsylvania workers and families. According to Gov. Wolf, “Hardworking Pennsylvanians, seniors, and students should not be forced to fund tax breaks for the rich. Instead of prioritizing the middle class, the bill drafted by House Republicans behind closed doors caters to the wealthy and large corporations.” Additionally, the governor said “businesses and working-class homeowners will pay more under the Republican plan.” Furthermore, Gov. Wolf emphasized that tax reform is an opportunity to boost the economy and strengthen the middle-class. However, the GOP tax reform legislation “puts the interests of the wealthiest one percent ahead of hard-working Pennsylvania families.” The governor noted that the top 1% will benefit from nearly half of the tax cuts under the GOP bill based on the Joint Committee on Taxation. According to him, the worse is that “many of the modest cuts going to the average Pennsylvanian will disappear.” As a result, Pennsylvanians will end up paying higher taxes under the GOP tax plan.

Gov. Wolf opposes the following tax deduction changes

• Ending the medical expense deduction—over 300,000 Pennsylvanians mostly senor with high medical expenses will be hurt by this plan
• Eliminating the student loan interest deduction—more than 600,000 Pennsylvanians use this deduction. Gov. Wolf believes this proposal will make it difficult for future students to get higher education.
• Eliminating the educator expense deduction—will affect 150,000 teachers in Pennsylvania. They will not be able to deduct classroom supplies purchased out of their pockets.
• Getting rid of the adoption tax credit for families

In his letter to Reps. Meehan and Kelly, Gov. Wolf said middle-class Pennsylvanians do need the current GOP tax plan. The governor implored the congressmen to work on an open and bipartisan tax reform plan beneficial to Pennsylvanians.