Friday 25 May 2007

Chambers push for business-friendly PA budget

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 25 May 2007) - As state budget negotiations pause briefly for the holiday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's chambers of commerce are pushing for
business-friendly approaches.

Chamber leaders gathered at the Capitol to lobby against much of Governor Rendell's proposed budget.

They said they have a different philosophy when it comes to how the state should be spending money.

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry vice president Gene Barr said people will be poorly served and negatively affected by higher taxes or fees.

"Letting the free-market system work makes the most sense for Pennsylvania - trusting on the resources and ingenuity of its citizens and letting its citizens make the best decisions about themselves and their families will be the engine that drives Pennsylvania forward. And
state chambers and local chambers are a critical piece of that economic engine driving forward," Barr said.

House Democrats are pointing out that the spending plan they forwarded to the Senate did not contain the sales tax increase originally suggested by Rendell.

The administration says a revenue surplus means the budget can be balanced without that tax hike.

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