To the Editor:

I am writing in response to a recent op-ed written by State Rep. Marcia Hahn, R-138th, entitled, “Proposal lacks good news for taxpayers.”

When Rep. Hahn states that support for tax increases doesn’t exist in the General Assembly, she seems to forget the agreed-to $30.8 billion budget framework that included tax increases passed by the Senate in December by a vote of 43-7. The plan passed the House by a vote of 100-99 and was set for final passage when Republican Speaker Mike Turzai abruptly canceled session right before Christmas. I stood in the Capitol rotunda with my Democratic colleagues after the Speaker’s announcement and implored him to call the House back into session so we could complete people’s business, but our pleas fell on deaf ears.

I do agree with Rep. Hahn that we should strive to provide property tax relief to the citizens of the Lehigh Valley and all of Pennsylvania. Last year, Gov. Wolf proposed a plan to provide $3.8 billion in school property tax relief, which would have reduced property taxes by more than 50 percent on average. But, Republican leaders in the General Assembly essentially refused to consider the plan from the beginning.

In his recent budget address, the governor laid it out as simply as he could: The state faces a $2 billion deficit and there are two paths we can take. We can choose a path that funds our schools, eliminates our deficit and puts Pennsylvania back on track. Or we can ignore the crisis we face; force more devastating cuts for education, human services and other needs; and see property taxes skyrocket and our deficit grow.

I stand with the governor and choose the people of Pennsylvania. It’s the responsible choice.

State Rep. Dan McNeill

D-133rd Legislative District