Posted on Mon, Jul. 6, 2009
In budget rhetoric, do Rendell’s numbers add up?
By Mario F. Cattabiani and Angela Couloumbis
Inquirer Staff Writers / www.philly.com
HARRISBURG – If Gov. Rendell has said it once, he’s said it a hundred times – or literally close to that.
The 16 percent income-tax hike he is pushing to help fill this year’s massive budget hole would affect only “five out of 10″ Pennsylvanians.
But in true campaign-style hyperbole, it’s what the governor isn’t saying that’s the most telling.
According to Rendellian math – grudgingly confirmed by his aides – the list of those who would not pay the added income taxes include Pennsylvanians in diapers and Pull-Ups, those behind bars, and those on the unemployment lines hoping to pay taxes again sometime soon.
In all, roughly 6.6 million Pennsylvanians – or about half the state population – now pay income taxes, and they would all pay the higher rate.
“That’s five of 10 – absolutely accurate,” Rendell press secretary Chuck Ardo said, doing his best to hold back a smile.
[Snip]
Just last week, the administration found itself on the defensive over claims that without a tax hike, as many as 800 state troopers could be laid off.
The president of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association called it an unrealistic scare tactic.
“It’s clearly politics at its best – or at its worst,” said Bruce Edwards, whose group represents 4,400 troopers.
Scarnati was even more blunt.
“When selling snake oil, you have to raise the hype level of fear to nuclear doomsday,” said Scarnati. “But the price of snake oil just keeps going down because he can’t sell any.”
Ardo, however, insisted that the governor wasn’t trying to mislead.
“The governor uses numbers to make a point,” he said. “His numbers are not inaccurate, although sometimes they do not tell the whole story.”
Contact staff writer Mario F. Cattabiani at 717-787-5990 or mcattabiani@phillynews.com.
