An Overview from our President:

On February 9, 2016 Governor Tom Wolf presented his proposed 2016-17 fiscal year budget to a joint session of the PA General Assembly. His budget would increase taxes by $2.7 billion dollars and increase spending to a record level of $33.29 billion dollars for the coming fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2016. This is almost an 8% increase in spending over the 2015-16 fiscal year budget which Governor Wolf vetoed last June. We are now seven months without a 2015-16 budget since he line item vetoed various section of the stop gap budget the House and Senate sent him in late December.

As expected, his 2016-17 budget proposal was vague on details, but does again attack the retail industry. He is proposing all but eliminating our 1% sales tax vendors' allowance, broadening the sales tax and calling for an increase in PA's minimum wage to $10.15 per hour. He is also proposing increasing PA's personal income tax (PIT) from 3.07% to 3.4%. In his budget address, the Governor aggressively attacked the republican members of the General Assembly, especially House republicans for their refusal last year to increase taxes on Pennsylvania business and consumers. Following his address, House and Senate republican legislative leaders defended their position and desire not to significantly increase taxes.

I must state that in my almost twenty seven years here at PRA, I have never witnessed a budget address by a governor as we watched yesterday. It was more of a campaign speech than a budget address. That being said, this is going to be a very challenging budget season in Harrisburg. Governor Wolf will be very hard pressed to have the General Assembly pass his 2016-17 budget proposal, let alone resolve the 2015-16 budget impasse.

I will continue to keep you updated as the budget process moves forward. Please contact me if you have any questions and/or require any additional information. Thank you for your continued PRA membership and support. We will continue to aggressively fight to protect your interests and the retail industry in Pennsylvania.

Brian Rider, President and CEO

LEGISLATIVE TRACKING

We are currently monitoring and taking necessary action on 253 bills in both chambers of the General Assembly. A brief summary of each can be found here: PDF document . Bills of particular concern include a proposal to permanently eliminate our industry's 1% sales tax vendors' allowance, various forms of excessive increases in PA's minimum wage and mandated paid sick leave policies, as well as extremely burdensome sales tax increases and expansions.

In addition to protecting our members from harmful legislation, we also work hard to amend current law, when necessary (bad debt collection, tanning salon regulation). Likewise, we work with lawmakers to enact new laws, when necessary, as evidenced by Pennsylvania's strong organized retail theft legislation.

Lastly, we continue to actively support of E Fairness (sales tax collection on remote sales) at the federal level.

LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES

Session Information
House Committee Meetings
Senate Committee Meetings
Governor's Office
House Members
Senate Members
Bills and Amendments
Session Information
Office of Attorney General
Philadelphia City Council Legislation