West Montgomery Times

HARLEYSVILLE—On June 18, 2024, Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery) and the House Republican Policy Committee, chaired by Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened the third hearing in a series to discuss House Bill 2388. This bill aims to return $3 billion to Pennsylvania residents by reducing the Personal Income Tax (PIT) rate from 3.07% to 2.8% and eliminating the Gross Receipts Tax on electric bills. The hearing also addressed concerns regarding the Democrats’ Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) report.

The event, titled “The Benefit of Republican Tax Cuts, the Detriment of Democrat Property Tax Hikes,” included testimonies from Andrew Holman, policy analyst at Commonwealth Foundation; Dr. Frank Gallagher, superintendent of Souderton School District; Chris Canavan, president of W.B. Homes and township supervisor for Lower Salford Township; Wendell Weaver, vice president of Alderfer Glass; and Keith Freed, tax collector for Franconia Township.

The hearing highlighted economic challenges in Pennsylvania, including an aging population without incentives for young workers, businesses relocating due to unfavorable tax environments, and start-ups facing significant hurdles. Inflation has exacerbated these issues by making essentials such as groceries and utilities increasingly unaffordable.

Rep. Scheuren criticized the governor's spending policies and expressed concerns over potential property tax increases under the Democrat’s education funding plan. She emphasized that fiscally responsible school districts like Souderton could be unfairly penalized.

“I brought the Policy Committee here to Montgomery County to give my constituents an opportunity to share their concerns as it relates to tax reform. And I’m pleased to say voices in my district were heard today,” said Scheuren. “Schools, businesses, individuals none should have their taxes raised higher to then qualify for increased funding from the governor."

Chairman Kail echoed these sentiments: “If there was ever a time in our lifetime when we needed less government, it is now,” he stated. “We need lower and fewer taxes. Pennsylvanians deserve control over their own destiny.”

Recordings of this hearing and previous sessions from June 11 and June 17 are available at pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.

Future hearings in this series are scheduled for June 20 in Cambria County and June 21 in Allegheny County.

Representative Donna Scheuren

147th Legislative District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Joe Szymanski

jszymanski@pahousegop.com

repscheuren.com