Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Callahan Advocates 17% Sales Tax Increase
I thought gambling revenue was supposed to solve all our fiscal woes. Guess not. Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan now advocates a 17% increase in sales tax. About half of the revenue would be used to reduce property taxes, but the rest will just enable more spending.
A sales tax is a regressive tax that will be felt most by middle and low income people. Callahan, as you know, wants to replace LV Congressman Charlie Dent, but advocated a new tax on the middle class and poor is a strange way to get elected. The NRCC, which refuses to go gently into that good night, has quite properly taken Callahan to task, but he will be defending his tax increase idea on August 17th.
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32 comments:
a.) funny to see your Jamie Farr pic. As you probably already know, he was a big fan of International League baseball (Toledo Mudhens, from his hometown).
b.) it should be interesting how Callahan plays in the 15th outside of his base in the City. However, it should also be interesting how a nasty campaing plays with the voters of the district. The attention of both national parties on this race so early predicts a nasty race early (as your video clip illustrates). While negative can be effective in the short run it can leave a very sour taste for voters in a long campaign and back fire. Caution to both.
What was with that tongue bath at the end? My cat doesn't work up that much saliva. Give that man some bottled water! I think I'm in love.
There is a difference between an issues-oriented, negative campaign, and one focused on sleaze. Taking Callahan to task for his position on sales tax is fair game. Taking Dent to task for his many votes will be done all the time, and is also fair.
Gosh, it's a big jump from Bethlehem City politics into "the big muddy" of Dent's campaign slander.
Personally, I don't think LV voters want to see John Callahan or Charlie Dent bloodied up in this campaign.
Can't two smart smart guys just duke it out on the issues? That tax increase ad was terribly reductive and misleading. Is that what Charlie Dent wants to represent his views and his campaign? If so, will the "nice-guy Charlie" image follow him into the voting booth?
Democrats and higher taxes...who would guess.
Scott Armstrong
If Callahan wants a 17% increased sales tax for hard-working over-taxed Bethlehemites, imagine what he will do to countrywide taxpayers. 17%!!!
Wow, the spin machine is working overtime on this one. The increase would be a county-wide increase of 1%. The sales tax would go from $0.06 on the dollar to $0.07 on the dollar.
Counties would have the option of implementing the tax.
Do not let a big number like 17% fool you. It is a one penny increase!!!!
Anon 734am, 1% is "only a penny" if you're trying to spin this. It will cost the average family over $100/year in increased taxes and weigh much more heavily on lower income families.
You are right, the County has the option - and Callahan has come out in favor of the tax increase.
Bernie, I agree this is an issue-targeted ad. But they way it was done makes it look sleazy even though the topic isn't.
The Banker
Residents of Bethlehem are already suffering from the outrageous increase in school taxes. I understand that the casino is still too new to have brought in any revenue, but if the casino is to eventually pay out, these tax increases are ridiculous.
Pretty soon, Bethlehem won't have any middle class.
news flash... nrcc and dent campaign are one and the same. dent approved this. nrcc doesn't do anything without approval of the candidate.
I know that Dent had nothing to do w/ the NRCC ad that tagged Callahan for saying a naughty word, so your statement is inaccurate. I am sure that, generally speaking, the NRCC and DCCC do review their ads and mews releases w/ candidates as much as possible.
The DCCC recently issued a news release about the COPS grant, slamming Dent for opposing the stimulus. That was picked up by the MSM. Ironically, one of the cities that failed to get a grant was Callahan's very own Bethlehem. Allentown also got nothing. No LV municipality, except for Easton, got a dime. So in my eyes, it made Callahan look bad. I doubt Callahan would have approved that DCCC news release in advance.
If RenCallahandell tries to defend this backward thinking, regressive tax increase, his balls are big as his brain is small.
Positions on taxation are valid issues. It would be nice to see state legislators called upon to defend their support of regressive income tax increases amid this disastrous economy.
Freeman and Grucela are big on taxing and taxing Pennsylvanians; regardless of the business and job flight they've continued to make worse by their lack of economic discipline.
can we be accurate here for a moment: the bill doesn't automatically raise taxes. it allows counties to do so. if the county commissioners in franklin county raise taxes, that should be there business. it's nice, for a change, to allow local gov't make their decisions rather than be forced by faceless harrisburg beaurocrats to conform to the one-side fits all approach that we currently see. how is that working? and isn't that the system that charlie dent had propped up during his professional politian career in harrisburg?
gov't is broken at all levels. callahan wants to fix a particular cog that is broken and give local gov't more tools... what is wrong iwth that?
Plenty. Once the tool is given, it will be used. Only some of the money will reduce the property tax burden, the rest will go for more spending. It is a regressive tax increase off the backs of those least able to afford it.
Every one of Callahan's solutions will hit taxpayers in the wallet. That's what's wrong.
I'm tired of politicians telling us something is broken (because they're the ones who broke it), and proposing higher taxes as the go-to solution every time.
The previous poster is either in the Callahan camp or has Stockholm Syndrome - or both.
It's a dirty ad - let's face it. But...it's a dirty world. And there's no way I'm voting for more taxes.
Callahan needs to tone down the "Just For Men" look, too.
"callahan wants to fix a particular cog that is broken and give local gov't more tools... what is wrong iwth that?"
Many things, but two comments in particular: 1) What is wrong is that Callahan's 'fixing' just costs us more in taxes. How much money will he cost me if he goes to Congress? 17% on the local level, how much on top of that at the national level? The answer is too much.
2) If there wasnt anything wrong with it, why would Callahan need political cover? The best 'political cover' is good policy that represents the people who elect you.
"I know Dent had nothing to do...", of course cause your mancrush said so.
You are worse than Faux News, when you are in your "Spin Zone". You overlook things for your beloved mencrush do and you destroy decent people you deem to be unworthy whether warrented or not.
You are a shameful man. Mr. Callahan understands that things have to be paid for. Old empty suit Dent plays the Republican game of handing out the checks but not paying for the product.
Phoney. People are wise to the game. Like the phoney anti-healthcare furor ginned up by Rush and company.
We won't be fooled by your BS again. W is gone and we don't want him or his policies back.
W=Dent
anon 7:08- Like the 'phoney' opposition by blue dog democrats too? This plan is too liberal for even a large percentage of democrats.
Oh, and the tired old phrase of "W=Dent" was tried and failed in the last election. People in the Valley saw through that with the Scam and they will see through it now.
Empty suit Dent is pretty knowledgable about most issues, and that includes foreign policy issues. Empty suit Dent does a very credible job representing the LV. Empty suit Dent has taken on the Democratic machine three times and has won.
I like John Callahan. If Dent were to challenge Callahan for Bethlehem mayor, I'd support Callahan in a heartbeat. But the only reason to elect him to Congess is because he is a Democrat. I need more than that. Right now, we need more independent voices like Dent, not less.
Callahan does what he thinks is best for the people. His record is clear. Mr. Dent follows the script given him by his handlers.
Callahan has undertaken this effort as President Of the PA League Of Cities. He is asking as are all 5 local govn groups in the state for the option to raise much needed revenue for police etc. in another way other than the most regressive of taxes the property tax. Sixty percent of the revenue generated would be MANDATED to go toward immediate tax relief at the county and local level. The rest would go to general fund or could go to more tax relief depending on the individual localityies wishes. It will always be an OPTION to impose if the county and local governments want tocontinue to fund operations through real estate taxes they may. This is a thoughtful policy discussion that Callahan is attenpting to engage in regardless of the potential negatiive impacts to his campaign and for that he should be given credit not criticism. For the NRCC to talk only about the tax increase but not the reduction in propery taxes is misleading at best. Bernie, Bethlehem does not need it but many other local governments do {the older borroughs and Allentown and Easton especially} can no longer depend only on real estate taxes and neither can the homeowners who live there. Callahan is pushing for more local options and real estate tax reduction and relief. But you seem to have all ready made your mind up about this race. I do not see how given you do not know where Callahan stands on anything yet. Try to be open minded if you like what he has done as Mayor and claim you would support him over Charlie for that office than give him a chance to show what he would do in Congress. I for one at least appreciate he is willing to have the discussion regarless of the impact on his own political asperations. He is no dumby and knows what the Dent/RNCC will try to do with this. That is courage and that is what I want in my Congressman!
Bernie, I have been away for a while and have just caught up with the blog. Have you become a one man PR machine for every negative Dent or RNCC press release about Callahan. A month ago you had nothing but nice things to say about Callahan the few times you mentioned him. Now that he wants to take on your mancrush Charlie for Congress you have taken a very different course. What gives?
O'Hares mental illness, thats what gives. Did you think it just went away.
"Now that he wants to take on your mancrush Charlie for Congress you have taken a very different course. What gives?"
I think Callahan is an excellent Bethlehem mayor and think we should keep him there. I would support him against all challengers, including Charlie Dent. He is intelligent and articulate.
I think Dent is an exccellent Congressman and will support him over Callahan.
That way, instead of having one good official in an office as a freshman Congressman, we have two good public servants helping their community.
Callahan advocates a 17% sales tax increase and that's something people should know. It is an option that will be exercised the moment it is granted. Half of the money realized will go to enable spending instead of reducing property taxes. It is a regressive tax that will be felt by the poor.
Callahan also supports the stimulus, and in hindsight, I believe that is also a poor decison.
I will be honest and tell people where I stand on this matter. Callahan will certainly attract a lot of votes, but will lose and go on being Bethlehem's mayor, where he is needed.
So let's dig up the pledge by Dent in 1990 not to take a car, a huge pay raise or the pension grab!!! And after the seat was safe, gerrymandered for him he took all of the pay raise he beat ove rht head of the late John Pressmann. And a car. And a pension which will cause the state to go bankrupt over and over again
Dent has dents. Go John Go !!!
God Bless John Callahan. An honest man for America today.
How much has Dent accepted from teh insurance lobby this year? I keep seeing the amounts that other Reps and Blue Dogs have accepted, but I haven't found him yet. Is that online?
Go John Go. Don't let the Stoffa gang stop you. You do not answer to Roy Shuman.
So Bernie, am i to understand that your reasoning is that Mayor Callahan has done such a good job as mayor, enough that you would support him over Dent, that we should "keep" him there. I guess using that logic Abraham Lincoln should have stayed in the Illinos State Senate. Are you hitting the sauce?
Not at all. I retired the champ. But it is very unwise to use Abraham Lincoln as a tool in any debate with me. I've read at least 40 biographies, including Herndon.
Lincoln was never an Illinois state senator. That was Obama. Lincoln served in the Illinois House. He also never ran for two incompatible offices simultaneously. In fact, he never ran for one office that would require him to resign from another elected position.
Given your basic lack of knowledge about American history, it is little wonder you support Callahan for Congress and Dent for mayor.
Now do me a favor this weekend and go to the library.
Shifting taxes away from a property tax to a use/sales tax in some circles would be called tax reform, the kind of tax reform that helps fixed income seniors to avoid selling their homes.
Bernie, I generally like your approach to politics and your perspective on today’s issues. Why you have added this kind of crap to this site is beyond my understanding unless you have simply become a lap dog for the NRCC.
Callahan’s efforts are as President of the PA League of Cities. He is asking for these municipalities to have the option of pursuing one or the other based on local preferences. If a municipality chooses to institute a sales tax, 60% of the revenue generated would have to go toward immediate tax relief at the county and local level. The rest would go to general fund or could go to more tax relief depending on the individual localities wishes.
Let’s understand the numbers clearly; he has asked that local municipalities be able to put in place a 1% sales tax, 60% of which must directly offset existing taxes. 60% of 1% leaves .4% of optional added tax that must go to the general fund or also to tax relief at local governments’ option. .4% added to the existing 6% sales tax is a 6.6% optional increase if a municipal government chooses to take that route.
It doesn’t pre-suppose a tax increase is going to happen in Bethlehem or anywhere else. I’m no fan of higher taxes but it is important to not misrepresent the facts unless the intent is to mislead.
Callahan’s record on holding the line on taxes during very difficult times is well known. His pursuit of optional resources and the assurance that new sales taxes must offset existing taxes shows a keen understanding of difficulties faced by local governments and tax payers. It shows leadership. The kind of leadership we have been missing in Washington in general, let alone from our current Congressman.
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