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Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bob Casey calls current moment a 'time of real peril' as he urges Democrats to fight
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by) HARRISBURG — Describing the current moment as a 'time of real peril' for families across the state and nation, former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey detailed the issues he believes should be at the forefront of the political conversation. 'We've got to make sure that we saddle up here and get into this fight,' Casey said Wednesday morning during a 45-plus minute address in Harrisburg. 'There's no more important work that we could be engaging in on domestic policy than this: Stopping cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs.' 'Secondly, making sure that we don't make the same mistakes that have been made, not just year after year, but decade after decade after decade, on tax policy where the tax code gets rigged over and over and over again, against the interests of the most vulnerable and against the interests of the middle class,' Casey added. The former three-term Senator, who was the longest-serving Democrat in the chamber in the commonwealth's history before his loss last November, was the keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Policy Center's 'Federal Fightback Summit.' During his address, Casey laid out the ramifications that could occur if efforts by the Trump administration are successful in cutting those programs. When talking about healthcare, Casey discussed the potential impact a proposed House bill with spending cuts to Medicaid would have. He cited statistics that 39% of all children and 59% of children with disabilities are covered by Medicaid, along with 34% of all births in Pennsylvania. Casey also warned Medicaid cuts would impact nursing home residents and lead to losses of rural healthcare services. On the topic of tax policy, he accused Republicans who support extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), also known as the 'Trump tax cuts,' of 'worshiping at the altar of tax cuts for rich people and big companies.' 'And I do think that the more people hear about this, and the more that we're able to make the case, on these, on both the devastating cuts in the tax bill that's driving those cuts,' Casey said. 'I think a lot of voters, and I think even people that voted for President Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot, will begin to scratch your head and say, 'I didn't really vote for this.'' He said he believes a good place to start fighting back against these proposals is to discuss the impact they could have on rural communities. Following Casey's defeat in November to now-U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and President Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Republicans hold a trifecta of having a majority in both chambers of Congress and holding the White House. In addition to finding themselves in the minority, a recent NBC News poll showed only 27% of registered voters said they had a positive view of the Democratic Party. Casey said if Democrats effectively fight on tax policy and proposed cuts to healthcare, those numbers would change. 'And I think we just have to as a party, both citizens like me and elected officials like those who are there, have to make this argument over and over again, put that in front of people month after month after month,' Casey said. 'And sometimes, to the exclusion of other issues, other issues that are in the news or relevant or urgent that day.' 'You can't lose your focus on these basic core issues, because a lot of what 2024 was about was the economy, right,' Casey added. Casey described the current moment as one 'for the middle class.' 'And if you're a political party that's not talking about those issues like costs and the overall economic fortunes of folks who are in the middle, you're probably not going to be successful,' he said. 'So I just think we have to get back to those kinds of basic principles and talk about the unfairness to the middle class of this tax bill and the devastation it would bring about for the most vulnerable.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Casey also said he's been 'amazed' by the amount of coverage at the local level in Scranton, where he lives, that has been given to proposed cuts to food banks. 'It's becoming a major, major issue,' Casey said. Despite the current negative numbers for the Democratic Party, Casey expressed optimism it can be successful in pushing back against the Trump administration. 'And I think that there's a lot of noise back and forth, but I think as you get closer and people start hearing the impact of these cuts and realizing the impact on their families, I think it's going to change the dynamic,' he said. Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, opened up for Casey. Stier lauded him as the champion for the state who fought to pass the Affordable Care Act, noting how he and many others in the room are 'missing him terribly' in Washington D.C. Casey on Fetterman criticism U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), now the state's senior senator, has faced criticism from members of his own party for backing several Trump cabinet selections and other comments over the past few months. Cumberland County Chair Matt Roan has even called for Fetterman's 'immediate resignation from the Senate,' as a result. Casey called Fetterman a 'very good senator' in response to a question about the recent pushback he's facing. 'I think on these issues especially, he'll do the right thing when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable and protecting the middle class,' Casey said. 'I think John will be fighting the fight on our side, on this.' What's next for Casey? Casey, who was in elected office for 28 consecutive years, said that actions from the Trump administration in recent weeks 'pushes' him in the direction of wanting to speak out. 'The argument is going to be won or lost based upon what families tell their legislators about the impact of these cuts and the unfairness of rigging the tax code again,' Casey said. He believes the families that shared their stories in 2017 ahead of the vote on the Affordable Care Act, like the Little Lobbyists, played a larger role than the legislators did in preventing it from being overturned. As of late he's been talking to a lot of people about what's next for him. 'I've been home a lot, but I haven't settled on my next chapter yet,' Casey said. 'Still kind of working through that.' He said that he has a 'couple of discussions going' but didn't say which they were yet. 'But, I'll tell you about it when I make a decision,' he added. In December, he said that he wasn't ruling out a future run for office: 'I never say never.' But on Wednesday, Casey told reporters that he 'was blessed to have a long tenure in public service,' while adding 'right now, it's time for something different.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Axios
27-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
Philadelphia weighs big business tax cuts
A panel of experts bets that deep tax cuts for businesses and overhauling Philadelphia's tax code could fuel business growth, add jobs and reduce poverty. Why it matters: Big businesses and workers would be winners, while property owners would likely get stuck with bigger bills. Driving the news: The Tax Reform Commission's interim report this week called for eliminating the city's business income and receipts tax (BIRT) over the next 8-12 years and for reducing the wage tax, among other recommendations. Although loathed by most, these taxes are king in Philly: They accounted for more than half the city's tax revenues last year. Context: Lawmakers and business leaders have sought tax reforms for decades, but this is the first time since 2003 that a city tax reform commission has issued a formal report. Zoom in: The commission calls for shifting the city's dependence on business taxes to real estate, i.e. property taxes. Worth noting: Philly now enjoys some of the lowest property taxes in the state. Reality check: This latest attempt to slash the business taxes is likely to fail, Marc Stier, director of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Policy Center, tells Axios. Philly not only lacks existing revenues to fund the business tax cuts, but elected officials would face massive backlash if they tried to hike property taxes, Stier says. "It's a bad solution to a non-existent problem," he says. "The city needs that revenue far more than it needs a tax cut." The other side: Allan Domb, a former city legislator who's on the commission, tells Axios that Philly's existing tax structure is uncompetitive and that investing in the city's economy will spur growth. "You have two choices: Keep taxing the same people and raising their rates, or expand the base," he says. The commission blames Philly's business taxes for hindering business growth and investments, and driving away residents. The taxes are higher than similar taxes elsewhere in the region and most other big cities, per the report. The commission estimates the tax cuts would create 31,200-93,200 jobs over five years. How it works: Philly companies with revenues over $100,000 — about a third of businesses — pay around 6% tax on their net profits and another .14% on their gross receipts. Meanwhile, all Philly workers pay between 3%-4% in wage taxes, whether you live in the city or not. The fine print: Pennsylvania law limits how Philly can tax businesses and residents, so some changes would need approval from the state Legislature. For example, Philly officials can't put in place a millionaire's tax, or tax commercial and residential buildings at different rates. What to watch: City legislators formed the commission last year. It remains to be seen whether they or Mayor Cherelle Parker take up the commission's recommendations and shake up the city's tax code. Parker will deliver her budget proposal on March 13. The bottom line: "Once we have a proposed budget, we'll see if the City can [cut the taxes] without passing the tax burden on to people who can't afford it," Lauren Cristella, the executive director of the city watchdog Committee of 70, tells Axios.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds protest current President Donald Trump during rally
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Hundreds spent their Presidents Day protesting the current president Monday. The group marched from City Island to the Capitol steps, The #50501 Movement organized the event. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now With the goal to 'Unite for democracy, advocate for meaningful change', and protest recent cuts the trump administration has made. 'If Donald Trump was truly a strong president, he'd be able to pass legislation the fact that he is doing this all by executive orders shows his weakness,' Dwayne Heisler of Pennsylvania Policy Center said. Similar protests happened across the country, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Cincinnati, and Washington D.C.. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
