Feb. 03, 2021

HARRISBURG – Rep. John Hershey (R-Mifflin/Juniata/Franklin) released the following statement Wednesday in response to the governor’s annual budget address.

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised, that the governor is more concerned with raising the taxes of working Pennsylvanians than getting those same people vaccinated, so they can do their jobs and interact in their workplaces more effectively.

“Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to raise taxes on individuals earning more than $49,000 a year is a non-starter. I’d rather he put aside that folly and focus on why more providers, particularly community pharmacies, cannot be authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Pennsylvania ranks 44th among the states in terms of getting shots into arms of individuals, which should be the priority, not tax increases.

“Many small businesses, which are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy, pay the Personal Income Tax, not the Corporate Net Income tax. For the governor to suggest raising the Personal Income Tax just months after shutting down many of these businesses is ludicrous.

“I hear day after day from providers of the COVID-19 vaccine that they are not able to handle the influx of requests. This administration needs to reexamine its criteria for selecting providers and take concrete action to expand vaccine distribution. As a member of both the Health and Appropriations committees, I’m committed to crafting proposals and policy more desired by the families I represent.”

Representative John Hershey
82nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
RepHershey.com / Facebook.com/RepHershey