House Working Revenue Bills Now

8:15 pm-They unanimously passed HB 268 creating a tax amnesty program that is projected to raise $10 mill w/o raising taxes. More as it breaks.

8:20-HB 21o, raising the licensing fees on establishments serving alcohol, being voted on now. Lotsa Rethugs voting no. Cathcart changes from ‘no’ to ‘yes’, enabling the bill to pass, 25-16(3/5 majority). The only R to do so.

8:23-HB 212,  raises tax on beer 2 cents a can, 15-cent increase on wine, increase on spirits as well, expected to raise over $4 mill this year. Schwartzkopf saying that ‘we’re being asked to vote for things that none of us want to do.’ Hocker is doing his ‘tax and spend’ soliloquy, talking about how they had an ‘ammo’ company ready to come in here, and they just laughed at the tax increases and went elsewhere. The man’s a total ignoramus. Nowhere does he mention how he would close an $800 mill budget deficit. Roll call: Once again, the Rethugs are getting a complete pass. Hard to believe that the D’s are letting them get away with this. Presumably, once again, Cathcart will change his vote to ‘yes’, enabling the bill to pass.  Waiting a l-o-o-o-ng time to announce the roll call…Longhurst changes from ‘yes’ to ‘no’, which is the parliamentary maneuver to enable the bill to be resurrected, bill defeated. One Democrat, Rep. Kowalko, voted ‘no’. Hard to explain that one.  There was reportedly one R prepared to switch if it was the deciding vote.

8:32-HB 211, raises the tax on cigarettes. Rep. Scott announces that, due to a perceived conflict, he will not vote on this bill. That means they’ll need at least a couple of R ‘yeas’ to pass this bill. Cathcart introduces amendment spreading the tax increase over two years. Schwartzkopf calls it an ‘unfriendly’ amendment. Amendment defeated on party line vote. Roll call: 25 Y, 15 N, 1 NV. Oberle and Lavelle only 2 R’s to vote ‘yes’, Lavelle switching from No to Yes. Bill passed.

8:45-HS1/HB 260, eliminates exemption on personal income tax exemption on lottery winnings. Looks like this one will have plenty of support. 35 Y, 5 N, 1 NV. Bill passed.

8:50-HB 288, assess additional utility tax on satellite & cable. 25 Y, the bare minimum. Oberle and D. Short are the two R’s voting yes. Bill passed.

8:55-HS1/HB 262-Increases administrative fees for documents recorded with the state/county. Projected to raise $5.5 mill. Rethugs even voting against this one. Just further proof that all they care about is the issue, not about closing an $800 mill budget deficit. They are prostitutes, pure and simple. Oberle is the exception, voting yes on most bills. All the R’s are providing is the one additional ‘yes’ vote. Cathcart and D. Short switch to ‘yes’. Bill passed.

9 p.m.-HS1/HB 263-Increases Fire Marshal fees. R leadership are sponsors on this one, so it should pass fairly easily. $600K to be raised through this bill. 30 Yes, a veritable landslide. Bill passed.

9:05-HB 286-Increases fees for vital certificates. Raises $1 mill. 25 Y, the bare minimum. Bill passed.

9:10-HS1/HB 264-Here comes the Big Enchilada. The Personal Income Tax hikes. If all the D’s vote ‘yes’, Bill Oberle will almost certainly be the 25th vote to reach the 3/5 majority. Betcha there’s a sunset provision coming soon. ‘Bulo was right. HA 2 puts a 4-year sunset provision on the tax increases. Rep. Oberle had an alternative that seemed to make more sense, which would have tied the sunset provision to having sufficient revenue, using the FY’s 2005 and 2006 as a benchmark. This way, even if the State’s in dire financial straits, these tax provisions will sunset unless they are reapproved. Doesn’t seem to make much sense. HA2 approved by Voice Vote.  Rep. Hudson (nee Capano, nee Hudson), who represents a lot of the Greenville crowd, tabled her amendment that would have sunsetted the increases in one year.  Rep. Carson, ignoring the fact that Hudson has moved to table the amendment, felt the need to put his low-double-digit IQ to use to say that he supported ‘sending a message’ to the taxpayers on this. Thank you for your profound observation, Rep. Carson. Are you and Mike Protack long-lost brothers?  Rep. Kowalko introduced HA 4, which he didn’t describe, be tabled. ‘Bulo presumes that this represented the ‘Kowalko Plan’. Oberle introduced his amendment, which he no doubt will table now that HA 2 has passed. Oberle tables HA 5. That should bring us to the bill. Jeezus Bleeping Christ! They took out the increase for the bleeping millionaires. It’s just $60K and up. Simply pathetic. These bleepers have no scruples whatsoever. Millionaires will be popping champagne corks all over Chateau Country tonight.  And the Rethugs are STILL only giving the bill the absolute minimum support required to pass it. Oberle. That’s it. One lousy Rethug vote for passage. The Democrats unilaterally surrendered. What a bunch of…(this term has been banned by UI, but you know what it is). If one D can explain how removing the increased progressive taxes on the upper brackets, in essence restoring some progressivity to the system, is in keeping with principles of fairness, ‘bulo will show you a double-talking BS artist.

A disgusted El Somnambulo will sign off now. He shaved his legs for THIS?

Well, ‘bulo’s back, if only to see how the D’s cave on this one. They’re working the estate tax bill, HB 291. Debbie Hudson (R-Chateau Country) called it a ‘disgrace’, and tried to get a one-year Sunset provision added, but it was shouted down. Presumably, a 4-year Sunset will be put on, and it apparently has. Hudson’s doing some more crying about ‘how wrong it is to tax one’s estate’, which is understandable since she represents people who come up with all kinds of schemes to avoid paying their tax obligations. Now, the hopeless Greg Lavelle is crying tears over the zillionaires who made their dollars through ‘hard work and luck’ (hmm, no mention of inheriting  it, unless that’s what he meant by ‘luck’). Roll call is on. Looks again like Oberle will be the only ‘yes’. 25 Y, again, the bare majority.

HB 289-The Gross Receipts Tax Bill-First, it looks like the 4-year sunset amendment is coming. Yep, Schwartzkopf with the 4-year sunset provision. Approved by Voice Vote. Here comes another Hudson amendment, more wringing of pearls likely to accompany it. Yet another one-year Sunset provision. “People in Pennsylvania laugh at us.” She is and has always been nothing but a shill for the upper class. HA4 defeated by roll call. Roll call on the bill is on. Sounds like a rerun. Yep, Oberle gives the only R vote. 25 Yes, the bare majority. Bill Passed.

House recesses to the call of the chair, 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Adios, Amigos.