New PBPC Poll on Taxing Corporations and the Ultra-Rich and the Minimum Wage

PBPC commissioned Data for Progress to do a poll of likely voters on a limited number of issues that are at play in the current budget negotiations. The polling memo is below. Three things to note. First, there is overwhelming support (73%) for putting the minimum wage on a path to $15 per hour over four years and thereafter having a yearly cost of living increase (77%). Second, there is overwhelming opposition to cutting corporate taxes. Seventy percent of voters prefer tax increases for billionaires and corporations; only 25% want to see them cut. More than 78% of likely voters want to see the Delaware loophole closed so that multinational corporations can no longer hide their Pennsylvania profits from our Corporate Net Income Tax. And when asked whether some of the $12 billion accumulated state surplus should be devoted to cutting taxes on corporations and the wealthy, only 2% saidā€¦ Continue reading

Who Runs Harrisburg? You or The Corporate Elite?

Originally published in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, June 29, 2022.Ā  By Nick Pressley and Marc Stier Every rumor we hear about the state budget negotiations tells us that a reduction in the corporate net income tax (CNIT) rate is possible. It is unclear whether that corporate tax cut also includes some of Gov. Tom Wolfā€™s ā€œadd-backā€ provisions, which would make multinational corporations that currently pay nothing pay something. It appears that Republicans continue to oppose closing the Delaware loophole by enacting combined reporting. Every rumor we hear also says that raising the minimum wage may not be included because RepublicansĀ oppose it.Ā  Are we talking about cutting corporate taxes because it is a good idea?Ā AndĀ isĀ raising the minimum wage less likely because it is a bad idea? Iā€™ll come back toĀ theseĀ questions below,Ā but the short answers are ā€œnoā€ and ā€œno.ā€ If they are not bad ideas, thenĀ isĀ itĀ hard to raise the minimum wage and easierā€¦ Continue reading

PBPC-State Innovation Exchange Poll on Budget and Democracy Issues

The poll we are releasing today was commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange and the PA Budget and Policy Center. It is the third poll on tax, budget, and democracy issues sponsored by the two organizations. The poll is also part of a six-state public opinion survey effort by the State Innovation Exchange. Topline Findings: American Rescue Plan and PA Budget As the Pennsylvania economy continues to reverse course from the pandemic, this poll shows clearly that PA voters have a big appetite for public investment and little appetite for austerity. The poll shows that by a 3-1 margin Pennsylvanians prefer investing American Rescue Plan funds in people and businesses over using the money to pay down structural budget deficits. It shows overwhelming support for a range of public investments with ARP funds, including: Low-interest small business loans Combating homelessness, lack of affordable housing, and food insecurity Hazard pay forā€¦ Continue reading