The following is part of a series of real-time responses on statements made by Secretary Tom Wolf during tonight’s Pennsylvania Chamber Gubernatorial debate with Governor Tom Corbett.

TOM WOLF ON TAXES

CLAIM:

Pennsylvanians who are ‘rich like me,’ should pay more.

RESPONSE:

Tom Wolf is a multi-millionaire who supports tax increases, yet pays less than his own ‘fair share’ of taxes.

Tom Wolf paid an 8% tax rate in 2010 on $1.4 million in income not including payroll taxes when the Congressional Budget Office’average federal tax rate that year was 18%.

Tom Wolf thinks middle class Pennsylvanians are rich like him, and want them and small businesses to pay more.

Multi-millionaire Tom Wolf told the Associated Press, “people like me should pay more,” when he makes over $1 million a year. Wolf’s personal income tax increase proposal would raise taxes on those with incomes between $70,000 and $90,000 a year, including small businesses.

In addition to an income tax hike, Wolf supports ObamaCare and special energy and carbon taxes and has supported tax increases on sales, garbage and home-heating fuels as Secretary of Revenue.

Tom Wolf supported and lobbied the legislature for a 17% increase in the sales tax as Secretary of Revenue along with new taxes on garbage, electricity and home-heating fuels. The largest tax increase in American history, ObamaCare, has Wolf’s full support, along with support for a special energy tax on natural gas, and a new carbon tax to shut down Pennsylvania coal. When Wolf was Revenue Secretary, taxes were through the roof, and over 150,000 jobs were lost.

Tom Wolf supports increasing the tax burden on middle class families and small businesses, yet moved his own company to Delaware to avoid those same higher taxes.

Tom Wolf is taking advantage of the Delaware loophole that allows Pennsylvania companies to pay less in taxes by incorporating in Delaware. On April 21, 2006, Wolf incorporated his company in Delaware. On May 5, 2006, Wolf sold off all but 11 percent of his stake in Wolf Organization in his capacity as Chairman and CEO. Wolf bought back into his company in 2009, but remains incorporated in Delaware.

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