Governor Ed Rendell's (D-PA) Tax Scheme

Those of us in Pennsylvania are about to get royally screwed once again by Mr. Ed. Citing increases in the state welfare rolls, he has proposed $500 million in spending cuts. To offset the spending increase, he wants to raise the state income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.57 percent. That's about $250 m

ore annually for someone making $50,000 a year.

Janis McDonald, an administrator for UPMC, blames "the way they spend money" in state government.

"I would like to see a copy of that state budget," said McDonald, 62, a registered Democrat from Herminie. "I'll betcha I could make the necessary cuts -- God knows I've already had to do it at home.

"The people on the dole can't pay. God knows the wealthy won't pay; they'll wiggle their way out of it. Most don't pay income tax, per se," she said. "(Rendell) just goes around with that smirk on his face. I say, you better just keep your hands out of my pocket."

Rendell contends that four of 10 people in Pennsylvania don't pay income tax because they're senior citizens or have lower incomes. That leaves us honest, hard-working schmucks in the other 60 percent.

During his tenure, the state budget increased 37 percent, more than twice the rate of inflation. From the 2002-2003 budget to the 2008-2009 budget in effect, the budget increased $7.6 billion to $28.3 billion. And he wants everyone else to sacrifice. He so reminds me of a union thug!

In many ways, Pennsylvania has become a microcosm of California. Higher taxes, corruption, and small sections of the state dictating what the rest of us get. People in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas, where population is heaviest, would rather die than vote Republican. Our last Republican governor was Mark Schweiker, who took over for Tom Ridge when Ridge left to be Homeland Security Secretary. Even that wasn't true conservatism.

Pennsylvania has always been my home. It saddens me to see the wrecking ball of government coming for it.

Fair Tax, anyone?