UWP Backs Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit to Support ALICE Households
United Way of Pennsylvania advocates for legislation that helps more families thrive. We were proud to stand with Representative Chris Sappey from Chester County on April 8 to support her bill which would create the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, a refundable state tax credit that would provide tax relief to some ALICE households in our state. UWP President Kristen Rotz spoke at the press conference along with House Finance Committee Chair Rep. Steve Samuelson from Northampton County and Laura Mannion, President and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.
Representative Sappey highlighted the power of the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit to incentivize work and keep people in the workforce, which is what Pennsylvania’s economy, and our small businesses, need to be profitable. She talked about how much of a difference it makes to have taxes returned to people who need it to help make ends meet, helping to pay for groceries, child care, car repairs, or other emergencies.
Rotz spoke about how UWP has been supporting legislation for a refundable earned income tax credit in each of the last two legislative sessions, and urged Pennsylvania legislators to join the majority of US states who offer state level tax relief in the form of an income tax credit. She also noted that state income taxes have a disproportionate impact on low-income households in our state, because the lowest 20% of earners in our state pay almost 14% of their income on state and local taxes. UWP will continue working with Representative Sappey and other supporters to get the bill passed out of the House Finance Committee in April or May. You can take action to support the bill individually using our call to action to find your state elected officials and send them a letter to ask them to support the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit