Working Families to tell Turzai: ‘Rainy Day is here And we’re getting soaked by corporate welfare’

 

Pittsburgh, PA – On Thursday, May 19 at State Rep. Mike Turzai’s McCandless office, a coalition of workers, retirees, students and unemployed Western Pennsylvanians will open their umbrellas in protest of Rep. Turzai’s intention to sit on a “rainy day” $500 million revenue surplus in favor of cutting vital services to those who need them most. 

 

“Putting $500 million in the state’s piggy bank while the Governor and legislature cut nearly the same amount from programs targeted to Pennsylvania’s neediest citizens makes about as much sense as hitting yourself on the head with a hammer because it feels good when you quit,” said Tara Marks, Co-Director of Pittsburgh-based Just Harvest. 

 

The demonstration at Rep. Turzai’s office is being organized by the CLEAR Coalition (Coalition for Labor Engagement and Accountable Revenue), a coalition of labor organizations allied with community and social justice groups working for a fairer budget that focuses on enhancing the revenue side of the ledger. In addition to calling on the state to use its $500 million surplus, CLEAR points to the Delaware corporate tax loophole that allows Pennsylvania companies to avoid paying corporate taxes by setting up shell companies in Delaware and the glaring lack of any taxes on the Marcellus Shale industry as examples of lost revenue opportunities that could lead to a fairer budget.

 

The CLEAR action at Representative Turzai’s office follows similar events throughout the state including a rally in Harrisburg earlier this month that drew 5000 people to the Capitol to protest Governor Corbett’s budget.   CLEAR also launched a radio ad campaign (listen to ad at www.clearforpa.org) that began airing this week in the Pittsburgh media market calling on the Republicans to pass a budget that doesn’t rely on sacrifices put on working families while corporations are let off the hook. 

 

Remote interviews by telephone before and after the demonstration may be arranged by calling 412.352.0317.

 

What:              CLEAR Coalition Fair Budget Rally

 

Who:               Jean Friday, President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans; Catherine Balsamo, Western PA Member Coordinator for Working America; Tara Marks, Co-Director of Just Harvest;  CLEAR Coalition partners, workers and retirees 

 

When:               Thursday, May 19 at 4:30 p.m.

 

Where:             On the public way in front of Representative Turzai’s Pittsburgh constituent service office at 125 Hillvue Lane in McCandless