Santarsiero speaking earlier this year.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
State Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) said Thursday that people are signing his petition against the dramatic tax increase expected if New Jersey exits a bi-state tax pact.
Santarsiero, who launched the petition last week, is aimed at discouraging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from pursuing an end to the agreement that allows commuters in both states to pay income tax in their state of residence. The petition has nearly 2,000 signatures.
“I have invited my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Bucks and other Southeast PA counties to fight this,” said Santarsiero. “Together we can deliver the petitions to Governor Christie and urge him to seek an alternative to taxing commuters.”
The petition is in direct response to Christie’s review of the nearly four decade-old reciprocal income tax agreement agreement between the two states. It is unclear whether or not the agreement could be terminated unilaterally by the governor or if legislative approval is needed.
Read or sign Santarsiero’s petition here
“Governor Christie is eyeing $180 million from Pennsylvania residents working in the Garden State to help his budget woes,” Santarsiero said. “But it’s extremely unfair to suddenly burden our residents with this tax after they took their jobs under far different circumstances.”
According to Santarsiero, he has written to Pennsylvania Revenue Secretary Eileen McNulty requesting a review of the agreement from Pennsylvania’s perspective and soliciting recommendations for protecting Pennsylvania residents from the steep tax increase that would result from ending the agreement.
Santarsiero’s Republican opponent for the Eighth District congressional race, Brian Fitzpatrick has also posted a letter he is asking those opposed to the ending of the tax agreement to sign.
