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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMMay 9, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Wednesday, May 9th, 2007
CONTACT: Tim Spreitzer
OFFICE: 215/253-4965
CELL: 215/514-0170
tim@evansformayor.com
PHILADELPHIA --- With the United States Mint of Philadelphia providing an appropriate background, Dwight Evans today discussed Chaka Fattah’s proposed tax increases for Philadelphia. Questioning the “fuzzy math” of candidate Fattah’s airport lease scheme, Evans stated that the issue of poverty reduction is too important to depend upon a plan built on a house of cards. Evans announced for Mayor before more than 1,200 supporters on December 11th; his campaign slogan is “A Safer Philadelphia – Block by Block.”
“The odds are that Chaka’s airport lease proposal just won’t fly anytime soon,” Evans stated today. “I have built a 27-year record of helping to lift people out of poverty, from increasing the state income tax poverty exemption to creating jobs through the Fresh Food Financing Initiative; I know that you can’t solve poverty through one silver bullet or one ill-conceived idea.”
Even more troubling to Evans is Fattah’s proposal to raise taxes on Philadelphians should his airport lease scheme not succeed. During the NBC 10 debate Monday evening, Fattah stated that should the funding from the airport deal not become available, he would still implement expensive new programs and stated, “If necessary, I’ll even raise taxes to do it.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, 05/08/07). Raising taxes for massive new spending is simply an unacceptable solution according to Evans since it would only increase the burden on working families that are already struggling in Philadelphia.
“We chose this location today because unlike Washington D.C. or the United State Mint behind me, Philadelphia can’t just print money,” Evans stated. “We must balance our budget every year, and I’m deeply concerned that Chaka Fattah sees raising taxes as our only alternative. As House Appropriations Chairman for 17 years, I’ve managed our state’s $25-billion budget and know how to fund our priorities. Tax increases are not the answer.”
Dwight Evans for Mayor •1500 Walnut St., Suite 501, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Paid for by Friends for Dwight Evans. B. Callands, Treasurer
1. Delivered over $30 million to the nationally-recognized Fresh Food Financing Initiative which has led to the opening of 11 supermarkets in underserved communities and created over 1,500 new jobs.
2. Created the Helping Working Families Task Force which led to the creation of Individual Development Accounts, credit counseling initiatives, and more financial literacy services for families.
3. Supported an increase in the state’s minimum wage.
4. Led the effort to establish minority-owned distribution routes for Tastykake drivers.
5. Helped create over 2,100 jobs in the West Oak Lane area by leveraging public and private partnerships in order to attract new jobs to the community.
6. Supported small businesses and entrepreneurship through the Enterprise Center and the creation of the Walter Lomax Retail Institute.
7. Introduced a measure to establish a state version of the Earned Income Tax Credit while advocating for more resources to help Philadelphians take advantage of the federal credit.
8. Funded educational options for disadvantaged parents through the Black Alliance for Education Options scholarship program.
9. Raised the state income tax poverty exemption to ease the tax burden on low-income Philadelphians while also increasing resources for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, targeted at providing health insurance for children in low-income families.
And….
10. The only mayoral candidate to successfully turn a neighborhood around, reduce crime and help lift people out of poverty by reforming schools, creating jobs and improving quality of life.
Congressman Chaka Fattah
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8th, 2007
Congressman Chaka Fattah
www.phillyforfattah.com, May 8th, 2007
Chaka Fattah says “The most valuable asset we have is our people”
[Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8th, 2007]
