HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement on Mayor Linda Thompson’s outrageous proposal to add more taxes to hardworking Pennsylvanians working in Harrisburg and Congressman Tim Holden’s refusal to protect his constituents from further hardship.

“As the economy continues its downward spiral of nearly double-digit unemployment rates, Mayor Thompson’s latest tax scheme just adds insult to injury,” Gleason said.  “The increasing tax burdens and anti-business policies of Democrats like Linda Thompson have caused Harrisburg’s economy to suffer and workers and investors to leave the city in droves. Under Congressman Tim Holden’s watch, Harrisburg’s economy has quickly gone from bad to worse, now ranking among America’s most bankrupt cities. Rather than stand up for the hardworking people of the 17^th District, Tim Holden continues to go along to get along with extreme liberal officials like Linda Thompson.

“Why isn’t Holden using his self-described ‘independent’ label to speak out against fellow Democrats like Thompson, who has a track record of failed leadership and fiscal mismanagement? Residents of the 17^th District need responsible leadership, they need job creation…they need a real leader like Dave Argall!”

With the city’s economy facing total collapse, embattled Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson has turned to punishing the very lifeblood of the city’s workforce. As the Wall Street Journal reported last week, Harrisburg has asked state officials to designate the area under “distressed status” – a move that would allow the already bankrupt state to provide emergency grants, loans and other bailouts. The move allows for the creation of new wage taxes to be placed on Harrisburg workers who live outside the city.

For more information, please visit www.pagop.org or call (717) 234-4901

# # #