Shapiro Outlines Plan To Help Pennsylvanians With Rising Costs, Gas Prices

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (Erie News Now) – In Pennsylvania, rising prices for consumers and the gas tax are shaping into some of the top policy priorities for many candidates running for governor.

Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, and the lone-Democrat running for governor, Josh Shapiro, has outlined his plan to address rising costs.

Shapiro recently introduced the plan alongside State Representative and candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis (D-Allegheny).

Both Shapiro and Davis have been campaigning together frequently in recent weeks around the commonwealth.

Shapiro says the three-part plan will help Pennsylvanians with rising costs, including the price for fuel.

The first part is to eliminate the commonwealth’s 11 percent sales tax on cellphones, which Shapiro says generates over $300 million in revenue each year, but is a burden for many families.

“We have an opportunity to put money back in the pockets of Pennsylvanians who are struggling and I think we need to act right now,” said Shapiro.

The plan also expands eligibility for the property tax and rent rebate program.

“The average senior is getting about $500 back in a property tax rent rebate. We want to increase that to $1,000,” said Shapiro. “Pennsylvanians, about 465,000 of them, are eligible for the property tax rebate. We want to increase that to 750,000 Pennsylvanians,” he added.

Lastly, the plan provides a $250 per-car rebate to help drivers with rising fuel costs.

“The Shapiro-Davis proposal is to give every single person with a registered car here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania $250 per car. You have two cars, you get $500, three, $750 and so on,” said Shapiro. “That’s a gas tax refund that would go to helping people offset the cost of increases in fuel prices, and we should do that right now,” he added.

The rebate would provide $250 for up to four cars per household.

Shapiro says he would use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for his plan, which he estimates would cost somewhere between $2.1 billion and $2.7 billion.