PA Senate May Vote to Raise Sales Tax to 6.5%

The Pennsylvania Senate is considering a plan to raise the state sales tax to 6.5 percent, as part of an effort to cut school property taxes. The new sales tax in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties would increase to 7.5%. Other plans under consideration include raising the state income tax again, from 3.07 to 3.29 percent, and removing a sales tax exemption on about 20 goods and services, ranging from consulting and housekeeping services, to car trade-ins and sports tickets. Is shuffling all of this money around really addressing the property tax problem? Or is it just an attempt by legislators to try and appease the voters before this year's elections?