Ten New Legislators Back $7B “Tax Billionaires, Fund PA” Revenue Plan Following Shapiro Budget Address

Written By Maryam Arain

HARRISBURG – As advocates visited legislative offices one day after Governor Shapiro released his budget proposal, ten new legislators signed on to Tax Billionaires, Fund PA, a revenue plan to generate $7 billion annually for Pennsylvania state coffers. With the support of 

Rep. Tim Briggs, Rep. Lisa Borowski, Rep. Heather Boyd, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Rep. Jen O’Mara, Rep. Tarah Probst, Rep. Chris Rabb, Rep. Melissa Shusterman, Rep. Izzy Smith Wade-El, and Rep. Paul Takac, the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA plan is now endorsed by 26 legislators, who have signed on to support all three revenue streams: Closing corporate tax loopholes, making big tech pay for digital ads, and taxing billionaires’ unearned income. 

PHOTOS from legislative visits

While Governor Shapiro’s address acknowledged the need to shore up social programs against federal instability and funding cuts, his proposal did not tap into the substantial revenue available from Pennsylvania’s wealthiest corporations and billionaires. 

With federal cuts from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBA) creating a $5 billion permanent hole in Pennsylvania’s state budget, Tax Billionaires, Fund PA would stabilize the state budget, enable the state to meet new federal mandates, and make up for significant cuts impacting Medicaid, Pennie, and SNAP. 

Chair of House Judiciary Committee Rep. Tim Briggs, who signed onto the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA plan, said:

“Many of my constituents count on Medicaid to see a doctor and SNAP to put dinner on the table, so I’m very concerned about how we make up for federal cuts that have gutted those lifelines. The Tax Billionaires, Fund PA revenue plan is just smart legislating: stabilizing our budget for years to come and protecting the hardworking families who do so much for our state.”

The 26 legislators endorsing the full Tax Billionaires, Fund PA revenue plan so far: 

  • Senator Nikil Saval

  • Senator Lindsey Williams 

  • Senator Katie Muth 

  • Senator Tim Kearney 

  • Representative Rick Krajewski 

  • Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, Chair of House Energy Committee

  • Representative Roni Green

  • Representative Ben Waxman

  • Representative Tim Briggs, Chair of House Judiciary Committee

  • Representative Izzy Smith Wade-El 

  • Representative Jen O’Mara

  • Representative Lisa Borowski

  • Representative Melissa Shusterman

  • Representative Tarik Khan

  • Representative Nikki Rivera

  • Representative La’Tasha Mayes

  • Representative Justin Fleming

  • Representative Joe Hohenstein

  • Representative Jose Giral

  • Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz

  • Representative John Inglis

  • Representative Heather Boyd

  • Representative Malcolm Kenyatta

  • Representative Tarah Probst

  • Representative Chris Rabb

  • Representative Paul Takac

TAX BILLIONAIRES, FUND PA PLAN: 

The Tax Billionaires, Fund PA package, backed by a broad coalition of legislators, community and labor groups, would close the gap created by federal cuts and raise nearly $7 billion in revenue this year alone:

  • Closing corporate tax loopholes = ~$1.5 billion revenue generated

  • Making Big Tech pay for digital ads cluttering our screens = ~$500 million revenue generated

  • Taxing billionaires’ unearned income = ~$4.8 billion

FEDERAL CUTS CREATED PENNSYLVANIA’S BUDGET SHORTFALL:

President Trump and Congress’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) will cost Pennsylvania about $46 billion over the next ten years, approximately $5 billion annually, in order to meet new federal mandates and make up for federal cuts, which most deeply impact SNAP and Medicaid, long-standing federal programs that support children, people with disabilities, and low-income people. New $5 billion spending will be required next year (FY 27-28), with $2 billion required this year (FY 26-27).

The OBBA requires Pennsylvania’s state budget to annually fund, starting this year: 

  • $62 million to implement new Medicaid work requirements, 

  • $125 million for the SNAP food assistance program. 

Another $1.5 billion would be needed this year in order to: 

  • Prevent electricity rate increases, 

  • Restore Medicaid and SNAP access for immigrants, and 

  • Cover subsidies that made ACA healthcare (Pennie) affordable.

All of the OBBA-driven funding needs are in addition to longstanding state priorities such as  increasing the state’s share of public education funding ($4 billion more per year) and consistent public transit funding ($590 million annually). Given the state’s Independent Fiscal Office projects a structural deficit, further additional revenue will be needed. 

Maryam Arain
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As Shapiro Acknowledges Need To Stabilize Against Federal Cuts, Revenue From Billionaires and Corporations Could Close $5B Gap