Nearly 2/3 of Pennsylvanians Support Taxing Billionaires, Corporations and Big Tech, New RealClearPolitics Poll Finds
PENNSYLVANIA – Nearly two-thirds of Pennsylvanians (64%) support taxing billionaires, wealthy corporations and Big Tech, according to new polling released this week by RealClearPolitics, demonstrating broad public support for the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA campaign to generate new state revenue.
The polling underscores growing public demand for a fairer tax system on the heels of a state budget that failed to secure recurring new revenue ahead of another round of looming federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
Ray Murphy, co-director of Pennsylvanians for Accountability from Yass, Billionaires and Corporations (PAYBAC) which leads the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA campaign, said:
"Taxing the rich is popular and this poll proves that Pennsylvanians want to see Big Tech, corporations and billionaires pay what they owe. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are already hurting from cuts to Pennie, Medicaid and SNAP. The next state budget will force lawmakers to make difficult choices and raise someone’s taxes. This poll is a wake up call for legislators that Pennsylvanians are clear on how they want the affordability crisis addressed. Across party lines, voters want new revenue to come from the billionaires and corporations who can most afford it – not from working families.”
Key poll findings include:
64% support increasing taxes on billionaires, wealthy corporations, and Big Tech companies, only 18% oppose.
Taxing Big Tech’s digital ads and closing corporate tax loopholes are among top choices for raising new state revenue. When asked the best way to raise more money for state programs 19% say taxing Google, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok’s digital advertising is the best solution, 18% say closing corporate tax loopholes is the best solution, and 20% say legalizing and taxing cannabis is the best solution.
42% support increasing the tax rate on income from stocks, trust funds, estates, and real estate sales, only 28% oppose.
49% believe the tax exemption for equipment purchased by data centers is a bad thing, only 17% think it’s a good thing.
In June, the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA campaign championed a digital ad tax on Big Tech that passed the House in a bipartisan vote (139-63), but was not included in the final budget package. The proposal would generate about $500 million recurring annual revenue by expanding Pennsylvania’s existing 5% Gross Receipts Tax to include digital advertising platforms like Google and Meta.
The digital ad tax is one part of the Tax Billionaires, Fund PA revenue package that would raise nearly $6 billion in new revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes, taxing billionaires’ unearned income, and requiring Big Tech to pay taxes on the digital ads that profit off Pennsylvania consumers and their data.
The full package has the support of 48 legislators and a growing coalition of labor and community organizations across the state.
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Pennsylvanians for Accountability from Yass, Billionaires and Corporations (PAYBAC) Table is a coalition of state-wide organizations that lead the All Eyes on Yass and Tax Billionaires, Fund PA campaigns.
Tax Billionaires, Fund PA is endorsed by the Action Center on Race and the Economy, Center for Coalfield Justice, Free the Ballot, Little Sis, Make the Road PA, One Pennsylvania, PA United, Pennsylvania Stands Up, PA Local Progress, PA Working Families Power, SEIU State Council, SEIU 32BJ, SEIU 668 and SEIU Healthcare PA.
Additional supporters include: 1Hood, 215 People’s Alliance, American Federation of Teacher Local 2026, Amistad Law Project, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance (API PA), Healing Communities PA, High School Democrats of Philadelphia, Philly Black Worker Project, Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, Philadelphia Unemployment Project, POWER Interfaith, Reclaim Philadelphia, Transit for All PA!, UUJusticePA and VietLead.
The PAYBAC Table Steering Committee includes ACRE Campaigns, PA Working Families, POWER, PA Stands Up, OnePA, Free the Ballot, Make the Road Action PA and more.