Santarsiero To Christie: Let NJ Workers Living In PA Pay PA Income Taxes

Pennsylvania state Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) is urging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to uphold an agreement between the states that allows Pennsylvania residents working in New Jersey to pay income tax in their home state rather than their state of employment, according to a release from Santarsiero.

Santarsiero has gotten over 4,200 signatures on a petition that is calling for Christie to uphold the pact that has been in effect for nearly 40 years, the release said.

"I am hearing from Pennsylvania residents – especially those in Bucks County – who work in New Jersey and have been planning their household budgets based on this tax agreement," Santarsiero said in the release. "Now family finances are being turned upside down by the action of just one individual – Gov. Christie."

Not only has Santersiero garnered support via petition, he and state Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery)

introduced legislation calling on Christie not to break the agreement, the release said. Just a few months ago Santarsiero delivered a petition with more than 3,000 signatures to Christie he announced that New Jersey would no longer be party to the agreement as of Jan. 1, 2017, the release said.

According to the release, Santarsiero has spoken with Gov. Tom Wolf about inviting businesses to move to Pennsylvania to protect their workers from this drastic personal income tax hike and said a lawsuit could be filed on behalf of Bucks County residents.

"We are exploring every opportunity to bring both states together to hammer out a new agreement to protect current workers," Santarsiero said in the release.

Image via Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus