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Saturday, February 15, 2003

By Timothy McNulty, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Mayor Tom Murphy held his latest meeting with state legislators yesterday to lobby for his new alcohol and payroll tax proposals.

Murphy met with four of the city's Democratic state representatives -- Michael Diven of Brookline, Dan Frankel of Squirrel Hill, Joe Preston of East Liberty and Harry Readshaw of Carrick -- in his office for more than 90 minutes to discuss the city's half-percent payroll tax and 10 percent alcohol tax plans. His last lobbying session with local legislators was Jan. 10.

Both proposals need approval from the Republican-controlled General Assembly to be implemented. Murphy will get a chance to make his case before state Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless, and other Republican legislators at a public hearing Tuesday.

The taxes would raise $29 million if implemented by July 1, to help fill an estimated $60 million budget gap.

A task force named by Gov. Ed Rendell to study Pittsburgh finances plans to issue its findings to Rendell by the governor's state budget speech, set for March 5, task force chair Joe Vignola said this week.

The state is facing its own budget problems, making it tougher to bail out Pittsburgh, said Diven.

"How can we make this happen, when the state is facing its own $2 billion deficit?" Diven said of the taxes.

He added that Murphy, a former state representative, is lobbying for any kind of state help possible, even if both tax proposals are not approved.

"The mayor said he would be receptive to any avenue," Diven said. "Having been in the Legislature, he recognizes the need to be a little flexible in working through legislation."