Tax credit proposal has flaws — but a good start

The state House passed a bill last month to provide tax credits to new teachers, nurses and police officers.

We have reservations about the measure, which is expected to face hurdles in the state Senate. We acknowledge a degree of validity to the criticisms of Republican leadership in the House, as reported by the Associated Press, that the measure’s failure to deliver relief to Pennsylvanians already working in these fields is unfair. Any approach that hinges on preferential taxation is likely to be unfair and to make our state’s tax system more convoluted.

However, we also must note that taxes in Pennsylvania and the U.S. are already rife with examples of favoritism and special treatment. Rejecting a measure that addresses critical shortages in important sectors of the workforce for a flaw without addressing and correcting how rampant that flaw already is seems to be the worst of both worlds.

We hope the Senate is able to improve this legislation or, if senators choose to reject it, able to propose bills that improve both our tax code and enable health care providers, schools and police departments to recruit needed personnel. Even if this proposal doesn’t quite hit the right mark, if it can begin a constructive conversation on these points it will have had some value.