HARRISBURG, March 24, 2010 – Claiming that it would have a chilling effect on home ownership and the state’s struggling real estate industry, state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today said he will oppose expanding the sales tax to real estate transactions.

“Taxing real estate purchases would only deter or prevent Pennsylvanians from experiencing the American dream of home ownership,” Fontana said following a Capitol news conference. “The housing market is already in dire straits and this kind of action will only add to its woes.

“The Federal tax credit helped, but let’s not dilute that program by adding more costs to the real estate purchase. These taxes would only cause the American dream to be less affordable and, in some cases, shatter the ability of some people to own their own home.”

The proposal under consideration in Harrisburg would generate additional revenue for the state by expanding the sales tax to a multitude of goods and services that were previously exempt from the tax.