There is a new solution for Pennsylvanians who want to pay more taxes: the Tax Me More bill.

Rep. Jeff Coleman, R-Armstrong and Indiana, proposed the bill in response to Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed income, beer and phone tax hikes.

"This bill was unveiled to coincide with the governor's proposal that asks for new taxes and spending and $2 million dollars of debt for Pennsylvania residents," Coleman said.

Tax Me More bills have been proposed in many states in the past few years when legislators have been dissatisfied with proposed tax increases. They encourage citizens who feel they are not paying enough taxes to voluntarily give money to a Tax Me More fund.

"These are tough times for Pennsylvania families, for Pennsylvania business," Coleman said. "This is the wrong time for higher taxes."

While Coleman is joined by 28 Democrats and Republicans cosponsoring the bill, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, is not one of them.

"It's kind of silly" Benninghoff said. "I understand the idea behind it has been done across the country, but it's a waste of time."

The state legislature is faced with thousands of bills each year, and there are more important things to spend time on than the Tax Me More bill, he said.

"We've had people send money [for the fund], but it's been nominal a couple thousand dollars," Benninghoff said.

"Now we have this small pot of money, but what do you do with it?" he said.

Even though Benninghoff is not enthusiastic about the Tax Me More fund, Coleman said there is a lot of support for the bill.

"Most Pennsylvanians share the idea that they are overtaxed," Coleman said.

The state's tax freedom day was April 14 this year, meaning virtually all the money citizens earned up until that date went toward paying various taxes, he said.

"It's simply too much," Coleman said.

The Tax Me More fund is a way for citizens to show their support for what the state is doing, he said. The government can gauge public opinion on legislative measures based on the money in the fund, Coleman said.

If the Tax Me More bill is passed by the general assembly Gov. Rendell would still have to sign the bill for it to go into effect.

The governor's support for the bill depends on Coleman's intentions, Rendell's spokesman Tom Hickey said.

"If Rep. Coleman is putting forth the effort to get citizens involved in earnest, we support him and wish him the best of luck, Hickey said.

But if the bill is being proposed in jest, Rendell does not support it, he added.

"The future of Pennsylvania is no joking matter," Hickey said.