Not mentioned in the report are some of the factors that play into high sales tax rates. In the South, especially, property taxes are very low, and voters have historically rejected attempts to raise them. The region also has a history of handing out huge tax breaks to large manufactures in order to persuade them to move there.
Alabama, for example, handed out a sweet package of $253 million in tax breaks and other incentives in order to woo a Mercedes-Benz plant to the state in 1993. A decade later, the plant reaped an additional $11.5 million in tax breaks for an expansion that didn't create any new jobs.
Washington, number four on the list, passed a package of $9 billion in tax breaks in November in order to keep Boeing to locate production of its newest jet in Seattle.
So with few other options available to pay for things like roads and schools, states have been forced to boost sales taxes, a form of revenue generation generally considered regressive -- meaning it hurts poor people the most.
That's because the cost of food, clothing and other purchased goods tend to make up a higher percentage of a low income consumer's budget than for people with higher incomes.
The poor are also less likely to own property, and thus less likely to benefit from lower tax rates for homes and land.
Showing posts with label conservatives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conservatives. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Tax-Hating States Totally Fine With Taxing The Poor
As everyone knows, Southern politicians despise taxes more than just about anything -- except perhaps cornbread with sugar, or iced tea without.
This established rule of the universe makes a new report by the Tax Foundation especially curious, at least at first look. The group, which typically takes an anti-tax stance, combined each state's sales tax rate with the average local sales tax rate, as of Jan. 1.
The group found that the five states with the highest average combined state-local tax rates are mostly Southern-fried: Tennessee (9.45 percent), Arkansas (9.19 percent), Louisiana (8.89 percent), Washington (8.88 percent), and Oklahoma (8.72 percent).
The combined sales tax rate is also high in New York (8.47 percent) and California (8.40).
Four states, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire and Delaware, collect no sales taxes at all.
(Story continues after chart.)
Not mentioned in the report are some of the factors that play into high sales tax rates. In the South, especially, property taxes are very low, and voters have historically rejected attempts to raise them. The region also has a history of handing out huge tax breaks to large manufactures in order to persuade them to move there.
Alabama, for example, handed out a sweet package of $253 million in tax breaks and other incentives in order to woo a Mercedes-Benz plant to the state in 1993. A decade later, the plant reaped an additional $11.5 million in tax breaks for an expansion that didn't create any new jobs.
Washington, number four on the list, passed a package of $9 billion in tax breaks in November in order to keep Boeing to locate production of its newest jet in Seattle.
So with few other options available to pay for things like roads and schools, states have been forced to boost sales taxes, a form of revenue generation generally considered regressive -- meaning it hurts poor people the most.
That's because the cost of food, clothing and other purchased goods tend to make up a higher percentage of a low income consumer's budget than for people with higher incomes.
The poor are also less likely to own property, and thus less likely to benefit from lower tax rates for homes and land.
Not mentioned in the report are some of the factors that play into high sales tax rates. In the South, especially, property taxes are very low, and voters have historically rejected attempts to raise them. The region also has a history of handing out huge tax breaks to large manufactures in order to persuade them to move there.
Alabama, for example, handed out a sweet package of $253 million in tax breaks and other incentives in order to woo a Mercedes-Benz plant to the state in 1993. A decade later, the plant reaped an additional $11.5 million in tax breaks for an expansion that didn't create any new jobs.
Washington, number four on the list, passed a package of $9 billion in tax breaks in November in order to keep Boeing to locate production of its newest jet in Seattle.
So with few other options available to pay for things like roads and schools, states have been forced to boost sales taxes, a form of revenue generation generally considered regressive -- meaning it hurts poor people the most.
That's because the cost of food, clothing and other purchased goods tend to make up a higher percentage of a low income consumer's budget than for people with higher incomes.
The poor are also less likely to own property, and thus less likely to benefit from lower tax rates for homes and land.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Backlash Over Remarks About Shooting Liberals Ends Columnist's Radio Gig
It must be an election year, because there's no other reason for wingers who never do anything about their crazies to react to the backlash over Austin Ruse's statement that "liberal professors should just be taken out and shot."
After Mr. Ruse made those remarks, he went back on the radio Thursday and ranted about how meaaaan RightWingWatch was to him.Ruse started today’s show by explaining that his remarks yesterday weren’t serious and that liberals should “turn to Wikipedia or the Internet, I don’t know if they know how to use the Internet.”
“The pajama boys over at Right Wing Watch have their panties all in a twist about what I said, and I sometimes think that the left is really dumb, these are the low-information voters that make all of these mistakes when they get into the ballot box and all of these mistakes as they go through their lives and one of the reasons is because they are so dumb,” he said.
Low information voters...oh, how they make me laugh. Ruse ranted on:
“These people, these dumb leftists, are really smear merchants, they’re out to hurt, to harm, to isolate,” Ruse said. “They don’t like me, they don’t like you, they don’t like your children, they don’t like anything about you and they want you to basically shut up and go away…. It’s quite astounding what these folks are able to get away with and it’s also astounding how dumb they are.”
And then he took to Twitter and ranted some more. He also spent some time on Facebook ranting, right after deactivated his Twitter account due to "leftist swarm." Mr. Ruse was not a happy camper.
In an abrupt about-face, Ruse issued an apology on Friday, but it was too late. Of course, one might ask why he apologized via a statement to Talking Points Memo instead of directly to the Right Wing Watch folks, but I think we all know the answer to that. And the apology wasn't really to liberal professors, as you'll see:
“I deeply regret and apologize for using the expression 'taken out and shot' on the Sandy Rios Show this week. It was not intended to be taken literally. I have dedicated my life and career to ending violence. I regret that these poorly chosen words are being used to attack my friends at American Family Radio and American Family Association.”
See, professors! He's not a bit sorry that he might have offended you, but he really does feel badly about the backlash directed at American Family Association, which is well known for its consistency when it comes to offensive, gay-bashing, hating statements.
AFA terminated his position as substitute radio host with a terse statement that “AFR condemns such comments, no matter who makes them.”
AFA also allowed that "his comments were “un-Christian.” Gosh, ya think? I spent the last two days looking for that passage in the Bible about how Jesus commanded Christians to hunt down liberals and shoot them. Alas, no luck. So yeah, I'd agree with that.
It's good that they acknowledged how odious his comments were. However, they're certainly not off the hook when they leave wingnuts like Brian Fischer out there with weak disclaimers about how he doesn't speak for them. Either they should clean the whole house, or not bother at all.
Arizona GOP congressional candidate: Slavery wasn't so bad, ‘kept business rolling’
An Arizona Republican who is running to represent the state’s 2nd District in Congress wrote on Facebook that the institution of slavery wasn’t really so hard on slaves and was actually good for the economy.
According to the Root’s Keli Goff, Arizona congressional hopeful Jim Brown was trying to make a statement about federal spending and the nature of “entitlements” when he veered off course into racially offensive territory.
“Back in the day of slavery, slaves were kept in slavery by denying them education and opportunity while providing them with their basic needs,” wrote Brown. “Not by beating them and starving them,” he said, adding “Although there were isolated cases, of course.”
“Basically slave owners took pretty good care of their slaves and livestock and this kept business rolling along,” he said.
As Goff noted, “This flies in the face of all credible historical accounts.”
Brown began his congressional run earlier this year, running to represent Arizona’s District 1, then abruptly switching to District 2. In both districts, he faced vulnerable Democratic opponents. In District 2, he would run against Democratic Rep. Ron Barber. First, however, he has to win the Republican primary in August.
He apologized for the remarks and took down the Facebook post on Friday.
“Some people read this to mean that I didn’t think slavery was that bad. I believe that slavery is worse than death — yesterday, today and tomorrow. I apologize to anyone I offended,” he wrote.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Dem State Rep: GOP Would Back Abortion if Black Men Impregnated Their Daughters
Monday, February 24, 2014
Powerful GOP lobbyist drafts bill to ban gay athletes from playing in the NFL
Powerful GOP lobbyist drafts bill to ban gay athletes from playing in the NFL (via Raw Story )Washington lobbyist Jack Burkman issued a statement saying that his firm, J M Burkman & Associates, is preparing legislation that would ban gay athletes from playing in the National Football League (NFL). In a statement, Burkman wrote that “We are…
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Alaskan Conservative Radio Host Rips Lying Palin & GOP
Dan Fagan is a prominent conservative talk radio host in Anchorage, Alaska on station KFQD. In a column in the Anchorage Daily News, Fagan joins the ranks of conservatives who no longer drink the Palin Kool-Aid. In a bit of reporting about events of which many of us in the lower 48 were unaware, Fagan opens the column by describing a Monday press conference in which Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton attacked former Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan. Fagan describes Stapleton as sounding "plain, desperate, and obvious" and "pure shrill." Fagan says Stapleton described Monegan's behavior as "egregious insubordination, full of obstructionist conduct and a brazen refusal to follow instructions." We non-Alaskans forget that Monegan had a long, respected history in Alaska. That's why his firing drove 10 Republicans to vote unanimously with four Democrats to allocate $100,000 to investigate if there was any wrong-doing when he was dismissed. That is evidenced in Fagan's tone:
Did Walt Monegan, former Marine, and lifetime crime fighter deserve this? Of course not. But history has proven, get in the way of Sarah Barracuda's political ambition, and you won't know what hit you. If anyone should be on the hot seat, it's not Monegan, but Palin for her inconsistencies.
Fagan lists a few of the shifting excuses Palin has given for firing Monegan, starting with "we need new direction" and "new energy" followed by "he wasn't hiring enough cops," to "he wasn't doing enough about alcohol in the bush" to "he lobbied for budget increases" to finally the latest version - Monegan displayed "egregious rogue behavior."
Fagan goes on to say that Palin has changed her story concerning whether she was aware of any contact with Monegan from her husband Todd or from those in her office. And after the investigation was started, Palin first said she and her employees would fully cooperate before she and her office stonewalled the investigators.
It appears Alaskans are divided between pride in one of their own on the national stage and desire to get to the truth in the investigation. Fagan feels caught in the crossfire of these desires:
Republicans scold me all the time, "You don't want Obama to win do you? Stop
criticizing Palin!"
My question to my conservative friends is simple. Does the truth still matter?
...But some Republican leaders are abandoning truth and closing ranks to help Palin cover up her scandal by attacking the investigation.
Fagan takes particular Republican politicians to task, such as Lt. Governor Sean Parnell and state Representative John Coghill, and praises Republican state Senator Charlie Huggins, who was the swing vote that allowed for the issuance of subpoenas. Fagan ultimately shows an integrity sorely lacking in his more power hungry Republicans:
My fellow conservatives, remember how frustrating it was when Bill Clinton committed perjury and liberals looked the other way. As conservatives, we are no better unless we demand full disclosure from our governor when it comes to Troopergate.
No politician is so popular and charismatic that they should be above accountability and telling the truth. Not even Sarah Palin.
People can argue whether Bill Clinton deserved impeachment for his indiscretions and lies, but at least it's refreshing to see a conservative believes that the rules Republicans want to apply to Democrats should also apply to themselves.
This is not the first time Fagan has criticized Palin. Remember that appearance of Palin with those two radio shock jocks who ripped into Republican state Senate President and cancer survivor Lyda Green as a "bitch" and a "cancer" and Palin just sat by and laughed? Fagan was not amused: Palin's responses on radio talk show very unbecoming
The governor's appearance on KWHL's "The Bob and Mark Show" last week is plain and simple one of the most unprofessional, childish and inexcusable performances I've ever seen from a politician... It was conduct unbecoming a human being, never mind a governor.
The governor's office eventually tried to spin the public relations disaster, releasing a statement reading, "Governor Palin was caught off guard by Bob Lester's reference to Senate President Lyda Green." I don't buy it. Early on in the conversation before Palin started to crack up, Lester referred to Sen. Green as a jealous woman and a cancer. Palin, who knows full well Lyda Green is a cancer survivor, didn't do what any decent person would do, say, "Bob, that's going too far."
I've read some other stuff about Fagan - such as some remarks concerning Muslims - with which that I fervently disagree. But it seems Fagan does not tolerate when Republicans get ugly with each other or good public servants are mistreated.
Did Walt Monegan, former Marine, and lifetime crime fighter deserve this? Of course not. But history has proven, get in the way of Sarah Barracuda's political ambition, and you won't know what hit you. If anyone should be on the hot seat, it's not Monegan, but Palin for her inconsistencies.
Fagan lists a few of the shifting excuses Palin has given for firing Monegan, starting with "we need new direction" and "new energy" followed by "he wasn't hiring enough cops," to "he wasn't doing enough about alcohol in the bush" to "he lobbied for budget increases" to finally the latest version - Monegan displayed "egregious rogue behavior."
Fagan goes on to say that Palin has changed her story concerning whether she was aware of any contact with Monegan from her husband Todd or from those in her office. And after the investigation was started, Palin first said she and her employees would fully cooperate before she and her office stonewalled the investigators.
It appears Alaskans are divided between pride in one of their own on the national stage and desire to get to the truth in the investigation. Fagan feels caught in the crossfire of these desires:
Republicans scold me all the time, "You don't want Obama to win do you? Stop
criticizing Palin!"
My question to my conservative friends is simple. Does the truth still matter?
...But some Republican leaders are abandoning truth and closing ranks to help Palin cover up her scandal by attacking the investigation.
Fagan takes particular Republican politicians to task, such as Lt. Governor Sean Parnell and state Representative John Coghill, and praises Republican state Senator Charlie Huggins, who was the swing vote that allowed for the issuance of subpoenas. Fagan ultimately shows an integrity sorely lacking in his more power hungry Republicans:
My fellow conservatives, remember how frustrating it was when Bill Clinton committed perjury and liberals looked the other way. As conservatives, we are no better unless we demand full disclosure from our governor when it comes to Troopergate.
No politician is so popular and charismatic that they should be above accountability and telling the truth. Not even Sarah Palin.
People can argue whether Bill Clinton deserved impeachment for his indiscretions and lies, but at least it's refreshing to see a conservative believes that the rules Republicans want to apply to Democrats should also apply to themselves.
This is not the first time Fagan has criticized Palin. Remember that appearance of Palin with those two radio shock jocks who ripped into Republican state Senate President and cancer survivor Lyda Green as a "bitch" and a "cancer" and Palin just sat by and laughed? Fagan was not amused: Palin's responses on radio talk show very unbecoming
The governor's appearance on KWHL's "The Bob and Mark Show" last week is plain and simple one of the most unprofessional, childish and inexcusable performances I've ever seen from a politician... It was conduct unbecoming a human being, never mind a governor.
The governor's office eventually tried to spin the public relations disaster, releasing a statement reading, "Governor Palin was caught off guard by Bob Lester's reference to Senate President Lyda Green." I don't buy it. Early on in the conversation before Palin started to crack up, Lester referred to Sen. Green as a jealous woman and a cancer. Palin, who knows full well Lyda Green is a cancer survivor, didn't do what any decent person would do, say, "Bob, that's going too far."
I've read some other stuff about Fagan - such as some remarks concerning Muslims - with which that I fervently disagree. But it seems Fagan does not tolerate when Republicans get ugly with each other or good public servants are mistreated.
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