"Reverse Robin Hood" Tax Plan - Boo, Brownback!

[AnywhereElse]

" What Brownback's plan does is stop the leeching and for only $156 per YEAR turns this same group of folks into contributors collectively in the $80 million range"

I find it very offensive to consider the working poor as "leeching". They are "leeching" because they don't earn a living wage which means the place they work is making the government subsidy necessary. A place like the big box store that pays so little that the employees needs food stamps and low income housing so that others making a better wage can pay less for what they buy and the owners/investors can put more in their pocket. Please don't say they should get an education to earn more because someone has to do these jobs and the last thing we need is more illegals being employed in these positions. Until you actually live where the majority of people around you are the working poor, I don't think you can understand what is really happening.

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

The way I read this article is that Kansas taxpayers making less than $25K would pay an average of $156 per year more than currently, assuming the facts in this article are correct and this tax formula goes through. Also, it says taxpayers in this group currently receive $2 million more than they actually pay in taxes. I assume via certain tax credits and deductions. That is income redistribution, which we all know Republicans don't support, so who's surprised? The article also says this group of folks paying on average $156 more per year will as a whole be paying about $80 million into the state income tax system versus sucking $2 million out! THAT is a major improvement. A minor $156 more per year to pay their fair share and contribute rather than hang off a tit? I like it and YES, that should make these workers feel better about working.

What I'm not sure about is getting rid of the mortgage interest and charitable contribution tax deductions.

^I still feel this way. Very strongly, in fact. Everybody should be contributing and know that they are doing so. We don't need any more ammo for folks to point and belittle those who don't pay into income tax systems. It's not people's faults that they end up having to pay nothing in, it's just the law, and that should change. Actually, a plan similar to Brownback's should be put into effect at the federal level as well. I'm all for it, and I believe Romney has a similar plan in mind.

That said, what's the status of Brownback's tax plan for Kansas?

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

Look at what Philly has done to their city with a 5% city tax.

Actually, the wage tax is about 3.5% these days, slightly more for suburban PA commuters. The revenue situation is more complex than the wage tax, of course - including an inability to properly assess and collect property taxes from individual homeowners and corporate landowners - but that's another topic for another forum.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Actually, the wage tax is about 3.5% these days, slightly more for suburban PA commuters. The revenue situation is more complex than the wage tax, of course - including an inability to properly assess and collect property taxes from individual homeowners and corporate landowners - but that's another topic for another forum.

Ah, cool. I was basing it off some work I did about 10 years or more ago. Thanks for the update.