Kansas GOP: Poor Are Too Rich

[babylonsister]

http://prospect.org/article/kansas-gop-poor-are-too-rich

Kansas GOP: Poor Are Too Rich

Jamelle Bouie

February 24, 2012

Republicans unveil a new plan raising taxes on the poorest people in the state.


Kansas Republicans, under the leadership of “compassionate conservative” Sam Brownback, are working hard to stick it to the poor:

A Kansas House tax committee passed a bill in which anyone making less than $25,000 a year — roughly half a million of the state’s 2.9 million residents — will pay an average of $72 more in taxes, while those making more than $250,000 — about 21,000 people — will see a $1,500 cut, according to Kansas Department of Revenue estimates cited by the Kansas City Star.

The hike would come from the elimination of tax credits typically benefiting the poor.

I can’t help but see this as a continuation of the conservative meme that its the poor who don’t pay their “fair share.” Last fall, as the Occupy movement gained steam, it became common for conservatives to complain about the 47 percent of Americans who “don’t pay taxes.” Presidential candidates like Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry complained about it in speeches and debate performances, while conservative activists (Redstate’s Erick Erickson comes to mind) touted it in response to the Occupy movement.

Of course, the claim was misleading to the extreme; all Americans pay something to the government—sales taxes, payroll taxes, and various state taxes—but only some make enough money to owe federal income taxes. Those that don’t, as Annie Lowrey explained for Slate, are either poor, or benefit from a variety of tax deductions:

About half of households within that 47 percent do not end up paying federal income tax because they qualify for enough breaks to cancel their tax obligations out. Of that group, 44 percent are claiming tax benefits for the elderly, like an exemption for Social Security payments. And 30.4 percent are claiming credits for “children and the working poor,” like the child-care tax credit. The remainder get breaks for investment income, spending on education, itemized deductions, and a mish-mash of other things. When combined, it’s all enough to cancel out their income tax requirements.

snip//

One last thing: Kansas Republicans say that this proposal is to make the state more competitive. “Our goal is for our economy to look more like Texas, and a lot less like California,” said Brownback. If that’s the case, then the Kansas GOP should spend less time trying to raise taxes on poor people, and more time trying to encourage immigration. More than anything, Texas has been a beneficiary of the fact that people want to live there. As it stands, however, conservatives in Kansas would rather joke about shooting immigrants than work to bring them to the state.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!! n/t

[socialindependocrat]

2. Repugs trying to piss off the whole country

This is absolutely unbelieveable!!!

The GOP is systematically pissing off everyone in the country
just during an election year.

The only thing I can think of is that the GOP is going to show the
world how they can be the most hated people in society and still
manage to steal the next election.

If a Republican is elected president in 2012 I am going to join
the Franciscan order because it will be the only safe place to be.
These people are nuts!

[babylonsister]

3. "These people are nuts!" Yep. nt

[Quantess]

4. The poor have no lobbyists.

[sarcasmo]

5. Brownbacks war on the poor. This douche bag has eyes on the White House

Bookmarking for future use.

[babylonsister]

10. Good, bookmark it. I heard recently about what a nice guy he is (from a Dem, can't remember

where) but he is and always will be a dirtbag imo.

[New Yawker]

6. Considering that I'm planning to stop in Topeka next month

I am not sure if I'm going to be spending anything there other than a place to sleep and a place to eat and a place to fuel and move on to the West.

[Zalatix]

7. Does anyone now doubt what I said when I said the point is to get rid of poor people?

They're not using cattle cars or concentration camps this time, this time it's about neglect via mass deprivation.


And as for immigrants - how about providing jobs for the people who already live there?

[MrScorpio]

8. ...And the rich are too poor.

I've heard this song before.

[New Yawker]

9. !

More than anything, Texas has been a beneficiary of the fact that people want to live there. As it stands, however, conservatives in Kansas would rather joke about shooting immigrants than work to bring them to the state.

I would think they would move to the next more progressive state to the west of Kansas - Colorado.

Once Colorado kicks out that Republican legislator (a female) that got caught in a DUI and got off scot-free due to a quirk in the law (and people are PISSED about it), then the Legislature will be +1 Democratic if the Grand Junction Republican is kicked out for abusing her privileges. The Senate is already a Democratic majority, then it'll be a full Democratic state with only 3 Rethugs to deal with in a redistricted area that favors Democratic side. Colorado has done a good job (despite the Republican whines) on the redistricting side, and was recently upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court, siding with the Democratic redistricting map.

10 years ago, there was a huge fight regarding the 6th District (Beauprez, remember that scumbag?) that eventually favored Republicans.

Not this time, pal.

So my suggestions to Kansans who doesn't want to deal with the Brownhole government can freely move to Colorado to the West.

It's a beautiful state, if I say so myself.