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GOP Congressman Says Poor People Don’t Pay Enough Taxes
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/15/1865461/gop-congressman-says-poor-people-dont-pay-enough-taxes/When the history books are written about the 2012 presidential election, the leaked video of Mitt Romney disparaging half of the country as a bunch of lazy, greedy, government moochers may very well have its own chapter, and yet Republicans are quick to forget just how damaging the remark was.
The latest is Congressman Rob Woodall (R-GA), who leapt to the defense of Romney during a town hall meeting last month, doubling down on the 47 percent comment while also proposing that Americans should have to pay taxes in order to vote in elections:
You know, folks mock Mitt Romney for what he said, but hes right. Forty-seven percent of American citizens pay zero in income taxes. Its just true, Woodall said, according to remarks recorded by Georgia Fair Share.
(...)
In fact, the bottom 30% of American citizens profit from the tax code because theyre getting refundable tax credits back, Woodall says in the video. I dont care if youre paying a dollar. You need to believe that you are involved in the process, and you need to have skin in the game.
The comment was flagged by the Huffington Post, which points out that the statistic is deeply misleading. Included in Woodall and Romneys broad dismissal of 47 percent of the electorate are millions of retired seniors who no longer have an income and millions more low-income families and individuals who do not meet the $20,000 liability threshold for federal income taxes. And all of these people still pay into government programs through sales taxes and, in many cases, payroll taxes.
Woodalls comment that the bottom 30% of American citizens profit from the tax code conveniently neglects to mention that most of the tax credits in question were shepherded through Congress by Republican administrations.
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GOP Congressman Says Poor People Don’t Pay Enough Taxes (Original Post)
Bill USA
Apr 2013
OP
Heaven forbid they should be paid a living wage to enable them to pay taxes! Can't talk about that!
freshwest
Apr 2013
#2
Provide the same breaks that Romney had and they'll gladly pay their taxes...
Frustratedlady
Apr 2013
#5
swayne
(383 posts)1. What are the poor supposed to use for money?
These tea baggers really need to get a grip.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)2. Heaven forbid they should be paid a living wage to enable them to pay taxes! Can't talk about that!
Scuba
(53,475 posts)4. He must be leading the charge for a $15/hour minimum wage then, eh?
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)5. Provide the same breaks that Romney had and they'll gladly pay their taxes...
unlike Romney, who hid his.
Is there one brain in that party?
How about corporations? Oil companies? Ever heard of corporate welfare?
daveMN
(25 posts)6. I guess he forgot about the part of being poor where you don't have money
Typical GOP pig. The rich are victims and the poor have it easy.
I get so sick of hearing this BS about the "moocher class". How can so many ordinary people swallow that crap?
Americans should have to pay taxes in order to vote? Didn't we already settle that issue a long time ago?
Amendment XXIV
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)7. .
.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)8. GOP congressman is an idiot. nt
midnight
(26,624 posts)9. After preaching self reliance, Woodall says he will keep free Govt. health insurance cuz it's free..
Saw this comment at Huff post link.... Think it sums up this guys lack of awareness....