Taxes Divide National, State Republicans - WSJ

[question everything]

CHATHAM, Va. -- Even as President Bush and his national Republican Party boast of record tax cuts and vow to hold the line against future tax increases, Republicans here and elsewhere are undercutting the election-year message: They are for raising taxes.

Worried about declines in schools and basic services, many Republican leaders in the states say they have little choice. Not enjoying the luxury the federal government has of running deficits, they are less worried about the national party's antitax dogma than getting through the year.

The upshot is that taxes are creating a new divide between Republicans at the national level and those in the states, one that transcends the more familiar ideological rift between ascendant antitaxers and traditional budget-balancers. The federal-state split is particularly awkward given that the party controls both the White House and Congress and, at the same time, more statehouses than ever before.

(snip)


Virginia is only the latest state in the past three years in which Republican-led state legislatures, Republican governors or both, amid much intraparty battling, have backed big tax and fee increases. The motivation is both to fill budget gaps left by the national economic downturn and the states' outdated tax codes, and the need to meet growing education, health and infrastructure costs. Besides Alaska and Alabama, others include Nevada, Idaho, Ohio, Connecticut and Nebraska.

Yet events in pro-Republican Virginia -- visible from the White House and home to Bush administration and national party officials -- are the talk of party members in Washington, riling them this election season as no state has before.

(snip)


Write to Jackie Calmes at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB107724124060934820,00.html (paid subscription)

[BR_Parkway]

1. This needs to be a constant campaign theme

You're $300 Bush Tax cut is costing you $1,000 more in State and local taxes!

[havocmom]

2. Same thing in Calif when Regan was governor there

Lowered state taxes and counties/municipal governments had to raise taxes. That is why property taes took such a sudden jump.

My ol granny said "You pay for what you need, whether you buy it or not." It is true for services and infastructure we all use and need to make this nation go. Cannot fathom why people are so dense on that issue.

[bpyatt]

3. A Great Article everyone needs to read about Bush Spending and Tax Cuts

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=WfZ%2Fu%2F1O7sMky9ixjW%2BcFR%3D%3D

[bpyatt]

4. <BUMP>

[newyawker99]

7. Hi bpyatt!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[loudsue]

5. THIS is why the repukes want to "privatize" everything!!!!

Don't you see the connection? If schools are privatized, corporations can charge whatever they want to educate your kids, or your kids can just stay home (it makes for good cheap labor when kids don't get an education). Plus, it takes the burden off the repuke politicians to raise taxes. Same with the water supply, same with the sanitation, same with the roads, same with the military -- all of which are experiencing "privatization creep".

It puts unregulated amounts of $$ in the pockets of those corporations who take over essential services (they can charge whatever they want to for essential services) -- things people CAN'T do without, without becoming 3rd world -- and keeps the people poor and helpless, the corporations rich and powerful, and lets the repukes off the hook about having to raise taxes.

I just don't think the repukes realized shrub would do such an effective job of breaking the state's coffers before total privatization had taken hold. We're at the "interim" period, between all of their plans being in place. But, expect to hear a LOT more about privatization of essential services in the next couple of years. They have some quick 'catching-up' to do.

It's a huge circular, closed system, designed to give more and more power to the few, and create more and more hardship for the "unwashed masses".

But don't think for a MINUTE that payroll taxes will be reduced enough to compensate for the municipal services that our taxes formerly supported. After all, there's corporate welfare, and lots of bombs to build. Not to mention paying our governmental representatives inflated salaries and benefits.

:kick:

[bpyatt]

6. Republican Cuts??

"Trying to balance the budget by squeezing domestic
discretionary spending is like trying to lose weight by giving up
that slice of tomato on your cheeseburger. Not that
Republicans aren't trying anyway: GOP leaders have proposed a total
freeze on discretionary spending this year. Doing so would save $2
billion. To grasp the absurdity of that effort, keep in mind that
this year's deficit is expected to top $500 billion. Even if
Congress persuaded Bush to completely eliminate all discretionary
programs including homeland security, that would still leave
Washington with $137 billion in red ink."


http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=WfZ%2Fu%2F1O7sMky9ixjW%2BcFR%3D%3D