North Carolina GOP Wants To Tax The Poor Even More Than It Already Does

[octoberlib]

North Carolina lawmakers are seeking to shift much of the state’s tax burden off its wealthiest citizens and most profitable businesses and onto its low- and middle-income residents. After initially proposing to eliminate the state’s income tax outright, Republicans are instead introducing a flat income tax rate across all earning levels. The proposal unveiled Thursday would also expand the reach of sales taxes in the state, which hits low-income families hardest, and comes on top of the March repeal of a tax credit for 900,000 working families in the state.
The state’s effective tax rates already favor the rich. The North Carolina Justice Center, a progressive think tank in the state, explains that the richest one percent of tarheels pay 6.5 percent of their income in combined sales and income taxes at the state level, while the lower 80 percent of earners pay between 9 and 10 percent combined. Yet Republicans propose to give that top one percent a tax cut while hiking rates for those already paying more:


NCJC adds that the lost revenue from this plan “could be as high as $573 million” per year. Given that state law requires balanced biannual budgeting, the tax proposal is likely to force major cuts to public services if approved

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/05/30/2078001/north-carolina-gop-seeks-even-more-regressive-state-tax-burden/

[djean111]

1. "the tax proposal is likely to force major cuts to public services if approved"

Isn't that the desired result? By the GOP? Absolute nirvana - less taxes for the rich, more taxes on the poor, less services for the poor. Their entire platform can be distilled into that.

[Laelth]

2. Evil Republicans being evil Republicans.

I desperately wish I could say that I am surprised. Sadly, that is not the case.

-Laelth

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. That fucker Rucho's plan taxes Social Security, food and prescriptions...

and eliminates the mortgage deduction. Can you imagine the promos to get seniors to retire here? Add to that Chinese/formerly Smithfield pigs floating down the Intercoastal Waterway, poisoned with fracking fluid. Mmm mmm good.