If you were the governor of a state...

[ZombieNixon]

any state, it doesn't matter, and the State Legislature passed an economic package that raised the state minimum wage but lowered corporate taxes by an approximately equivalent amout, would you...

[progressiveBadger]

1. So basically you would be shifting money from the govt

to lower class america? Makes sense to me. Of course I would rather JUST raise the minimum wage....
Please note that I do think that taxes are very important to a functional government. I just think that right now we obviously have enough money to spend on bombs, so I would rather have it being spent on health care or food.

[ZombieNixon]

2. I guess it boils down to a question of

which is more important to you: Higher taxes for fat cats or higher wages for workers?

[SoonerShankle]

3. more corporate

welfare!! Business needs to do its part to contribute to the communities in which they thrive.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

9. Indeed, but I don't think it would hurt to loosen the burden on

small businesses. All tax cuts aren't bad, mon ami.

[Osamasux]

4. Is this a response to the Pataki argument?

The NY legislature unilaterally passed a minimum wage increase, overriding Pataki's veto. (Although the Repubs waited until after the election to do it.)

Pataki's argument is that it will hurt NY businesses at the expense of those in neighboring states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut. If the businesses were mobile they would relocate to those other states. Businesses in border areas which were not movable, such as retail and food services, would be at a competitive disadvantage to their counterparts in the lower-wage states. Pataki is not against a higher minimum wage per se, but prefers it to be a federal action to keep a level playing field. (I also have seen absolutely no evidence of him petitioning the president or congress to have the federal wage raised.)

The arguments have merit, although I personally think the increased economic activity created by the wage increase will more than offset the negative effects of paying the higher wages. Many of the businesses in question will benefit from that additional spending. The state would also benefit from higher sales taxes on the activity, income taxes on the wage increase, and (hopefully) income taxes on the jobs the increased activity creates.

With an economy and an administration in DC that is doing nothing to create jobs or help the working poor, I am in favor of anything that will spur growth.

[ZombieNixon]

5. Actually, I had no idea that had happened. n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

6. In 47 years, big business has never given a break, without it hurting U.S

[Egalitariat]

7. Sign it. C Corporations don't pay taxes anyways. However, most

corporations are S Corporations, LLCs, or LLPs, and these companies all pass through their earnings to their owners and their owners personally pay the taxes according to their own personal income tax bracket.

In other words, changing to the corporate tax structure would have no impact on the state treasury. So, you might as well get the minimum wage increase.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

8. That's what they call a solid economic package.

Raise the minimum wage, and lower the corporate tax burden to compensate. What's wrong with that bill? I'd sign that in a heartbeat.

[ZombieNixon]

10. So would I.

I just wanted to see what people on DU thought. I wanted to know if people were so vehemently against any sort of corporate tax cut that they'd forego a minimum wage increase just to stick it to the big guy.