KS Gov may add a one cent sales tax . I am FOR this...it could save a LOT of students and teachers!

[demtenjeep]

The Governor of Kansas made several stops in Wichita, Tuesday.

Governor Mark Parkinson visited his old stomping grounds, going to see the fifth graders at Hyde Elementary, the same elementary school he attended.
As the state struggles with a $500 million budget shortfall, that includes millions in cuts to education, the governor says he will veto a budget with any more reductions to schools.

"We need a one cent sales tax for the next three years. It doesn't need to be permanent, but just a one percent increase will allow us to work through the recession, fund education, and our safety net and then move forward," Governor Parkinson said.

Instead, the governor is recommending a cigarette tax and a three year one cent sales tax increase to make up for the shortfall.


http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/92197494.html

[demtenjeep]

1. increasing class sizes and reducing teachers is NOT best for kids

and will put them farther behind in trying to reach the unattainable NCLB and AYP

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They need to repeal the sales tax exemptions

That's a big part of the problem.

[demtenjeep]

3. true, but I like that he doesn't want more cuts in education

our district just cut 117 jobs, closed one school and cut out Driver's education and we have 15 million more to go

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I spent the weekend with some of your union members

We were at AFT training. They were pretty frustrated.

[demtenjeep]

10. we all are frustrated!

we gave up a raise for 2 years. We do not even get our bump in experience or in classes we take. We also gave up longevity.

and we still might lose teachers which would increase our class size to 35-40 Tell me that is good for students.

[pipoman]

16. Which sales tax exemptions?

[Statistical]

4. Why not an equivelent raise in income tax.

Like 1% on highest bracket and 0.5% on middle bracket.

It is funny how they always find solution that are regressive.

Just a "penny" is a marketing trick.

The current KS sales tax is 5.3% raising it to 6.3% is a 18% increase.
I am going to raise your taxes "just a penny" sounds a lot better than an 18% hike in sale tax rate but they are exactly the same.

Sadly KS isn't the only state that resorts to this. VA does same thing. Anytime we need money it is sale tax never income tax that gets raised.

[demtenjeep]

5. SG County did a 1 cent sales tax to build and pay for a new arena

it did not hurt anyone in the least and we are getting kick ass concerts


and the tax went away.




if they don't do this, my job could go away

[Statistical]

8. That isn't the point.

The same or MORE money could have been raised by income taxes which are progressive.

It is funny how Republicans have convinced us that when push comes to shove the ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO RAISE REVENUE is by major increases in sales tax.

I mean 20% hike in sales tax rate. Imagine if someone proposed hiking the federal income tax rate on rich by 20%. It will be 40% in 2011 so that would be 0.40*0.20= 0.08. Hiking it from 40% to 48%. They would freak out.

However somehow progressives don't blink an eye at a 10%, 15%, 20% hike in sales tax rate which hurts mainly the poor.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Who wants to hike sales tax by 20%?

Where did you get that info?

[Statistical]

27. Math.

Sales tax is currently 5%. Raising it a "penny" = 6%.

6%/5% = 20% rise in sales tax RATE.

Sometimes % is confusing.

Say a family spends $4000 a year on groceries.
$4000 * 0.05 = $200 in sales tax.

$4000 * 0.06 = $240 in sales taxes.

Sales taxes on this "hypothetical family" rose $40 = $40/$200 = 20% rise in sales taxes paid.


My point is if the state needs money why not raise income tax rate by 20%? Not by +20% but 20% higher rates. If highest income tax bracket is 8% then raise it to 9.6%.

Why does it ALWAYS have to be sales tax? This is how Republicans win. They have already framed the debate so the choices are right-wing and righter-wing.

[pipoman]

18. Sales tax impacts a greater portion

of poor people's income than rich people's. Poor people spend nearly their entire income just to survive. The majority of the purchases are sales taxable. Income tax can be directed to those who can more afford to pay. Kansas is a state which charges sales tax even on the basic necessities such as food and pharmaceuticals as I am sure you know.

[madinmaryland]

9. +2! 2% on the highest bracket.

So they wont be able to buy that rare piece of artwork. F, them!

[Johonny]

14. I agree

[SoCalDem]

6. Sales tax in Las Vegas is now 12%.. in my county we pay close to 9%

People need to remember that services are not free.. they cost money, and the only way a community/county/state/country can get the money to run those services is by TAXATION.. It stinks but it's just how it is.

[Riftaxe]

11. Regressive taxation is never the answer

it has a disproportionate impact on the poor.

[kiva]

22. Actually, Las Vegas is at 8.1% sales tax.

You may be thinking of the lodging tax, which is about 13%.

For anyone interested, here a link to a sales tax lookup: http://www.zip2tax.com/z2t_lookup.asp?inputZip=89146

[SoCalDem]

23. It was for 20 hotel rooms

I don't shop there, so I'm glad to hear that the locals aren't whacked with a 12% tax :)

[kiva]

26. That make me feel better too, in that sort of

"things could be worse" way. :toast:

[demtenjeep]

12. I just hope this stops further job loss

we are already at bare minimum

[pipoman]

15. Kansas has an equally grave concern

with their Medicaid cuts. The first round went into effect in the first quarter and if the second round goes into effect could leave some indigents who are currently in skilled nursing facilities without a bed. There are deep budget issues here as there are in most states right now. Schools are definitely in the top 5 in my hierarchy of fiscal importance but it isn't at the top...various indigent food and medical services rank higher in my book.

[LynneSin]

17. Delaware has no sales tax but I would support a 1-2 cent sales tax

It would still be the cheapest in the area and would bring some much needed revenue into the state. But only for a limited time. When the economy is back up and running I'd rather have no sales tax. Our state is a shopping destination for neighboring states where they pay 5-7% sales tax.

[pipoman]

19. Once in place it is a drug for legislators

they rarely can/will repeal or allow to sunset. You are better off advocating changes in income tax than opening the sales tax can o'worms, IMO.

[demtenjeep]

20. we paid a 1 cent tax for the arena and it WENT AWAY

they made a big production of it ending so EVERYONE would know it was gone

[pipoman]

21. Oh, I'm aware

we moved out of SG county right before it went into effect. Can you think of another time when a sales tax went away? Also, I found it offensive at the time that the poorest people should have to pay more for food so we could have another arena.

[Sherman A1]

25. I loved shopping in Delaware when on vacation a couple of years ago

at the Outlet Mall, Rehoboth Beach area. Picked up all sorts of goodies for Christmas & it was nice to save on the sales tax.

[bobbolink]

24. Another REGRESSIVE tax. Poor people can just suck it up, eh?

Do you realize that those of us on fixed incomes that were waaay too low as it was, had the COLA frozen for at least the next two years, and maybe three?

Yet, you want US to pay more????

Could you ALL please begin to understand the difference between PROGRESSIVE and REGRESSIVE taxes????

[Statistical]

28. Stop whining.

"Its only a penny".

:sarcasm:

This is how Republicans win. They "frame the debate".

They make it seems like the ONLY 2 POSSIBLE CHOICES IN ENTIRE WORLD ARE
1) raise taxes on the poor (then use a clever phrase like "only a penny" to describe a 20% hike
OR
2) teachers get fired and die in the streets.

As if those 2 options are the choices a state could make to balance revenue and expenses.

Once Republicans set up the framework it is win-win. They really don't care which "choice" gets picked.

Why not raise income taxes by an equivelent amount instead? Hell why not just raise highest income tax bracket to make equivelent amount of revenue (highest bracket is only $60K+ in this state). If you wanted to be progressive why not make a new tax bracket say income above $200K and set it at a higher rate?

Why not pass a luxury tax on cars over $40K? Why not make real estate tax graduated so it is one rate on homes below say $300K and a higher rate on homes >$300K?

Nope. According to some "progressives" the only possible options are raise taxes on the poorest of poor or fire teachers.

With our party thinking that way it doesn't matter is Republicans get knocked down to 1% (99 Democratic Senators - 1 Republican Senator) the "fix" will always be regressive.

[bobbolink]

30. Thank you. I thought I was getting another typical DU slap,

Instead, someone who actually understands what liberals have ALWAYS understood and stood FOR. :applause:

Now, how to get this across to dense DUers??

[Statistical]

31. I am not sure.

I wish I knew.

When you have progressives championing a raise in taxes on poor I mean all the Republicans have to do is sit back and laugh.
Doing their work for them.

[Odin2005]

29. Sales Tax = Regressive = Evil.

Why don't we TAX THE RICH FUCKERS AND THEIR ILL-GOTTEN GAINS!?!

[bobbolink]

32. Thank you! Yet, we will NOT be heard.

:nuke:

Yet, come Nov. they will be expecting our votes.

HAH!