Thursday Open Thread [5.28.15]
Have you seen this video? This is an investigative report from a Georgia TV station into the happenings around an ALEC event. Take a look at the legendary backroom where legislators and corporate lobbyists create legislation intended to screw over regular taxpayers:
This is one of the strangest looking charities I’ve ever seen, wonder when the IRS will get involved? So who in Delaware belongs to this group?
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Finally, someone starts talking some sense about Delaware’s tax rates. Seriously, it makes no sense to raise the taxes of the people who did not gain much during the recovery (the plan to eliminate deductions) — taxes should be raised on the folks who did get the money:
Delaware’s personal income tax is the largest source of state revenue, generating $1.2 billion this year – enough to fund almost 32 percent of total state government operations.
Delaware’s top income tax rate of 6.6 percent is charged on incomes $60,000 and above.
Some lawmakers now say adding a tax bracket for wealthier Delawareans could help solve the state’s budget problems, while more fairly spreading the state’s income tax burden.
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What interests you today?
Delaware Chair: Colin Bonini (R).
Delaware Members – House of Representatives
Rep. Deborah Hudson (R-12)
Rep. Daniel Short (R-39) – former ALEC State Chairman
Delaware Members – Senate
Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-7)
Sen. Margaret R. Henry (D-2)
I’m told by a good source that the DE House discontinued its membership in ALEC several years ago mainly because of its political orientation and that “bill-mill” mentality. Initially, it was something that the Dem-led House carried over from when the Republicans were in charge, but after taking a hard look at what ALEC was doing, they stopped being associated with them. It may be that the House GOP is asking to rejoin ALEC, but that is likely a non-starter. Maybe these legislators belong on their own?
Deb Hudson’s “death to public education” bill from the 147th session (HB 334… Vouchers Pt. 1) was a cut & paste job from ALEC’s section on vouchers… She even forgot to delete a couple of the [insert name of State Education Agency]…