Anti-WBC Task Force Meetup Tomorrow Morning at 8:30

7 Comments
Now I have been told that the perimeter surrounding St. Anthony's will be tightly guarded tomorrow (as it should be with the President and the Vice President and lot of the Cabinet present), and that bags and signs and water bottles will not be permitted. And I have been told that it is highly unlikely that the Secret Service will allow any demonstration (pro or con) to be set up in sight of the Church, and thus, the family will not see the horror that is the Westboro Baptist Church. And it is quite likely that they will not even show up, or if they do it will be one or two lonely miscreants with a sign in each hand. Regardless, a bipartisan group of Delawareans will be meeting at 8:30 am at the corner of Delaware Avenue and North DuPont Street by the ACME parking (across the street from the Logan House, right next to the train tracks). And we will walk up to see to the St. Anthony's area to see if there are any WBC protesters around.
Friday Open Thread [6.5.15]

Friday Open Thread [6.5.15]

1 Comment
Hillary Clinton “attacked her potential GOP rivals, by name, and with sharp language,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mrs. Clinton typically offers more muted criticism but was animated on the subject of voting rights… She took on four of her potential rivals by name. She attacked former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for supporting a law requiring voter identification to cast ballots that allows a concealed weapons license for identification but not a student ID. She said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was wrong for cutting back early voting, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for vetoing a bill that would have extended early voting. And she said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was wrong for purging voters from Florida’s rolls ahead of the 2000 election.”
Good. Kick some ass, Hillary.
The Vote Tracker Update — Progressive Priorities

The Vote Tracker Update — Progressive Priorities

9 Comments
This legislative session has been all about the budget and our legislators and Governors slowly waking up to the fact that they will have to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to balance the budget. Indeed, the budget that emerges from may be the most important piece of legislation in terms of progressive priority that the General Assembly passes this year, if it adds two or more income levels and rates to the progressive tax structure.
One topic is getting little attention as lawmakers attempt to close an $83 million budget gap: raising income tax rates. And, specifically, raising taxes on Delaware's wealthiest earners, who have seen most of the state's wage gains in recent years. 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. Consider these potential scenarios, and their impact on annual state tax collections: 1. Raise rate to 7.6 percent on incomes > $125,000: $71.7 million 2. Raise rate to 7.6 percent on incomes > $250,000: $46.7 million 3. Raise rate to 7.1 percent on incomes > $125,000: $35.7 million *Source: Delaware Department of Finance
Time to lay down the gauntlet: If Delaware's Democrats do not add more tax brackets and rates above our current highest rate of 6.6% on incomes over $60,000, they cannot be considered Democrats any further. Not just progressive Democrats. Actual Democrats. Seriously, you all might as well become Republicans right now. And that will be especially true if they go for any of Governor Markell's Republican ideas of repealing the Estate Tax or lowering corporate or income tax rates. Repeat after me Democrats in the General Assembly: You will add tax brackets and rates on the wealthy. You will do it.