Apparently the Governor is losing faith in the legislative process, and in his “very good relationship with the leadership in the Senate and the House.” Because after the Senate passed its tax bill yesterday — with the support of moderate Democrats and Republicans and over the opposition of Senate liberals, by the way — he blasted it as way, way too liberal. With the same kind of angry, overheated, misleading rhetoric that seems designed specifically to meet the needs of Republican campaign operatives:
“Now is not the time to raise more taxes on hard-working Vermonters,” the governor said in a statement. “Lawmakers this session have now voted to raise taxes on Vermonters’ income, clothing, meals, vending machine purchases, water, soft drinks, candy, satellite television and cigarettes. …Vermonters expect us to control spending by using existing tax dollars more efficiently. We must protect our fragile economic recovery.”
I excised about half of the blah blah blah (or should I say “quack quack quack”), but if you’re curious you can read the whole thing at VTDIgger.
I’ve already addressed the “hard-working Vermonters” nonsense, but he throws a nice new curveball into the mix with a line straight out of Vermonters First: his laundry list of tax increases approved by lawmakers. It includes absolutely every item approved by the full House or Senate or any legislative committee. Most of those items are no longer on the table, and Shumlin knows it. His statement gives lawmakers zero credit for their efforts to meet Shumlin halfway.
And it fails to make a coherent case against the specific tax increases that could actually land on his desk.
Well, I guess that’s understandable, because the Governor’s gonna look bad if he has to argue specifics. Capping mortgage interest deductions at $12,000? Imposing a 3% minimum tax on wealthy Vermonters who avoid paying their share thanks to overly generous tax deductions? There are no good arguments against those proposals, so the Governor has to change the subject.
Even if it means providing excellent campaign material for the Republicans and Vermonters First. And even if it means a smaller Democratic majority in the next biennium.
is literally breathtaking. I’m astonished at the abject cruelty of the plan to take EITC from “hardworking Vermonters” with families which, lets face it basically just helps bring their paltry earnings a little nearer to “Living Wage” status while, according to some reports, VT has as much as a $5 billion tax deficit due to the way earnings & taxes are calculated by VT as opposed to some other states. Budget represents a far cry from legislative activism, it’s wise and prudent and merely so.
Playing both ends against the middle by dangling the shiny object of the EITC clawback before the eyes of child-care workers to enrich them for selling out other Vermonters was sly, as well as shrewd & calculating. It showed the darker side of human behavior as the beneficiaries of Shummy’s largesse eagerly defended his cold, calculating & cruel plans to take away what little ray of hope their fellow Vermonters look forward to each year after April 15th.
It’s a small windfall that disappears after car repairs or down payment are made, clothing for children, perhaps a small appliance. New socks, underwear and a perk for good grades. Never had an air conditioner or microwave until my children were almost out of the house. We never even went to the movies. Clothes were second-hand.
And yeah, making sure the higher wage earners pay at least 3% tax is kind of a no-f’king-brainer. Mortgage interest deduction capped at $12,000? Ya think??? I alone don’t make that per year.
When I saw that, it looked more like a West Palm mortgage. No wonder VT is struggling. The 99% once again are subsidizing the 1% as nationwide these so-called “job creators” continue to scream & cry while unemployment remains high nationwide as they park their wealth in the DJI and the rest in the Caymans and of course gold-backed securities.
Cry VT a river and sob into your Chivas 1%.
Well, it’s not astounding that Shumlin is doing the same thing to the poor as Obama is. These fuckers all belong to that One Party that is OWNED by the Rich. Even in Vermont, Paul Heintz reports in Seven Days this week, lobbyists here spend about $44,000 per year per State House Reps and Senators. Multiply that by 50 states (after doubling it cause Vt. is small potatoes) and then imagine the BILLIONS(?) spent on lobbying (buying) our U.S. Congress, and you’ve got what?–why all those benefits and Social Security/Medicare cuts, with enough left over for another War.
Obama and Shumlin are the NEW Little Dems–they take their orders from DOWNTOWN. Somebody ought to ‘primary’ Shumlin next year AND a Pollina or Zuckerman ‘independent’ run. As for Obama, I’ll bet money that even with a Dem landslide in the House and Senate next year, he’ll still do his smiling Dr. Huxtable act–“The ECONOMY needs you to go on a diet and cut down, Sir/Ma’m. Doctor’s orders.”
Yeah, orders all right: “Hey, I was ordered by the BOARD to fuck-up good so they could put a Republican in in 2016.” And this one won’t even smile while he’s fucking us.
In a recent St. Albans Front Porch Forum posting, defeated Republican Dustin Degree quoted him verbatim on taxes and said he agreed with the governor.
Doesn’t that make the governor just a teensy bit uncomfortable??