In these hard economic times, billionaires should be giving to charity. They shouldn’t be asking for it from the government. But that’s what’s happening all across this country, and there’s no better example than right here in my home state of Maine.
Gov. LePage has been pushing Kentucky-style tax breaks for the rich all year. Despite repeated requests this session to explain how those tax breaks would be paid for, we were given no plan.
Until this week (at the end of session). His plan would cut Head Start funds for poor kids to fund a $10,000 income tax break for the rich. Yes, he is gutting Head Start so rich donors can get a $10,000 tax break.
While we focus a lot of attention on the shenanigans in Congress, bills are sweeping the states thanks to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that gut education and give tax breaks to millionaires at the expense of the rest of us. This reverse Robin Hood phenomenon is increasing wealth inequality and preventing middle class families from achieving the American Dream.
Gov. Brownback already attempted to give away massive tax breaks to the rich in the “Kentucky Experiment!” In addition to schools closing early this year, Gov. Brownback is now proposing to raise taxes to fund the $400 million shortfall his tax breaks for the rich created. The experiment failed.
Despite this, Gov. LePage is dead set that we should eliminate the income tax outright, going so far as to fight for a constitutional amendment prohibiting it from being collected. And kids are caught in the line of fire.
Let’s take this viral! Please repost on social media!
Thank you for all you do!
Regards,
~Rep. Diane Russell
Maine State Representative
Portland, Maine
P.S. Check out the piece The Nation publisher, Katrina vanden Heuvel recently wrote about my work in the Washington Post!
