Pledge Politics Exposed, Part II

Federal Offset (0.00 / 0)

Could someone comment on just what that is? I have Googled till I am even more blue and it just isn't clear.

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by: xteeth @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 06:29:46 AM CST

It's explained (0.00 / 0)

(in reference to HB642 at least) on page 3 of the ITEP testimony above.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 07:20:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

State income taxes can be taken... (0.00 / 0)

as a deduction against gross income on your federal taxes (if you are filling out a 1040 long form with itemized deductions).

So if one were paying a 5% NH state tax, for example, and were in a 33% tax bracket, the effective tax rate is 2/3 of 5%, or 3.3%.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 10:40:19 AM CST

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Thanks Michael (0.00 / 0)

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by: xteeth @ Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 07:33:26 AM CST

[ Parent ]

it's not completely dead (4.00 / 2)

It could still be resurrected.  And in fact there is a good chance that the Republicans will do the sponsors a favor by insisting on a roll call, because they love to put us "on record" as supporting taxes and fees.

The Governor has pledged to veto any bill of this nature, even if the Senate passed it.  And the Senate is not gonna pass it. The Republicans are down a man (or woman) at the moment because Ted Gatsas' replacement hasn't been elected yet (and of course that replacement might very well turn out to be a Democrat.)    But in any case, we have 8 Republicans who absolutely won't vote for this bill under any circumstances, a 9th Republican (Sen. Odell, a moderate who represents a liberal district) who probably wouldn't vote for it-- so it only takes 3 Democrats to get to 12 votes.  Not to name names, and not to speculate more than we have to, but it is pretty easy to think of 3 or 4 Democratic Senators who would likely be inclined to kill this bill.

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Thanks for all the fish


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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 10:04:50 AM CST

I apreciate your detailing (4.00 / 1)

the political realities, but I'll raise you one too.

Let's have that roll call - I want to put the Republicans on record to see who would deny the state a half billion in revenue while simultaneously cutting taxes for the bottom 80%.  Let's have that vote.

And furthermore, let's have the Senate have that vote too.

Just because it's a non-starter there or on Lynch's desk shouldn't mean it should not go there in the first place.

This kind of reality-based, unfettered-by-pledge discussion of revenue must get started now in order to start thinking about a post-Lynch period (the earliest date of which might be as soon as 01/2013.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 18:38:54 PM CST

[ Parent ]

OK, I won't debate the merits of the bill (4.00 / 1)

or the politics or anything. But do you think the pledge against a sales or income tax lacks the support of a majority of the public?

My impression is Republicans are 80% in favor of the pledge,* active Democrats maybe 65-35 against, "lay Democrats" between 50-50 and 60-40in favor if not more, and undeclareds and those that can't or choose not to participate in the system...I have no idea, but would bet a majority are in favor of the pledge.

I guess my question is, is this income tax idea more popular than my impression or is this need for unfettered-by-pledge discussion necessary to make it popular?

When I was more apolitical, I thought no sales or income tax was a consensus position in NH. You know, one of those "Live Free or Die" things bragged about to people from away.

*it has to be kept in mind, that we had a Republican governor proposed an income tax, and a Republican speaker of the house did the same---and some of those people still have to be around...

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by: Alex Gallichon @ Thu Nov 26, 2009 at 21:57:25 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Exactly the question: (4.00 / 2)

is this income tax idea more popular than my impression or is this need for unfettered-by-pledge discussion necessary to make it popular?

I have no doubt that Pledge Politics is more popular.

When I moved here a decade ago, I thought it was olde-fashionedy and cool too.  Who would rather pay an income tax than not pay one?

But then, after slowly building a life here, it became clear what the Pledge has done to starve the state of what it needs, while simultaneously placing what does get culled firmly away from the rich.

Much of the paradigm for why the Pledge is so dominant has to do with Mel Thomson and William Loeb.

I think New Hampshire, and the bottom 80% of her earners deserve better than Loeb/Thomson tax ideology.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Nov 27, 2009 at 06:16:21 AM CST

[ Parent ]