Ping
I’ll address the fallacies as best I can:
“It is because such projects get them re-elected, especially when people other than their constituents are picking up the tab. And, thanks largely to the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction for federal income tax purposes, that is exactly what is happening.”
In 100% of the cases it is the state taxpayer picking up the tab. With the exception being when Federal Funds are being expended. This would be a good point for the uninformed to inquire about donor states vs parasite states. These projects born in commie largess are paid for, 100% by the local taxpayer.
“In effect, taxpayers in low-tax states and cities, like those in the South, are forced to subsidize the lavish public spending of liberals in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California, who have little incentive to reduce the local taxes that fund their pet projects.”
A damnable lie.
I go back to taxation 101 and refer the ignorant to the difference between donor states and parasite states. All four of the states above, listed by the author pay more in federal income taxes than they receive back in federal expenditure of any kind. Both net and per capita.
Additionally, the author’s reference to subsidy is the left’s Holy Grail. The idea that the pie is of fixed size, the government is entitled to as much of that pie as it wants, and it it doesn’t take it from you it must take it from me. Even if they are taking more from me already.
” threaten to derail the entire process because of the political ramifications of exposing taxpayers, for the first time, to the true costs of their elected officials’ fiscal irresponsibility at the local level.”
Even in the most extreme scenarios, 70% of the state taxes are paid directly by the local taxpayer on the hope that their Federal burden will be reduced by 30% of the SALT amount.
Be aware, the primary determinant for itemization, and therefore SALT deductions is NOT the state in which one resides. It is holding a mortgage and being in the upper-middle class. If you make over $100k total for the household and are paying on a house over $250k you are ABSOLUTELY itemizing and taking the SALT deductions...in every state in the union.
That CA, NY, NJ etc. use this deduction disproportionately is testimony to the fact there are more upper-middle class households in those states than others.
There is no other criteria of note.
” In an ideal scenario, Republicans would remember what it is to have a spine, and perhaps we might see real reform, such as a flat tax, where the only debate would be what the new tax rate should be, what should be the annual standard deduction that replaces every other deduction promised over the years as a political handout; and bring spending down to the level necessary to operate within the monies raised by the flat tax.”
Finally the author exhibits some good sense.
Frankly I expected better from Bob Barr. He knows better. That he spilled so much nonsense in the first 3/4 of his opinion piece shows he has another agenda, or is being paid to say a particular thing directly or obliquely.