Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Anthony Pollina, a former independent gubernatorial candidate, a mover and shaker in the Progressive Party and now a Democratic senator-elect from Washington County.
President Obama and Democrats in Congress promised to end tax breaks for people making $250,000 and more. They broke their promise. And the tax cuts they give the wealthy will have a serious impact on Vermonters, leaving us less money to keep people warm or put people to work.
Who would have thought a year ago that the same “Bush” tax cuts that helped drive up our deficit and lead us into major recession would be transformed into the Obama tax cuts; different name, same strategy, same tragedy and same outcome.
Unnecessary tax breaks for the rich mean less money in the federal treasury; the wealthy spend more on luxuries and the cost of services is shifted onto states, local communities and working families. They get to buy a new car and another vacation; we get more budget cuts, more pressure on our property taxes and a bigger federal deficit. It is a serious attack on the middle class and struggling families. We should do what we can to soften the blow.
I want Vermonters to draw on our good sense and compassion and consider doing what the President and Congress failed to do; ask those making $250,000 or more, who will enjoy more these tax cuts, to shift part of their windfall back to Vermont to help their neighbors. We should use the money for heating fuel assistance, support for the homeless and other needed services.
We can adjust the income tax, put a temporary surcharge on those making $250,000 or more or use some other mechanism. It is a reasonable suggestion. Frankly, I think wealthier Vermonters will agree. None of us want our neighbors going cold or hungry because Congress is too out to lunch to help. Yet, we continue to suffer from bad decisions made in Washington D.C.
I am painfully aware that many Vermonters are in need of basics. Some are worried about keeping warm. Record numbers line up at food shelves. Homeless shelters are overflowing. Schools are cutting budgets. It is ridiculous to think it’s time to give more tax breaks to millionaires.
Any benefits for regular folks in the Congressional proposal are dwarfed by the big, unnecessary and economically dangerous tax cuts going to the wealthy. Some of who will pocket tens of thousands of dollars, some more than $100,000 in tax breaks.
I oppose new taxes on middle class Vermonters and oppose pushing state expenses onto local communities and taxpayers. But, that is exactly what these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans amount to: a cost shift and more hardship for the middle class, the unemployed and anyone in need of help.
Sure, we Vermonters may not be able to stop all the insanity in Washington, but we need to do something that sends a message and raises some money and shows some compassion.
