In a single stroke of stunning cynicism the Maine legislature has passed a "revenue neutral" bill that moves 25-40 million dollars of taxes from the middle class into the pockets of the highest income earners in the state. Or, to state it differently, the Maine legislature has added a new 6 percent tax to movie tickets, ski lift tickets, and restaurant dining in order to reduce by 2 percent the maximum income tax assessment of Maine's richest residents. I don't know who was doing the horse trading to convince the legislators this was a good idea, and I don't know what they got in exchange, but substituting a flat tax for a progressive tax is always unfair and functions to move money up the income ladder. For shame! Think about this the next time you take your family of four to the movies, that you're paying more than three bucks extra for your night out in order that Daddy Warbucks can have his income tax reduced by 20 - 30 thousand dollars next year. Revenue neutral? Riiiiggggghhhhhttttttt!!!!!
We're all so concerned by the effects of the dreadful economy that it's easy to feel relief that it hasn't hit harder in our own pockets, but this has to stop. Let your legislator know-- this law has to go, or the elected officials have to go, to be replaced with someone with some spine and sense of justice. Substituting a regressive tax for a progressive tax, even if the trade off is dollar for dollar, is not the answer. Unless the goal is to move the rest of the money up to the top of the food chain. Shame!
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