posted on February 1, 2003 06:51:24 AM new
I read with horror, the tax increases proposed by Governor Taft of Ohio. Ohio’s budget deficit, it seems, is being blamed largely on Medicaid. Medicaid, according to Taft and his cronies, has driven Ohio to the brink of bankruptcy. Therefore, many cuts are being proposed for the program. Well (I’m being sarcastic here), of course it’s the fault of the poor. Why pay $.05 for a pill when you can pay $5.00? A hospital bed at $50 a day? Hell, no, we prefer the $300 a day room. $25.00 for a visit to the doctor? We all know the poor would rather have us pay $50 for that visit.
How absurd it is to blame our state’s deficit on the poor. Let’s start with the pharmaceutical companies that have run amuck. Don’t forget the frivolous lawsuits that have driven up the cost of malpractice insurance. Then, there’s always that hospital administrator looking to turn a tidy profit for the board of directors. Governor Taft, give me a break!!
If I ran my household budget the way the state of Ohio has run theirs, I’d be living in the gutter. Where would I turn to come up with the money to keep me out of bankruptcy? Maybe I could start a “ME” tax. I could tax all my neighbors just for having the privilege of living near “ME”. Or, maybe I could blame my budget woes on the poor, too. After all, they do walk past my house everyday. It must be just the aura surrounding them or some nonsense like that.
The proposed tax? Tax on services like cable television, movie and other entertainment tickets, dry cleaning (I’d like to introduce myself to Dryel), manicures (hear that mom?), spas and tanning salons (well, there goes my Ohio winter tan), local telephone service, pet grooming (I guess my dog will just have to look like a hippie), interior decoration and design service, real estate commissions, real estate title searches, property management fees, lobbying services (does that apply to Gov. Taft?), packaging and packaging equipment, automobile titling fees, driver’s license fees (who needs their picture taken anyway), gasoline, cigarettes and alcohol (now, that’s a surprise), to name but a few. In other words, in order to enjoy yourself after a long week at work – YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY AND PAY BIG! Gasoline, however, would be a 6% hike and $.45 per pack of cigarettes. In all, it would be one of the largest two-year tax increase packages in Ohio history.
Thanks to all for letting me vent. Under this Republican rule? “Read my lips: Lots of new taxes!”
posted on February 1, 2003 07:01:04 AM new
Under the old rubic "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it", the Republicans won nearly all the offices in the last election. Looks like there will be a lot of crow to eat and a lot of scrambling at the next elections.
posted on February 1, 2003 08:57:49 AM new
To me, this is a bipartisan issue. Most states are now experiencing these exact same thing. The state of the US economy is to blame. Rather than raising taxes, I'd like so see some cutbacks [eliminating waste].
posted on February 1, 2003 09:49:22 AM new
CBlev65252,..We didnt get a warning,we just got slam dunked.I have some Republican friends that are upset with their own party.
There is zero for the population,The budget proposed by our Gov. Rick Perry is O...The leaders tryed to limit the emergency room visits to 3 per year,I think that got booed down.
People on the streets pan handleing are increasing by leaps and bounds.
Of course crime is on the rise,anything that can be turned into cash.
These are the people, Bush wants us to volunteer to help,because the Govenment is has cut all the services to zilch.
I suggest all (republican)party members volunteer.LOL
Republican loss of 3
Democratic gain of 5
Independent loss of 2
Alabama race not called yet.
Results as reported by The Washington Post updated 11/7/02 11:20 a.m EST
posted on February 1, 2003 12:58:37 PM new
>Rather than raising taxes, I'd like so see some cutbacks [eliminating waste].
Linda, in the State of Oregon, we've cut out all the fat for decades. Where departments use to employ one hundred people, they now employ less than thirty. That means that the work you did ten years ago is now tripled for you. While upper management is paid better than comparable industry when all wages and beneies are added up, the average state worker makes nearly 15 percent less than industry pays for the same job and beneies. In Oregon, there just isn't any fat left to trim and we can't take much more cutting of the muscles either. The ONLY solution is to raise taxes
But, we tried that just last week with Measure 28. Because it did NOT pass, the state has to make DRASTIC CUTS in Emergency services and education (note that upper management is still getting their giant bonuses and raises this year).
Where is there left to cut here? I'll tell you what the Republicans have been targeting here for some time: the State Employee Retirement System (PERS). Because the state bargained and agreed to generous retirement payouts to average workers (well, they ARE working three times as hard for less than industry compensation) AND unlike Social Security, there is no way for any politician to get their hands on the cash (they've tried several times and failed) and Rich Republicans aren't working for the state, so THEY can't get in on the Good Deal, they want it destroyed!
No, not "modified" -- DESTROYED!!!
Sadly - for them, although they rail at it daily in the newspapers, their mouthpieces scream and shout and rain H*A*T*E down on the employee retirement pension system, they can't do a damned thing about it because of promises made that must be kept. That's something that politicians haven't a foggiest clue about.
So, without going into all of the media hoopla here about the drastic cuts we're having to make because the Tax Raise measure didn't make it, believe me that Oregonians are about to get a SEVERE LESSON in having to PAY MORE TAXES, not LESS! Voters will again cry out: cut out the FAT in government spending! And not a single upper management type will want to vote THEIR pension plan out the window!
posted on February 1, 2003 01:00:59 PM new
why is it that a slight tax increase costs
us two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves us thirty cents?
"Be kind. Remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Harry Thompson
posted on February 1, 2003 01:23:15 PM new
Borillar - You pay no state taxes. If the voters of Oregon choose 'no new taxes' then that's what the majority of voters want. Yes, of course that means cuts. Not my point. Because your voters voted down new taxes is NOT the president's fault.
I've told you before, I have two sisters who live in Oregon. One worked for the County of Portland. She shared all the time about areas where she judged the County was wasting money.
junquemama - CBlev spoke about medicaid cuts in her state. They are being made all over. I've read President Bush is trying to increase the fees doctors [etc] receive so they won't continue to drop their patients who have medicaid as their only insurance.
But what happens, just like in California, is when times are good, and the state economy is growing more programs are added. The already established programs are given more funds. When the economy slows down these funds are reduced ...or cuts are made.
It's the state's decision WHERE they cuts will be made. I'm saying voters should look at their states budget, see IF there are areas they think could be cut. Governors will keep their 'pet' projects [usually those that favor their biggest contributors] and scare the voters with "IF we don't raise your taxes, we'll HAVE to cut all funding for the poor". I'm saying there are other areas that could be cut. But hey....it's politics.
posted on February 1, 2003 05:37:42 PM new
>Borillar - You pay no state taxes.
WHAT?!?!?!?!?
We pay H*U*G*E amounts in Property Taxes as well as Income Taxes to the state each year! We just don't unfairly tax our citizens with a Sales Tax ~~ which mostly hurts those of low income.
Will we suffer cuts? Yup! Call 911. "Sorry, there's no Police left! We'll send the police from the city 30 miles away! They'll be there to deal with your life threatening emergency within an hour -- please hold!"
Every legislature the voters have yelled out: LESS GOVERNMENT, TRIM THE FAT, STOP OVER-PAYING STATE EMPLOYEES! And its been done since the 1970's. It's at the point where there are no other places to cut without cutting into services (except upper management salaries and bonuses. But TRY to get those lowered! HAH!)
So, the only choice that voters will have is to put up with less services or pay more in taxes. Already, they let 100 Felons go free from prison after the measure failed, as they had to cut costs. Since the prison system was cut down to the bone as well, only violent prisoners and repeat/career criminals were left to warehouse. So, guess which 100 got to go free with their sentaces shortened? Career Criminals with the least violent records. Fun.
I mention all of this because for generations, Republicans have been shouting that we need to cut taxes as the solution to everything. In the meantime, they keep making state goverment bigger and more xpensive. Illogical and stupid ideas; yet, too many voters believe them. Now they will eat CROW here because it plain just won't work to sabotage the state's economy with bullsh1t economic plans AND raise the cost of government! Republicans don't know the first thing about economics ~~ just how to propose crazy ideas in order to get elected into power to steal.
edited for no reason.
[ edited by Borillar on Feb 1, 2003 10:22 PM ]
