The 2006 GOP Legislative Agenda: Robin Hood in Reverse

The Republicans unveiled their 2006 agenda this week, focusing on “tax relief, jobs and health care” according to their press release. However, when you look at the details of what they proposed, their plan costs over $270 million in 2006-07 alone in new tax breaks for the wealthiest in our state. Surprised? Didn’t think so.

Tax Relief
The GOP proposes eliminating the capital gains tax, benefiting slightly over 5 percent of state taxpayers and costing the state $135 million a year. Individuals making over $100,000 would receive 2/3 of the tax cut, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. How’s that for showing a little bit of love for your support base? And I’ll bet you can guess who will be taxed to make up for that $270 million over the biennium. That’s right, it’s you.

Jobs & the Economy
Actually, there are no job proposals. Instead they offer a bunch of tax credit and tax break proposals for big business. Unless you own a business that makes engines or has extensive research and development, you won’t see a dime of the corporate tax breaks offered.

Health Care
Perhaps the most laughable proposal is having a health care package that doesn’t address ways to increase access to affordable health care. Republicans offer more tax incentives to business, plus a couple of small ideas that will not increase health care affordability for working families in our state.

Of course, the fine print in their proposals also mentions things like the Constitutional amendment to ban civil unions and same sex marriage which are already banned in our state.

So, what can you expect from the GOP this year?

If you’re rich, you’ll likely get richer. The five percent of people who benefit from their capital gains tax and the few CEO’s of corporations that will see a new tax break should thank the GOP. I’m sure you will.

But if you’re with the 95 percent that will pay for the other 5 percent’s new breaks, you better start looking for a second (or in some cases third) job to pay for their vacations to Aruba and mink stoles.