Republicans are the real wealth redistributors

[RiverLover]

Republicans are the real wealth redistributors
1/12/2015

Kansas and other state governments are seizing money from middle-class workers to finance tax cuts for the wealthy

In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama was lambasted for supposedly endorsing policies of wealth redistribution. The right feared that under an Obama presidency, Washington would use federal power to take money from some Americans and give it to others. Yet, only a few years later, the most explicit examples of such redistribution are happening in the states, and often at the urging of Republicans.

The most illustrative example began in 2012, when Kansas’ Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a landmark bill that delivered big tax cuts to high-income earners and businesses. Less than two years after that tax cut, the state’s income tax revenues plummeted by a quarter-billion dollars — and now Brownback is pushing to use money for public employees’ pensions to instead cover the state’s ensuing budget shortfalls.

Brownback’s proposal: Slash the state’s required pension contribution by $40 million to balance the state budget, even though Kansas already has one of the worst-funded pension systems in the nation.

Brownback defended his proposal to take money from middle-class state workers and use it to effectively finance his tax cuts for the wealthy. He told the Wichita Eagle: “It’s kind of, uh, well where are you going to go for the funds? And I don’t like it, but it’s kind of what’s your other option if you don’t hit K-12 and higher ed with allotments?”

Brownback is not alone. He joins fellow Republican Gov. Chris Christie in coupling large tax breaks with cuts to actuarially required pension payments. In New Jersey, Christie slashed required pension payments while signing legislation expanding tax credits to corporations, and doling out a record amount of taxpayer subsidies to businesses. Many of those subsidies have flowed to firms whose executives have made campaign contributions to Republican political organizations. Earlier this month, New Jersey pension trustees filed a lawsuit against Christie for not making legally required contributions to the state’s pension system....

http://www.salon.com/2015/01/10/republicans_are_the_real_wealth_redistributors_partner/

[Katashi_itto]

1. Tough for Kansans. Guess you get what you vote for.

[olegramps]

10. Right on! The elected him. Just goes to show just how powerful FOX is.

I don't know if it is stretching the analogy but it reminds me of the German people's adulation of Hitler at massive rallies. Totally brainwashed.

[Katashi_itto]

11. Agree!

[midnight]

2. I agree...Taking money from the middle class to finance tax cuts

for those who already have more does sound like wealth redistribution.

[RiverLover]

3. And this is the message we need to get out there b/c all day long, people are listening to RW radio

& so forth saying Dems want wealth redistribution for the poor, we're socialists, we want to take money from the middle class to give to the poor lazy people mooching off the system.

^^^That BS is getting drilled into their heads constantly.

I was at a (middle class) client's last week & when I asked how he was doing, he said, "I'd be doing better if those damn Liberals weren't taking all of my money."

This is what we're dealing with, this is the false messaging we need to combat.

[appalachiablue]

5. This thinking is ground into many now, in all classes and places, not only the backward South

as many want to think. The left has let this happen for 20+ years via Hate Media everywhere, and the end of liberalism with the party's move to Wall Street centrism. There was a recent DU post with internal emails between police officers in San Jose and Seattle. Their comments stressed that they weren't going to submit to liberal and socialist plans to increase taxes, take their money, etc. Circling the wagons to protect what they've got and justifying it by saying others are worthless takers, socialists etc. It's common for people to behave this way during economic hard times unfortunately, they become more conservative. H.wood actor James Woods, for one, goes all out slapping his wallet saying Obama's coming for your money! Same theatrics with Ted Cruz' preacher father.

[lastlib]

8. my response would be:

"If you think the liberals are bad, you ought to open your eyes and see what 'conservatives' are doing to you."

[RiverLover]

15. Believe me, I wanted to say something like that & more!

But I just kind of laughed it off & said, "Oh come on, it isn't that bad." And then got down to business.

Can't talk politics when I've got to make a sale...& maybe overcharge him...haha! (jk, don't want to prove him right.)

[Historic NY]

4. Funny how they slash pension contributions at the state level...

and force unnecessary contributions on the post office on the federal level. Republican as so full of sh-t.

[Dustlawyer]

6. This is a direct result of allowing corporations the right to legally bribe our politicians!

The sooner we insist on Publicly a Funded Elections the sooner we can cut off the control big business has over our government. Go Bernie!

[raouldukelives]

7. +1 And if they refuse to take corporate money out of politics, luckily we can keep ours out of corps

They surest way to be opposed to Democracy is to be supporter/investor in Wall St.
The more money they have, the less Democracy we all have.

[geretogo]

9. He should be put on trial for Grand Theft and human rights violations .

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. I wondered why the Democrats didn't fight back with the old talking point

years ago when Republicans shouted "wealth redistribution!", with this same point which was going on all along.

But then, I was by then getting used to the spineless response from the Dem leadership. Like the late Bartcop, I have gotten more and more exasperated with the silence from the Democrats when they seem to have ammunition right in front of them. The last midterms a good example, when Dems were running away from progressive accomplishments and once again trying to out-Republican Republicans. I'm becoming more and more disillusioned through the years with the idea that the Democrats and Republicans are that much different when it comes to the old boys club REAL moneyed forces behind the economy, and who they cater to. I don't think either party will be running on this platform.

[RiverLover]

16. ^^^

" I'm becoming more and more disillusioned through the years with the idea that the Democrats and Republicans are that much different when it comes to the old boys club REAL moneyed forces behind the economy, and who they cater to. "

Me too!!

[brewens]

13. We that don't have pensions are now supposed to resent those that do, especially

state and federal workers. The reverse of the "I got mine" mentality. Screw them, I can't afford ta pay no taxes to give them a pension if I don't git one! Conservative guvmint workers should have seen this coming. Them, I will not feel sorry for. The sad thing is, once they start rolling this across the country, the scam will be to grandfather in retired and older workers in some states. Enough to minimize the blowback anyway.

[Populist_Prole]

14. I witness this among some; and it's sickening

I can't get over how many bark up the wrong tree and bash other working class members instead of the corporate fatcats.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Think Faux will tell its little sheeple the truth?!?!

[lonestarnot]

18. Yes they are.