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Taxes Tag

Sorry, Democrats, but data recently released from the IRS indicates tax refunds haven't dwindled following Trump's tax reform, they're actually up by a whole 1.3% (on average). Since its passage, Democrats have demonized the tax reform legislation, first claiming the increase in take-home pay was minimal, then suggesting companies would just keep the extra for themselves, greedy corporations and all. When large companies passed the saving to their employees, Democrats went back to the, well it's just a one-time small gift, mantra.

As more Democrats declare their intention to run for president in 2020, they will be under increased pressure to distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd. One of the ways this is already unfolding is a competition to be the person who wants to raise taxes the highest on high earners.

California regulators are among the most creative rule-makers when it comes to separating citizens from their money. Take, for instance, this amazing new proposal to tax text messages in the name of "Economic Justice."
California regulators are considering a plan to charge a fee for text messaging on mobile phones to help fund programs that make phone service accessible to the poor.

Despite the fact that millions of their citizens are enjoying the "crumbs" of the tax cuts, including bonuses from their now prosperous companies, four states are filing lawsuits against the IRS, claiming the tax law is unconstitutional.
New York, Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming last year's tax overhaul violated the constitution by unfairly targeting Democratic states. The law puts a new cap on how much Americans are allowed to deduct for state and local taxes, or SALT, from their federal bill. Once unlimited, the deduction is now capped at $10,000. Deductions help reduce a person's overall tax bill.

I blogged last week that Seattle's city council pulled its head tax less than a month after the members passed it after legitimate pressure from Amazon, Starbucks, and other businesses. I detailed in my blog the trouble with unnecessary corporate taxes such as fewer new jobs and less expansion. Despite this, the cities that make up California's infamous Silicon Valley wants to pass its own head tax.

Less than a month after they passed it, Seattle's city council voted to repeal the corporate head tax after facing legitimate pressure from companies like Starbucks and Amazon. The tax would have forced companies that make "more than $20 million a year pay an annual $275 tax per employee." The council predicted the tax would raise $47 million a year for "affordable-housing and homeless services." The city council planned to use that extra tax money to counter the city's growing homeless problem.

One would think the Democratic legislature of New Jersey would be eager to pass a tax hike on millionaires now that the state has a Democratic governor. After all, they passed the hike five times during the tenure of Republican Chris Christie even though they knew he would veto it. Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed "$1.7 billion in new taxes and other revenue to pay for public schools, public-employee pensions and other priorities." His fellow Democrats have "balked" at this idea along with a rise in sales tax.

California's citizens are busy collecting signatures and submitting ballot proposals so that they can change the laws created by the Democratic Party-dominated state legislature. Groups had been hard at work to repeal the onerous gas tax that has been in place since last November. They managed to collect enough signatures, which will mean the proposition to repeal will be on the ballot in time for the state's gubernatorial election this November.

In addition to their multiple calls for greater gun control, Democrats have found another message they believe is a winner for the 2018 midterms. They want to repeal the GOP tax cuts. They can't stand the idea of people being allowed to keep more of their own money.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) has proposed his first budget, and it's loaded with new taxes and tax policy that is intended to raise approximately $1.6 billion in new tax revenue. The tax increases are being met with mixed reactions from New Jersey Democrats; some favor the proposals, some don't think they will raise enough money for Murphy's progressive agenda, and some are opposed to a key new tax, the millionaire's tax.

Earlier this week Senate Democrats introduced a tax plan designed to show what Democrats can be expected to do should they win back majorities in Congress. Their press release refers to their avoidance of "gimmicks and giveaways"; this appears to be a reference to the bonuses, pay raises, and private sector investment and job creation afforded by the new tax law.  All of which, the Democrat proposal would roll back.