A rear guard motion — which means by minority Democrats and the occasional rational thinker — is underway to discourage Governor Hutchinson and the legislature from focusing a particular session totally on earnings tax cuts for the wealthy whereas doing nothing for public providers, notably a pay elevate for varsity lecturers.
One rational individual, as Twitter exhibits, is the governor’s nephew, former Republican Sen. Jim Hendren, now an unbiased.
Democratic Sen. Joyce Elliott, a former instructor, tosses some details into the combo.
The progressive group, ForARPeople, in encouraging a petition marketing campaign on behalf of lecturers, highlights the wealthy part-time pay of legislators (enhanced for many by $10,000-$15,000 in tax-free per diem bonuses for turning up at committee conferences — or not turning up in case you are entitled prigs like Alan Clark.)
Once more, the easy rundown on Arkansas legislative priorities, primarily based on the reported earnings tax lower settlement labored out between the governor and legislature:
State surplus this yr, plus accrued catastrophic reserve:
$3 billion
Value of chopping the highest earnings tax charge from 5.5 to 4.9 p.c retroactive to Jan. 1:
$449 million this yr. With tens of tens of millions extra in coming years.
Share going to the highest 15 p.c of taxpayers:
91 p.c
Share going to the highest 5 p.c of taxpayers
68 p.c
Share going to folks making between $40,000 and $80,000
9 p.c
Share going to 771,000 taxpayers (and doubtless much more primarily based on final yr’s figures) who make lower than $40,000,
ZERO
Median family earnings in Arkansas
$49,000
Pay raises proposed for Arkansas lecturers
ZERO
Elevated spending proposed for meals, well being, housing, daycare and different wants of low-income households and new moms, a quantity to extend with authorized abortion now banned
ZERO
Elections matter.
