Tax Cut or Tax AND Cut?

Some people claim that all Democratics have a “tax and spend” mentality. Of course, it would be incredibly to difficult to outspend this generation of “conservative” lawmakers! Fortunately, the Georgia constitution requires that we balance the state budget every year.

It is the job of government to provide certain services for citizens – roads, security, education, etc. This requires that we “tax and spend.” The question is, will we tax fairly? And will we spend wisely? While my opponent has been in office, tax rates have NOT fallen. In fact, independent studies show that the total tax burden has increased for those in the lower and middle class. Only the upper class is paying less taxes. (Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy.) In Georgia, our income tax brackets have not been updated since the 1930’s. The highest Georgia tax bracket you can be in is for those earning $7,001 per year and up! That’s right – a minimum wage hamburger flipper pays the same percentage Georgia income tax as a millionaire. Of course, the very rich have loopholes the rest of us cannot access. That's why I want to bring tax relief to the middle class by expanding tax brackets more fairly.

My opponent has not cut taxes; he has cut benefits. He talks about “smaller government” and wants you to hear “fewer bureaucrats.” In reality, “smaller government” just means fewer services for tax-payers. You still pay the same taxes. (Maybe more. Have your property taxes increased?) You won’t be getting what you pay for – but you’ll still be paying.

Cutting off the Elderly
My opponent voted in favor of SB 572 which allows the state government to seize the homes of elderly Medicaid recipients. If these elderly citizens cannot repay Medicaid for their hospital or nursing home bill, they can have their property taken and their widow, widower or surviving children made homeless. 40,000 Georgia citizens have already received letters warning them of property seizure. There was no corresponding tax cut – just a cut in services.

Cutting off Children’s Health Care
50,000 children were tossed off Medicaid this spring. About 4,000 of these children were moved to PeachCare; the other 46,000 are simply without health care. Many of the children who lost Medicaid services are children of single mothers, and some are legal citizens whose parents immigrated illegally. These children will still require health care. You will see them in the Emergency Room next time they have strep throat. Their care will cost $2,000 instead of $100 at a doctor’s office. Guess who pays? We do, in the form of higher medical costs. Included in this cut was the Katie Beckett program that helped middle-class parents of disabled children. These families might not fall under poverty guidelines to qualify for Medicaid, but they are raising children with disabilities and medical needs that are beyond their means. The program was cut, but no corresponding tax rebate was put back in taxpayers’ pockets. There was no tax cut – just a cut in services.

Cutting off Education
1.25 billion dollars have been cut from state education funds. Over 8 million came right here out of Catoosa. HOPE funds have been raided, dropping 450 students’ scholarships in order to fund a pork-barrel project. Is it any wonder our graduation rate is next-to-worst in the nation and our SAT scores (despite what you’ve heard) have fallen 3 points? And where is the 8 million dollar tax cut to go along with this cut in services? It does not exist. Catoosa County residents still pay the same taxes. In fact, our property taxes are rising as we struggle to make up for lost state funds. Still no tax cut – just a cut in services.

In all these cases, we’re still paying the bill. We’re just not getting what we pay for. Whoever is elected to this office on Tuesday, we will all still continue to pay taxes. But will we be taxed fairly? And will our money be spent wisely? It is my strong belief that citizens should get what they pay for. You pay it in, and it should be there when you need it for your old age, your child’s health crisis, and for the education of Georgia students.

Once again, I humbly ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 7th. I pledge that I will always vote to tax fairly, and to spend wisely. I believe that our senior citizens should be cared for as they lay dying, whether or not they can afford to pay the medical bills themselves. I don’t believe widows should be tossed out of their homes in the wake of losing a spouse. I believe we need programs to provide low-cost medical care to poor children, rather than finding them in the Emergency Room with every illness. I believe parents deserve help with the high medical costs incurred by raising ill or disabled children. I believe all Georgia children deserve a quality education and a decent shot at life. Most of all, I believe Georgia citizens should get what they pay for.

Vote for Mom on Tuesday, Nov. 7th.
Vote for common sense and compassion.
Vote for Jeannie Babb Taylor, House District 3.

Committee to Elect Jeannie Babb Taylor www.voteformom.com
PO Box 806 * Ringgold, GA 30736 * jeannie@babb.com * 706-965-4587