More taxes, please

The plaza in front of the Legislative Building echoed Tuesday morning with a rarely heard cry: Raise our taxes, please.

More than 100 leaders and supporters of nonprofits, service organizations and professional associations warned of the likely damage from the sort of budget cuts being discussed by lawmakers. Many of the groups rely on state government for at least a portion of their funding or for their members' salaries.

"It's about preserving the public investments that keep our communities safe," said Kelvin Spragley, associate executive director of the N.C. Association of Educators.

Speakers at the rally cautioned that a recession is when North Carolinians turn to the government for help, such as a community college course to train for finding a new job or support programs, such as child care, that enable them to keep their jobs.

Francis DeLuca, executive director of the conservative Civitas Institute, said prioritizing spending is the answer, not taxes.

"North Carolinians as a whole are suffering," DeLuca said, "and don't want their taxes raised."

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Re: More taxes, please

Submitted by INSANEHILLBILLY on June 2, 2009 - 10:56pm.

SOME LEGISLATORS OR CITZENS CHECK GROUP NEEDS TO BE TRYING TO KEEP THE TAXES IN CHECK ON CABLE NEWSPAPPERS TELEPHONE AND WATER ELECTRIC RATES ELECTRIC AND WATER ARE GOING TO DOUBLE IN THE THE ONES THAT BOUGHT IN TO ELECTRIC CITIES AFTER DUKE POWER OFFERED TO BUY ALL OF THEIR LINES AND EQUIPMENT AND THEY REFUSED SO THE CITIES ADMISTRATORS CAN CONTINUE TO PAD THEIR POCKETS AND PASS ON THE INCREASE TO THE CUSTOMERS THE UTILITY COMISSION NEEDS TO SAY HALT SOME WHERE ALONG THE LINE

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Re: More taxes, please

Submitted by PaulTerrell on June 2, 2009 - 2:35pm.

We are in a very deep and mean recession. I am still looking to find a ligetimate economist who says raising taxes helps grow jobs.

"It is called JOBS stupid". That is a saying not a attack per se.

Creating private sector jobs will grow state revenues (taxes). raising and creating NEW TAXES WILL NOT STIMULATE spending and therefore will cost us more jobs. And the State and local governments do not have anything to be giving to organizations we taxpayers on all sides will not all approve of. So that needs to stop.

ZERO based budgeting is the only answer in these economic times. It is time to face up to the facts and to stop hiding in a fantasy world.

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Re: More taxes, please

Submitted by RobSchofield on June 2, 2009 - 12:12pm.

Though the need to raise revenue (as has been done in several other conservative southern states including Georgia and Mississippi) was one of the central messages of this morning's event, there were other parts to the solution put forward.

To quote the Together NC press release that accompanied the event:

"Closing North Carolina's budget gap with cuts alone will devastate families and communities across the state, the groups say, and will deepen and prolong the recession as well. A balanced approach that includes strategic tax increases along with judicious cuts is the best way to protect working families and avoid prolonging the recession."

In other words: Balanced approach -- good for essential services and the economy. Relying on cuts alone -- bad for everyone.

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