Alabama's Republican Gov. Bob Riley calls tax hike a "Christian duty"

[DealMonkey]

Linkage...

Alabama's new governor is trying to persuade voters to approve the biggest tax increase in state history by telling them it is their Christian duty. And for a state in the Bible Belt, that might seem like a winning strategy.

Instead, Republican Gov. Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax package is alienating even the Christian Coalition and other supporters, who see Riley as a Judas. Riley had consistently opposed new taxes while in Congress.

Riley says the tax increase is needed to erase Alabama's biggest deficit since the Depression and improve education. The plan also seeks to help the poor by raising the income level at which people have to begin paying state taxes.

Alabama's threshold for paying state taxes is the lowest in the nation at just $4,600 for a family of four and has been remain unchanged since 1982.

Riley, a Southern Baptist, says Alabama has taxed its poorest too harshly for too long.

"According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor," he said. "It is immoral to charge somebody making $5,000 an income tax."

...

 

[SuperTool]

Everyone should pay some taxes. Not much, but some.
They need to feel the pain every time a politician wastes money, otherwise they won't have any interest in stopping it.

 

[Zebo]

Good man.

 

[sandorski]

Just because the Feds have cut taxes, it doesn't mean everyone else can too. Services have to come from somewhere/someone.

 

[Moonbeam]

The chickens are comming home. One day we'll see it was Gods will we get rid of Bush. He is a disaster.

 

[Czar]

kinda like here, the gov decreses taxes, show great financial records, say oh look at us how well we manage money, they do that by selling governmental property and shifting services from the gov to the states, states say aw fukk and rise taxes

 

[BDawg]

I thought the only way to increase tax money was to give it all away? What's good for the goose...

 

[jackschmittusa]

Can non-Christians decline to particapate in the tax increase as they are appearently not duty bound to it?

 

[Pepsei]

Need more Republicans like that.

 

[kage69]

...like we need a smallpox outbreak.

 

[DealMonkey]

Obviously, God is pissed off about Bush's tax "cut" since he seems to be countering it by raising taxes in virtually every state. Hmmm, how about that?

 

[DanJ]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Need more Republicans like that.

That believe everyone should be Christians?

 

[Brie]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Linkage...

Alabama's new governor is trying to persuade voters to approve the biggest tax increase in state history by telling them it is their Christian duty. And for a state in the Bible Belt, that might seem like a winning strategy.

Instead, Republican Gov. Bob Riley's $1.2 billion tax package is alienating even the Christian Coalition and other supporters, who see Riley as a Judas. Riley had consistently opposed new taxes while in Congress.

Riley says the tax increase is needed to erase Alabama's biggest deficit since the Depression and improve education. The plan also seeks to help the poor by raising the income level at which people have to begin paying state taxes.

Alabama's threshold for paying state taxes is the lowest in the nation at just $4,600 for a family of four and has been remain unchanged since 1982.

Riley, a Southern Baptist, says Alabama has taxed its poorest too harshly for too long.

"According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor," he said. "It is immoral to charge somebody making $5,000 an income tax."

...

And for a state in the Bible Belt, that might seem like a winning strategy

lets not sterotype

I heard Riley speak last week and he did not mention any "christian duty." This story is blown way out of proportion just like most news.

 

[Mill]

Let me tell you HOW STUPID the average voter is. Just about everyone I know that is voting against the plan would actually get a CUT. Yes, their property taxes would increase, and so would some other taxes, but overall they would receive a CUT! Now tell me why you would vote against something that lets you receive a cut? Of course I am voting against it because I would not be getting a cut, and I also really don't like how Riley thinks he can tax people unequally. Yeah, someone can afford a higher percentage of income because they make more. Does that make it right to take it from them? Hell no.

I don't think Riley's religious antics are going to pan out. Most Christians that I know of find it hard to believe he would try to interpolate this package with a Christian ideal. They don't think it is the right thing to do. Funny, because these are the same people that want to spend tax dollars on funding our Supreme Court's Chief Justice in his never ending battle to have the 10 commandments in his courtroom. The Alabama taxpayers foot the bill, and he becomes even more popular with the religious right. Sounds like a plan to me.

This whole mess would have never started if the freaking Christian Coalition and the Mississippi Casinos hadn't been so against an Alabama lottery. The measure was narrowly defeated, but it would have passed had the CC and the MS casinos had not rallied against it. Now we face a budget shortfall, and our State School Superintendent has threatened to close all schools by October and all Athletic programs right after school starts. Riley says he includes accountability into his tax package, but so does every other Politician.

Don't get me started on how Riley was trying to DOUBLE tax those with investments. That really had me against it, and he is lucky that the legislature removed that from the bill.

The major thing that pisses me off, is that the Banks are pushing for this increase. My Bank in particular has contributed 25k to the cause. Thanks Southtrust, I really appreciate you creating more taxes for me on AN ACCOUNT THAT YOU MANAGE! Asshats.

 

[Zebo]

I don't think Riley's religious antics are going to pan out. Most Christians that I know of find it hard to believe he would try to interpolate this package with a Christian ideal. They don't think it is the right thing to do. Funny, because these are the same people that want to spend tax dollars on funding our Supreme Court's Chief Justice in his never ending battle to have the 10 commandments in his courtroom. The Alabama taxpayers foot the bill, and he becomes even more popular with the religious right. Sounds like a plan to me.

Symbolism over substance and christians are the best at. They like people to think they are christian with crosses, rosaries, attending chruch, etc.. but heaven forbid they actually read the good book and live the life. Costs to much.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Millennium
Let me tell you HOW STUPID the average voter is. Just about everyone I know that is voting against the plan would actually get a CUT. Yes, their property taxes would increase, and so would some other taxes, but overall they would receive a CUT! Now tell me why you would vote against something that lets you receive a cut? Of course I am voting against it because I would not be getting a cut, and I also really don't like how Riley thinks he can tax people unequally. Yeah, someone can afford a higher percentage of income because they make more. Does that make it right to take it from them? Hell no.

I don't think Riley's religious antics are going to pan out. Most Christians that I know of find it hard to believe he would try to interpolate this package with a Christian ideal. They don't think it is the right thing to do. Funny, because these are the same people that want to spend tax dollars on funding our Supreme Court's Chief Justice in his never ending battle to have the 10 commandments in his courtroom. The Alabama taxpayers foot the bill, and he becomes even more popular with the religious right. Sounds like a plan to me.

This whole mess would have never started if the freaking Christian Coalition and the Mississippi Casinos hadn't been so against an Alabama lottery. The measure was narrowly defeated, but it would have passed had the CC and the MS casinos had not rallied against it. Now we face a budget shortfall, and our State School Superintendent has threatened to close all schools by October and all Athletic programs right after school starts. Riley says he includes accountability into his tax package, but so does every other Politician.

Don't get me started on how Riley was trying to DOUBLE tax those with investments. That really had me against it, and he is lucky that the legislature removed that from the bill.

The major thing that pisses me off, is that the Banks are pushing for this increase. My Bank in particular has contributed 25k to the cause. Thanks Southtrust, I really appreciate you creating more taxes for me on AN ACCOUNT THAT YOU MANAGE! Asshats.

They missed this part"...to whom whom much is given, much is expected..".

 

[Mill]

Speaking of which... Under Bush's plan I got a 65.38% tax cut. Under Riley's State Plan I will get a 42% increase. I see no reason to vote for a plan that will significantly raise my property and income tax that has NO guarantee of accountability.