WEST Virginia is among the nation's leaders in poor people. Whobetter, then, to tax to support Democratic programs? Thus theMountain State collects income taxes from people who live under thefederal poverty line. Last year, the state siphoned $25 millionfrom 110,000 families who live at or below the federal poverty line.
That's a lot of medicine they could buy. That's a lot of schoolclothing they could buy. That's a lot of food they could buy.
But Democrats want the money so they can supply medicine, schoolclothing and food for the poor. How easy it is to be charitable withother people's money.
Republicans have fought to roll back the income taxes on thepoorest of the poor. Although vastly outnumbered in the Legislature,the Four Horsemen of the 32nd House District were able to have thestate stop taxing those who earn $10,000 or less a year.
Gov. Cecil Underwood has seconded a call by Delegate Rusty Webb,R-Kanawha, to raise that exemption to $17,000, to bring it to thefederal poverty line. This is part of Underwood's call for anoverhaul of the state's tax system to make it more fair andequitable.
Democrats say the plan favors the rich.
Since when is $17,000 a year rich?
Underwood's Democratic opponent, Rep. Bob Wise, has offered notax relief to the poor.
Instead, Wise would seek new revenue to pay for college for all Bstudents, regardless of income. Thus, in some cases he would betaking from the poor and giving to the well-off.
The time to end such nonsense is at hand. Instead of taxing thepoor, it's time to give them tax relief.
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