Texas Governor Rick Perry – Return Tax Surplus to Taxpayers – Follows Alaska’s, former Governor Palin’s Plan -Democrats Balk at Returning Excess to Taxpayers

Rick Perry and his Book - "Fed Up" - how most American's feel on so many issues - image talking points memo

From the El Paso Times : Governor Rick Perry has had the unmitigated gall to suggest that excess taxes collected by the State of Texas be returned to the taxpayers, restore cuts previously made to education and spend additional revenue on infrastructure. The article refers to the Texas surplus as a “so-called rainy day fund”. The rainy-day fund in Texas is at $12 Billion dollars, yet with his proposals Democrats are crying foul. The El Paso Times reports: “But Democrats panned the address as willfully blind to the needs of low-income Texans and school districts.

"What I heard was a lot about investing in infrastructure, roads and water, but not enough about investing in people," said first-year Democratic Rep. Gene Wu of Houston. “ (El Paso Times)

One might say, “It figures” should a Republican wish to return excess tax revenue to those that gave them the revenue in the first place, it’s a problem. It must be a problem to put money into the hands of taxpayers who might spend it and further stimulate the already robust economy in Texas. It is also not investing in people to suggest improving infrastructure, as that provides construction jobs – but then again, Texas is a right to work state, so no union kickbacks to the Democrats whom they support. It is not investing in individuals by putting money back into the budget for education, apparently. As to low-income people, (which now includes anyone who isn’t making more than $40K pre-tax or more) Texas is a mecca for those who want to work and earn a living, get a decent education for comparatively less than other states (especially with Perry’s $10,000 four year degree challenge having taken hold in the State University System). As to the Texas State Sales and other taxes, one can find those at the State of Texas site here: www.window.state.tx.us.taxes). the sales tax rate is a combined state and local rate no higher than 8.25% - every single tax and fee is listed on the site, for both businesses and individuals and includes additional easy to understand explanations of each category.

Therefore, if one is “low-income” and one is paying the same sales tax rate as everyone else, has access to schools at extremely low costs and can expect a refund, somehow this is extremely unfair – if one is a Democrat.

(A note, it is getting to the point where the “war between the parties” is out of control, and frankly, from the media the division between the parties is becoming – ludicrous. If a plan makes sense, should it not be embraced by individual politicians regardless of which party banner they choose? There are good and bad in both parties, the later being the case more often than not – there is very little bi-partisanship unless there is a cave in from one side or the other, by a “gang of five, six or seven”, and it is – in word nauseating. There is a reason why Washington, DC never changes, has a large gap between the haves and have nots, produces nothing and yet is the wealthiest City in the nation. One might find microcosms of Washington, DC in their state capitals – but apparently, that’s not the case in Texas. – with the exception of the partisan press and the obligatory Democrat crying foul. – Thus formations of new political parties should be encouraged)

Perry is not the first to suggest giving tax revenue back to the people – Sarah Palin gave tax rebates on oil production to Alaskans and caught flak for doing so – See Bloomberg.com, complaining about Palin’s increase on taxes to Oil Companies and the rebate of increased tax revenue to the local populace!

State Tax website Comparison

After viewing the Texas State Tax site in paragraph 3, take a look at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Tax informationhere: mass.gov.dor/alltaxes/all taxes-a-z. When one visits a category, there are additional subcategories, and so on.

California (where residents are fleeing to – Texas) offers a county and city taxes – at the Board of Equalization website here - and a State Income Tax site here

For sales tax rates: a list of all 50 states and their sales tax rates – the Sales Tax Institute

For Income tax rates visit the Tax Foundation

It goes without saying that those politicians’ of long-standing (and multiple terms) that cry foul that the “poor” will suffer, if the other guy cuts taxes, or vice versa, understand that they are making scads of money and hanging out with the same lobbyist - they are far removed from their constituents. There are those in this nation who still believe that the government is run by the people, that here is no aristocracy, that those who try hard, do well in school have the opportunity – not the right, to change their income brackets. In this nation, there should be no divide over who has the cash and who does not, as everyone has the right to earn the cash – not given cash on a silver platter for doing – nothing.

It is a philosophy that is uniquely American, and there are few countries if any others, that offer someone from a “lower income” to rise to be a billionaire – on their own wits, steam and hard work. When an individual pays taxes (tribute) to a government – and the government is living large, with ample moneys to run the government itself – then the balance should be proportionately refunded to those how paid – not hoarded or projected in order to fund unnecessary programs or more give aways that prevent individuals from doing what is their right – succeed or fail on their own merits.

MA - Deval Patrick to Announce Kerry Senate Replacement on MSNBC – Last Word - Replacement to be “out-of-the-box”

The Next Interim U.S.Senator from MA? Patrick will announce today. - Image: journalism.nyu.edu Governor Deval Patrick will announce his choice of interim U.S. Senate Replacement today. He will go on to discuss the weighty decision in of all venues, MSNBC’s “The Last Word”:

From Twitter:

Thursday at 10pm ET, @MassGovernorDeval Patrick joins @Lawrence to discuss who will temporarily fill John Kerry's Senate seat. @msnbc

Patrick, according to the Boston Herald, will choose a replacement that is “out-of-the-box”, bringing up names of political insiders, who are normally behind the scene, rather than those who are begging for the seat (See Barney Frank). The bet is that whoever the choice might be will be calculated to help the Governor and his legacy – possibly towards a run at the oval office in 2016, although that is possible, it is highly improbable in light of the Progressive push for Elizabeth Warren to be the next Barack Obama.

Kerry should be easily confirmed as the next Secretary of State, a position he has coveted for some time. The anti-war movements, second best icon next to Jane Fonda, will be easily confirmed in the U.S. Senate. The Replacement will be in place until the Massachusetts Special Election which will be held in June, on the 25th. There will also be a primary, that date has been set for April 30. (Fox-Boston) To date, only one individual has thrown their hat into the political ring, U.S. Congressman, Ed Markey.

Although the MSM is suggesting that former Senator Scott Brown might run in the special election, better odds are on Brown running for the Governor’s office in 2014. That said, Brown might run against Markey in the special election, and forgo running in the 2014 Senate Election, in favor of the Commonwealth’s top job. Try as anyone might, there has been zero inference from Brown as to his plans at this point. The aforementioned is pure speculation by the media.

As to the MSNBC announcement by Patrick, that does put Patrick on a national stage (of sorts), chock full of progressive stalwarts, and sending a message to the national “base” that Patrick is serious about a run. This after Hillary Clinton supporters have launched a “Super PAC” for a run in 2016. One might speculate that with Clinton’s health questionable, and the beating she took by a hostile press in the 2008 run for the Presidency, not to mention the use of “super delegates” to push Barack Obama to the nomination (in spite of the popular vote in the primary going to Clinton), she might reconsider. Either way, it is a long way from 2016, and the conventional wisdom is that whomever runs the Progressives in the Democrat Party, will make the ultimate decision as to whom “they” want to be the next “Obama”.

As to the interim Senate Replacement – bet on a “safe” choice and a political insider – sorry Barney!

Paul Ryan suggests a Clinton Presidency would have solved nation’s fiscal crisis - The Political Class and Economics – Hell Freezes Over, Fox’s Hannity and New York Times on Same Page!

Photo from the Washingtonian online - article indicates the Next two frontrunners - however, is there a difference?

An article this morning from newsbusters.org, highlights a recent “Meet The Press” segment where, former V.P. Candidate, and budget wonk of the Congress, suggested that if Clinton had been President, the fiscal mess the government faces would have been dealt with by no. (Paraphrasing). The articles goes on to note that they were not sure which Clinton Ryan was speaking of – however, one look at the way Hillary Clinton voted in her tenure at the Senate, (see Thomas.gov – search by congress, and then by name of Senator), she was a) bi-partisan, working with both Republican and Democrats on a variety of bills, secondly, she was more pro-military, and defense, working on bills with Hutchinson of Texas as well as Rick Santorum – keeping children safe, credits for small businesses, and the list goes on. It is no wonder therefore, that with the Progressives in control of the Democrat Party, a moderate, such as Clinton, who may, at times, trend to the Conservative side (which Democrats were at one point), was not going to be nominated, even if she did win the popular vote going into the DNC Convention.

Those talking heads, who are now saying Clinton would be a shoe-in in 2016, obviously have no idea of who the Progressives will choose to be the next woman to run on the ticket – but one might be watching the newly elected Senator from Massachusetts, the Oklahoman born, Elizabeth Warren – or the Progressives next Barack Obama.

That aside, one has to wonder, with the constant struggle in Washington, and the “deadlock” that is faced consistently – when one reads the Congressional record, one see’s a lot of bills sponsored, and co-sponsored by those on both sides of the ails, there appears to be some comradery – and the balance, as they say –is for show.

There was an interesting video shown on Fox News Sean Hannity with documentary producer Bannon – from the New York Times:

9 P.M. (Fox News) BOOMTOWN: WASHINGTON, THE IMPERIAL CITY In this edition of “Hannity,” the host, Sean Hannity; Peter Schweizer, the president and co-founder of the Government Accountability Institute; and Stephen K. Bannon, the executive chairman of Breitbart News and co-founder of the Government Accountability Institute, investigate what they call crony capitalism among the city’s power elite and the tactics used by lobbyists, bureaucrats and legislators to finance their lifestyles with taxpayer money.

In watching the program, which is segments of a file, followed by discussion, one begins to get the feeling that the “rapid Republican “Hannity, has gone over the Libertarian Ledge – or perhaps Occupy Wall Street, where there is a total disgust and distrust of the new Washington, where regardless of the party – lobbyists and politicians’ have combined to create the wealthiest and productive city in the nation – on taxpayers dollars. It’s shocking itself, the concept that there is now a permanent aristocracy that rules the U.S. and its money, and basically we, the poepole, send them “tribute”.

In other words, all of those who have tenure, (2 terms or more) are in this political class – and from the sounds of the program, there is nothing to be done!

(Unless, of course, the Public decides to throw them all-out, baby with the bathwater style, and start over.)

Most shocking take on this: From the New York TimesWashingtonEconomic Boom Financed by You”

We’re in trouble when Hannity, Bannon and the New York Times agree on something. The Premise of what has happened to our once valued institutions of Democracy is that using taxpayers funds, and lobbyist funds, there is a great divide between the haves and the have nots – specifically centered In Washington DC and around the government, where – as anyone with a brain knows, as Washington Produces nothing worth value, that can be sold or traded, then the taxpayer foots the bill. This created a political aristocracy, and it is a bi-partisan fleecing of Americans.

Or perhaps, the media itself, or certain segments, are now either so concerned or disgusted or both there will be additional stories about what goes on in the nations capital. Either that or Ailes now owns the New York Times.

One then finds those dueling senators and congressmen, through the congressional record, getting along just fine when it’s behind closed doors. Conspiracy theory or a situation where the public needs to think long and hard about changing the old for the new, from the top office down. At this point, taking people off the street might not be a bad idea.

Therefore, when Paul Ryan suggests that Hillary would have done a better job, be sure of it, he would know, he’s worked with her long enough, and with all the inner power struggles of both parties, there are occasional bright spots, that will be demonized for telling the truth about one another, in the typical partisan way. It is a shame and it is a sham at the same time.

Articles of Interest: The Alaska Dispatch – health care and Americas rising income inequality – Washington DC