A bill that would allow state taxpayers to make additional payments to state government won approval by a House Committee yesterday and now moves the House floor. Per WRAL:
The measure, which next goes to the House floor, would require that the Department of Revenue include a box on North Carolina’s tax returns for those who wish to pay more. Those paying above and beyond could designate the extra money go toward one of the following departments:
- The Department of Cultural Resources
- The Department of Health and Human Services
- The Department of Public Instruction
- The Department of Public Safety
- The General Fund of the State of North Carolina
- The University of North Carolina
So now all of the big-government leftists demanding more government programs have a chance to put their money where their mouths are.
Upset about alleged “cuts” to education? Write a check. Demanding more funding for pre-K programs or Medicaid? Write a check.
In fact, I’m sure “progressive” mouthpieces and activists will be falling all over themselves to send more money to the state government to preserve the “vital government services” they consider so essential to keeping society from falling into the dark ages. Indeed, I recommend an amendment to the legislation stating that the names of those giving extra money to the government be made public, so that the “Moral Monday” crowd can honor them as heroes.
Of course, we know what the result will be if this bill is passed: virtually nobody will give extra money to the state. Similar “tax-me-more” options have been in place in other states, perhaps most notably in Massachussetts. And as the Wall Street Journal pointed out:
When taxpayer groups in Massachusetts won an income tax rate cut to 5.3% from 5.85% in 2001, they created an option for those opposed to the cut to file at the old rate. But according to Massachusetts tax records, each year only about 1,000 tax-me-more enthusiasts—fewer than 0.1% of the state’s residents—choose the optional higher tax rate. The total raised in voluntary tax contributions for the past tax year was a pitiful $69,000, which means the average income of the donors was less than $25,000—hardly John Kerry territory. And this is arguably our most liberal state, where Mr. Obama won over 60% of the vote. So much for the irresistible liberal urge to “give back to the country.”
Fact is, those that scream the loudest about ever-expanding government programs are the first ones to use deductions and credits on their tax returns to lower their tax liability. Indeed, these Mercedes Marxists seem to think compassion and self-sacrifice merely consists of demanding government dole out more of other people’s money.
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