Goshen News: Sen. Carlin Yoder discusses immigration bill
media mentionTax cut proposal
Among many other issues discussed at Saturday’s Third House was Gov. Mike Pence’s proposed 10 percent cut in the state income tax.
Jeremy Bernstein, an organizer for Americans for Democratic Action, spoke out against the cut. He said a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy ranked Indiana 41st out of 50 states in terms of tax fairness. Bernstein said that means taxes fall too heavily on the middle class and poor, and too lightly on the wealthy.
“Gov. Pence’s proposed cut will only make the situation worse,” he said.
Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman also voiced concerns.
“Gov. Pence says we should do it because we can afford to do it,” he said. Yet Kauffman also wondered if local option income tax and EDIT monies are being kept as part of the surplus — monies he said should have gone back to local units of government.
Adding to Kauffman’s comments, state Rep. Wes Culver said there are also issues of unfunded pensions and unemployment debt that needs to be paid back to the federal government.
Culver said he’s not against a tax cut, but added, “I want us to pay what we owe.”
Third House is a Goshen Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event allowing local residents to listen to and question state lawmakers. The next event is set for Feb. 23 at the Goshen Chamber office.