Vote alert from Sirota blog: GOP & 11 Dems Vote Down Property Tax Relief

[madfloridian]

Since we retired, our property taxes have quadrupled. No relief in site. I have a question for those who voted no. Why?

From Sirota blog.

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=7C05CD41-E0C3-F090-A02CDFD985296FA9

Many states are struggling with high, regressive property taxes these days. In an effort to relieve that burden, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) authored legislation today on the floor of the Senate to provide $21.5 billion of property tax relief to states. Specifically, his bill would have restored the income tax rate on income above $1 million a year to pre-Bush-tax-cut levels, and put the $21.5 billion savings into grants to states for special education - the program that is directly connected to high property tax rates. Some background: Because the federal government mandates states provide the special education funding that the federal government refuses to provide, states are forced to primarily pay for this gap through higher property taxes. As Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has noted years before he voted against Sanders legislation today, federal underfunding of special education leaves states "to cover the shortfall, placing a greater strain on local property taxes."

As Sanders noted on the Senate floor, roughly 3/10ths of 1 percent of Americans make more than $1 million per year, while tens of millions of Americans are being hit with regressive property taxes. In other words, this bill was a slight tax increase on a small handful of millionaires in order to provide real and much-needed property tax relief to average Americans. Yet, incredibly, this simple amendment was voted down in the Democratic Senate.

Here are the votes...the Nays.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00094

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)

Landrieu D-LA
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson D-FL
Nelson (D-NE)
Roberts (R-KS)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester D-MT
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA
Wyden (D-OR)

[DURHAM D]

1. I wonder about this setup. I have never lived anywhere where

the state has any say over property taxes.

I have lived in five states and in every case the property taxes are determined by the county. Therefore, I have assumed that the mandated funds for special education are coming out of general state funds. Anyone on here live in a state where the property taxes are determined by the state?

[napi21]

2. Here in Ga. the Governor has just proposed eliminating property

taxes for senior citizens. It hasn't been voted on yet, but that would apply to the whole State of Ga. I also haven't seen his written proposal, so I don't know if he was referring to only the tiny State part of the prop. tax, or more than that.

The first line on my property tax bill is "State" tax. Now, the milage rate is only .25 so I'm not really sure what it's used for.

And for those of you who are saying "Does that idiot have her tax bill just laying right ther?" The answer is I'm finishing up my income taxes, so yes all this info IS just laying right here.

[madfloridian]

3. I read it this way....

"federal underfunding of special education leaves states "to cover the shortfall, placing a greater strain on local property taxes."

The trickle down cost when the government gives a pass to rich folks. The state is deprived, they deprive the counties, but then I guess you knew that.

11 Democrats were unwilling to provide relief, that is the point.

[Warpy]

4. That's my view, too

that property tax abatement for low income and retired people on fixed incomes has to be handled at the local level.

That being said, I wish the bill had passed just so that Stupid would veto it.

[madfloridian]

5. All property tax is handled that way....not just poor and retired.

Ok, two of you seem to think it is good to not require the very wealthy to have tax burdens.

I am having trouble here.

[cali]

6. Yeah, but towns and counties in many states

keep raising their property taxes in order to pay for special ed. At least that's true in VT.

[madfloridian]

7. Bill would restore rates on income above 1 million a year to pre-Bush levels.

"his bill would have restored the income tax rate on income above $1 million a year to pre-Bush-tax-cut levels"

How about a discussion on why 11 Democrats don't want that.

I am paying quadruple while those making over a million a year are paying less.

[madfloridian]

8. One last kick because this goes to funding our government.

:kick:

Just finished paying our property taxes today. I lied. I said they had quadrupled since we retired. I was wrong. I got out the old ones, and the taxes are over 5 times higher now.

It is the house and car insurance that have only quadrupled. Keeping myself honest.