Shay Totten Cites VSEA Poll In Weekly Column!

"By a more than two-to-one margin, Vermonters support the idea of temporarily taxing wealthier Vermonters as a way to close the budget gap."

The Rich and the Rabble

By a more than two-to-one margin, Vermonters support the idea of temporarily taxing wealthier Vermonters as a way to close the budget gap.

That’s the finding in a recent poll conducted by ICF Macro on behalf of the Vermont State Employees Association, the union that represents active and retired state employees.

Of 400 people polled, 67.8 percent said “yes” when asked: “Do you support a temporary tax increase on Vermont’s wealthiest to help our state address its ongoing fiscal crisis?” Only 26.5 percent answered “no.”

As “Fair Game” has detailed, a group of wealthier Vermonters asked Gov. Peter Shumlin to raise their taxes by $17 million, collectively, to help close the $176 million budget gap. Hundreds of other Vermonters earning more than $100,000 pay zero in taxes, including seven millionaires.

House Speaker Shap Smith and other legislative leaders claim they may have to raise income taxes in 2012 to cover federal funding cuts.

Riiight.

Pols just love to raise taxes in the same year they’re up for reelection.