#akfams — Public Fediverse posts

Some support #Begich4Gov b/c he proposes raising #OilTaxes & closing the S-Corp loophole. Both are good, but he also would con't DEEP PFDcuts ("most regressive tax ever proposed"), raising more from middle- & lower-income #AKfams than from #OilCos. #akleg https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/tom-begich-lone-democratic-candidate-for-governor-says-state-is-missing-opportunities-during-tough

The most insidious #akleg position of the past decade -spread mainly by the Top20%- has been that PFDs are spending and PFDcuts are spending cuts. In fact, under current law, PFDs are income designated for #AKfams, and, by w/holding & diverting that income to govt, PFDcuts are taxes on that income.

At its core, Rep. Zack Fields' proposal to means-test the PFD is just another proposal to protect the Top20%, #NonRez & #OilCos from paying a proportionate share of the costs of increased spending by taxing middle and, by reducing the level, even lower-income #AKfams instead. #akleg https://buff.ly/hh5OTJg

🤦 #AKSen -

* Monday: Vote to permanently increase K-12 spending by $185mil/yr. Theme: "We can afford it!"

* Tuesday: Announce a further tax on middle & lower-income #AKfams of $1300/avg household, by reducing the PFD from POMV 25/75 to 17/83. Theme: "We need more revenue!" #akleg

https://buff.ly/Oe8NgKI

Let's be clear. These Reps are making a choice to reduce the income of middle & lower-income #AKfams even further (thru PFDcuts) rather than reform #OilTaxes to match the original intent of SB21: more production = more state revenue. #OilCos over #AKfams. #akleg #disappointing https://buff.ly/G2aYdIF

#PFDcuts and a flat rate income tax both raise the same amount of rev. #PFDcuts do it by taking most from middle & lower-income #AKfams, while the Top20% & #NonRez dodge. A #FlatTax does it by taking the same broadly from ALL #AKfams + #NonRez. Why is #akleg SenFin using the first? https://buff.ly/3XufH58

Why isn't the House Maj also looking at #OilTaxes? One reason: it's the deal they cut to bring Reps Kott & Stutes on board. They sold out #Working (middle & lower-income) #AKfams (by limiting revenues to PFDcuts) to have the votes to pass K-12 & defined benefits. #akleg

Yet, in Alaska, the #akleg is targeting that very group (60% of #AKfams)to bear the burden of paying for growing govt costs while the Top20%, #NonRez & #OilCos largely skate. And some wonder why we have net #outmigration. 🤦‍♂️ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/22/inflation-holidays-gifts-christmas/

Not prioritized? #WorkingAKfams. #akleg

By failing to propose a more equitable revenue approach, Dunleavy continues the policy of using PFD cuts to fund growing govt spending from the pockets of middle & lower-income #AKfams, while letting the Top20%, #NonRez & #OilCos go scot-free. https://www.adn.com/opinions/2024/12/13/opinion-here-are-my-priorities-for-alaska-in-the-proposed-state-budget/

𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩: Cutting PFDs to fund govt takes 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 $$ from mid & lower-income #AKfams than would taxes. The 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 beneficiaries are the Top20%. https://bit.ly/3zoomJt

Those claiming to rep #WorkingAKfams but who knee-jerk "no taxes?" Puppets of Top20% plutocrats. #akleg

2024 #akleg session explained:

Alaska Senate 📣📣 "#NoTaxes ... ( 🤫 for Alaska's Top20% by using deep PFDcuts to fund govt mainly on the backs of middle-income #AKfams instead)."

The goal: #AmericasTaxHaven ... (🤫 #ForTheTop20% 🎩)

House Majority: Sure 😜

#AKmedia: 🙈🙊🙉

Some: "I am in Alaska for #NoTaxes. That must con't. But govt also must provide [x]; #akleg should use PFDcuts to pay."

𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩: PFDcuts are just taxes on mid & lower-income #AKfams; the Top20%, non-rez & oil dodge.

So, #NoTaxes? That's just code for: "I'm in the Top20% enjoying a '#NoTax, but full govt services' lifestyle, paid for by taxes on mid & lower-income #AKfams. Don't stop my party 🥳🥳."

Some #akleg oppose taxes "no matter what."

𝘽𝙪𝙩 there isn't a #NoTaxes alt. Thru PFDcuts, #AKfams already pay the "most regressive tax 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧" (ISER's Berman). Other alts have 𝙛𝙖𝙧 lower impacts. https://bit.ly/3zoomJt

The real goal? Avoid taxes on the Top20% & non-rez.

𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨: PFDcuts take more from 80% of #AKfams than taxes. PFDcuts also have a larger adverse impact on the #AKecon. https://bit.ly/3zoomJt

But some #akleg: "#NoTaxes, use PFDcuts."

𝙒𝙝𝙮?

#𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮: The Top20% pay less (are subsidized) using PFDcuts.