The state can't afford pre-school, we can't afford to have good universities,

[HuskiesHowls]

The state SURE can't afford to pay the workers (unless 1,500 lose their jobs), Can't afford to put ANY money into high-speed rail service (that would ACTUALLY do some good!!!).....and this is only 3 WEEKS into the legislative session!!!!

BUT

The State CAN afford to: Cut corporate taxes--even though some companies pay NO taxes;
Pay Gov Braindead his pension WHILE paying him a salary; and, now
Cut Income taxes 20%.....just because the RePublicons think we should.


What is wrong with this picture????
(Thank God for Gronstal and the Democrats in the Senate!!)

[Cairycat]

1. I know, it's bullshit, isn't it

I wonder how long it will take for the average Joe or Jane in the street to figure out that the Rethug's agenda of huge payoffs to corporations, radical social agenda and attempts at union busting hurts rather than helps the state and the middle class.

Yeah, I'm thinking what little I can spare for political donation might best be spent on statehouse races.

edited to correct typo

[HuskiesHowls]

2. I need to add some stuff:

10 of 38 inspectors of nursing homes will lose their jobs---we don't need to worry about the elderly, do we....

Over 200 positions in the Department of Human Services will be lost....either through not hiring, or layoffs....
we don't need to worry about the people with mental problems...lets just get them all guns and eventually they'll land in jail!!!!

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/02/16/branstads-budget-would-force-dhs-lay-offs-human-services-chief-says/

edit to add link to DSM Register

[emulatorloo]

3. I wish we could manage something like what is happening in Wisconsin

I just get the feeling way too many people are completely unaware of what's going on.

Brandstad got elected on Clinton era nostalgia plus a heavy dose of lies.

The voters are still in that bubble I guess.

I hate to sound Apocalyptic, but the Republicans are really trying to destroy what's good about our state.

[rurallib]

4. IFP "Tax Credit Showers Benefits on Non-Taxpaying Companies"

http://www.iowafiscal.org/110211-statement.html
http://www.iowafiscal.org/110212-RAC-bgd.html

This is a real eye opener -

Key Numbers

From the Department of Revenue report today, here are some key points:
-- 133 companies received RAC checks and paid no state corporate income tax in 2010.
-- Those 133 companies together had about $2.2 million in taxes erased by the RAC — but received "refunds" of tax credit amounts in excess of their tax liability.
-- 95.2 percent of RAC claims — from both the regular credit and the supplemental credit — were paid out as "refunds" in the total amount of $43 million.
-- 88 percent of RAC claims went to nine companies, in the combined amount of $39.7 million.
-- The three largest RAC claimants received at least $30.7 million in “tax credit refund” checks.