A rear guard action — meaning by minority Democrats and the occasional rational thinker — is underway to deter Governor Hutchinson and the legislature from focusing a special session entirely on income tax cuts for the rich while doing nothing for public services, particularly a pay raise for school teachers.

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One rational person, as Twitter shows, is the governor’s nephew, former Republican Sen. Jim Hendren, now an independent.

Democratic Sen. Joyce Elliott, a former teacher, tosses some facts into the mix.

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The progressive group, ForARPeople, in encouraging a petition campaign on behalf of teachers, highlights the rich part-time pay of legislators (enhanced for most by $10,000-$15,000 in tax-free per diem bonuses for turning up at committee meetings — or not turning up if you are entitled prigs like Alan Clark.)

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Again, the simple rundown on Arkansas legislative priorities, based on the reported  income tax cut agreement worked out between the governor and legislature:

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State surplus this year, plus accrued catastrophic reserve:

$3 billion

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Cost of cutting the top income tax rate from 5.5 to 4.9 percent retroactive to Jan. 1:

$449 million this year. With tens of millions more in coming years.

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Percentage going to the top 15 percent of taxpayers:

91 percent

Percentage going to the top 5 percent of taxpayers

68 percent

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Percentage going to people making between $40,000 and $80,000

9 percent

Percentage going to 771,000 taxpayers (and probably a lot more based on last year’s figures) who make less than $40,000,

ZERO

Median household income in Arkansas

$49,000

Pay raises proposed for Arkansas teachers

ZERO

Increased spending proposed for food, health, housing, daycare and other needs of low-income families and new mothers, a number to increase with legal abortion now banned

ZERO

Elections matter.

 

 

 

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