JLF’s Becki Gray is providing an incredible service to North Carolina taxpayers. She’s spending hours and hours at the General Assembly monitoring discussions and debate over potential tax hikes as the budget is put together. Check out her Locker Room blog post from 2:19 Tuesday afternoon. She reveals what Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Durham) said about potential tax increases. It is very instructive. From her post (emphasis is mine):
The expansion of government and social programs funded by the one time federal stimulus money will create a shortfall of $1.2 Billion when the money runs out in 2012. Finance Chair, Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Guilford) explains one reason we need these tax increases is to prepare and be sure the revenue is there for multiple years to continue the expansion of these social programs and expansions created with the stimulus money.
Yes, that’s what they said….today’s tax increases are needed to ensure that programs created and expanded with stimulus money will be funded when the federal money runs out. And most of those expansions are directed by the strings the federal government has tied to those stimulus dollars.
There you have it. It illustrates that once public money is appropriated, it becomes an entitlement.
Becki has many, many fascinating stories about what she sees and hears at the legislature. You can find out more by attending a meeting of one of JLF’s new Freedom Clubs. There are seven regional clubs. The next meeting of the Triangle club — featuring Becki as the keynote speaker — is Tuesday, June 16. You’ll find all the details here.
Becki discusses the budget negotations here.
