NC Together, a coalition of about 75 non-profit organizations will converge on the General Assembly today. They believe that government should increase or at least maintain services and programs at current levels and taxes should be increased to pay for it. They think those who don?t make much, shouldn?t pay much (or anything) and those who make more, should pay a lot. Among the groups lobbying legislators today: ACORN-NC, Capital Area Friends of Transit, EITC Carolinas (motto: Earned Income Tax Credit ? You Earned It ? Claim it), El Pueblo, Inc., NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, NC AFL_CIO, NC Latino Coalition, NC NAACP, NC Voters for Clean Elections (supports tax payer funded elections), North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, SEANC/SEIU 2008 and UE150-NC Public Service Workers.
On the other hand, a group of citizens who believe they?ve been taxed enough already, government programs should be reformed, streamlined and fully evaluated before any taxes are increased, government should live within its means and elected officials should be held accountable and have a duty to uphold the principles and values in our constitution will meet tomorrow at the General Assembly. The Take Back our State TEA Party begins at 4:30 on the Halifax Mall, behind the Legislative Building, with featured speakers, Joe the Plumber and Mary Katharine Ham of Fox News. Over a thousand folks have registered and at least that many more are expected to show up.
It is important for legislators to hear from citizens as they craft a budget for the next two years. Many of their decisions will be based on what they hear from their constituents. NC Together will be advocating higher taxes and more government today. Tomorrow Take Back our State participants will advocate less government, more accountability and no tax increases. Which group will you join?
