The Young and the Restlessly Misguided - Defending L.A. SB 335 against the Louisiana Young Republicans

Today the Louisiana Young Republicans Federation sent out a press release that was picked up by the Dead Pelican praising opposition to SB 335 and spinning the bill as a Democrat-authored tax increase. Oh, young ones:

"The Louisiana Young Republican Federation thanks Governor Jindal and the Young Republican members of the Louisiana Legislature who stood tall and publicly opposed raising the income taxes of working families in Louisiana."
Source: http://www.thedeadpelican.com/2009/YR335.HTM

They're not the only ones speaking out against SB 335 as a "tax increase." All sorts of Republican opposition, including LA Party Chairman Roger Villere, is coming out of the woodwork to do their due diligence in demonizing Democratic legislation by spinning emotion-laced claims of tax increases and foulcry for Louisiana families. You can read Villere's misleading pleas for action here:
Source: http://www.lanewslink.com/archives.php?id=11291

Firstly, if you're not caught up on the legislation, check out the news links to the right side of this post and brush up on it. SB 335 is legislation aiming to delay income tax-break increases from 65% to 100% on certain items.

Let's be real. This isn't a tax increase, no matter how much the Republicans and "fiscal conservatives" want to label it as. SB 335 merely delays a scheduled tax break. It is not levying a new tax. It is postponing a tax break.

As for those like Forgotston who want to claim the bill is unconstitutional because the Senate, not the House, is raising revenue, get real again! This is a postponement of a payout, not authorization to raise revenue. It's saving money that already exists, not generating more.

I consider myself, for the most part, a fiscal conservative and an overall moderate with no partisan ties (affiliations that I feel can blind people, but that's for another post). And yet, these attacks on SB 335 don't seem to be in favor of fiscal conservation, but in favor of partisan warfare.

If you want to talk fiscal conservation, let's talk about fiscal responsibility. How about saving all that money that is going to go into the pockets of people and provide a short-lived blip for the economy, and putting it toward a long-term economic development investment for the state in, I don't know, higher education? And let's not forget health care either. I'd rather the state's residents have adequate health care from adequately-educated LSU-Shreveport medical graduates than make sure everyone can afford to spring for their second iPhone.

It's certainly not a Republican consensus, Audra Shay. You might get Ellen Carmichael's approval, but there are other Republican contributors to this cause and this blog that will disagree with you.

I think I can't say it any better than the Times-Picayune editorial staff. Read their latest output, and before you pin it as liberal dribble, read the whole thing. Everything is in there.
Source: http://blog.nola.com/editorials/2009/05/louisiana_legislature_and_gov.html