Hiding Their Real Tax Cut Motives

The debate over tax relief in Montana is really emblematic of how Republicans try to use populist-sounding ideas to hide their real motives. House Republicans are pushing a plan to give $39 million in one-time proerty tax rebates. Sounds like a good idea - especially in a state where property taxes are a top concern. The problem is that "Revenue Department research that showed only 35 percent of Montana's taxpayers would be eligible for the rebate." Why? Because a large portion of the rebates would go to utilities, railroads and airlines and other businesses." In other words, its a dressed up corporate tax rebate, which is particularly offensive in a state where so many wealthy corporations pay little - if any - taxes.

This is the same way George W. Bush packaged his tax cuts for the wealthy. He told us they were for everyone, used deceptive estimates to make it sound appealing, and then gave away the store to the richest Americans.

State Sen. Jim Elliott (D), however, has a better idea. His bill would provide $60 million in property tax relief annually to 450,000 homeowners and renters. Each taxpayer would get a $135 rebate on their income taxes - and that rebate would be refundable (meaning even if you were poor enough to not have paid $135 in state taxes, you'd still get the rebate). Elliott's bill would mean that 100 percent of the money would go to taxpayers - not corporations - for residential property tax relief. That's the kind of honest plan that would really help citizens throughout the state.