The governor wants to raise your taxes but he doesn't want you to know
The media might be on Gov. Beshear's tax bandwagon, but he knows Kentucky's hard-working citizens and small business owners are not. Otherwise, why would he tell reporters: "At times, you make progress by sitting down behind closed doors with leadership and talking about very tough issue(s)."
If what your political leadership has planned for you is so great, then why don't they want you to know? Why discuss this "behind closed doors?"
It sounds to me like the Governor and other supporters of higher taxes, spending increases and more government in the Kentucky Legislature are more concerned about political protection than about the right tax policy for Kentucky. Otherwise why did Beshear yammer on with this bright revelation: "Obviously, any time you mention taxes, it has a lot of political ramifications and it raises political concerns, and so we’re going to go at this methodically and see what we can get done.”
But here's the issue: He never says what exactly he wants to do.
We might pick up some hints from tax-hike enablers in the press. Pure Politics, for example, claimed "half a dozen lawmakers" had "expressed an openness to revamping the state's tax code so revenue will grow with the economy and keep up with mounting expenses for education, health care and other programs."
But of course, there's little political courage, for they insist that "the governor must take the lead on a tax reform proposal. And they've said it should include a public tour to drum up support."
Perhaps those of us who took a look at our most recent pay stub and were frustrated with how much Frankfort already takes should have our own tour.
Should we hold our own very public demonstrations about cutting spending at each location on the governor's upcoming tour?
Besides, which is it: a public tour or a backroom deal?