Taxation Without Representation
Kudos to the L.A. Times for calling attention to an issue most American taxpayers don't know or don't care about, given that it often impacts only the wealthy: states taxing out-of-state Americans who have no voting voice in the states where they must pay taxes.
This is an issue Rush Limbaugh has recently discussed on his show; he is audited by the State of New York every year and must prove where he is every single day of the year, because he's taxed for any day he broadcasts from New York.
It's quite an interesting philosophical and political issue, insofar as while people like athletes and entertainers may work in many states, those states aren't where they live, and often the states are not even where the entities who pay the salaries are headquartered. Is it truly just for an Atlanta Brave or a Milwaukee Brewer to pay taxes to the State of California?
Given that the concept of no taxation without representation is such a fundamental founding principle of our nation, it's curious -- and for me, a bit disturbing -- that states are taxing nonvoting citizens of other states, who have absolutely no vote whatsoever in whether they are taxed or how their taxes are spent.
posted by Laura @ 12:49 PM
1 Comments:
Wow - who was asleep at the editor's desk over @ the LA Times? I'm amazed they would ever even print such an objective story.
This is such an important issue, though. Do you think that the "justification" for the taxing of out-of-staters is that they are using state resources, like public transportation or something? If so, that is utterly ridiculous when applied to people like Rush.
I totally agree with your terrific point about taxing non-voting citizens. It is not right that a state should be claiming such a huge chunk of change without offering some compensation in return or, at least the right to decide how the funds will be used.
Well said, as usual, Laura. :)
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