From the mailbag on tax policy; test 2

Test two of my hypothesis is whether or not the GOP is advantaged in local and state campaigns because tax philosophy.

To the mailbag we go...

Pat writes:
"[Re: property taxes] ABSOLUTELY! We see this advantage in the 20 something state legislatures that passed TABOR ammendments [Tax Payer Bill of Rights; they usually include caps on tax increases barring a referendum]. Also many local principalities and townships have passed their own 'tax freezes' [also, mostly provide for increases with a referendum]. The GOP drives this debate."

Kat writes:
"issues like eminent domain work better on the state level. This is easy to see because since the Kelo Decision there hasn't really been much federal eminent domain legislation signed into law. Local issues, like eminent domain, that impact people directly are the subject of local and state campaigns, and because all the champions of eminent domain protection are Republicans, they are more credible to speak on the issue and Demcrates are left dumbstruck."

OK, this is actually disappointing because these are the only two decent emails I recieved explicitly targeting taxes and property rights. However, I think that Pat is right on the money.

Without having looked at the data, I would venture to guess that the GOP does better in local and state election because the Dems can effectively argue for higher federal taxes by erecting a smokescreen of 'saving social programs' and 'balancing the budget,' but on the local level, you'd be hard-pressed to find a Dem that will outright say "I'm for higher taxes." The GOP ownes this: lower state and federal taxes. This is precisely why, in my estimation, we still have federal estate tax and income tax, but many states have done away with income taxes. Most importantly though, property taxes: find me a Dem that campaigns for higher property taxes! Even if they do so by pushing public education, Dem philosophy does not lower taxes and improve education at the same time, where a campaigning GOPer can call for lower local property tax attracting charter schools or easing zoning for new private education institutions...

If you disagree or want to opine on environment or education issues, email me at asb37@georgetown.edu. See you in a few...