Chafee Goes for the Triple Crown of Tax Hikes

“THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT PART VI”
CHAFEE GOES FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN OF TAX HIKES

We live in historic times indeed. Mr. Chafee, the former horse farrier, knows how difficult it is to win the triple crown of horse racing. It hasn’t been done in three decades. Based on the latest position taken by Mr. Chafee on eliminating the flat tax option, it is clear that Mr. Chafee is determined to accomplish the triple crown of tax hikes: property, sales, and income taxes.

The Rhode Island Republican Party noted today that when he was mayor in Warwick, Mr. Chafee was able to achieve the first leg of the triple crown by raising property taxes nearly every year as mayor (ProJo 5/11/94, 5/24/94, 6/14/94, 5/25/95, 6/14/95, 5/31/96, 6/18/96). In fact, he was so determined to raise property taxes he was willing to go to court to raise taxes (ProJo 6/18/96, and Sullivan v. Chafee 703 A.2d 748 (R.I.1997). “Chafee has proven that he is willing to leave the taxpayers in the dust,” said Republican Party Chair Giovanni Cicione.

At his announcement for governor – right out of the gate, as it were – he made it clear that he wanted to raise sales tax on groceries, clothes, and medicine (ProJo 1/5/10). “With this regressive proposal Chaffee now has a plan to leave the poor and middle class working families in the dust as well,” Cicione continued.

Now, less than a month into the race Mr. Chafee says he “will have to consider … repealing the flat tax” (ProJo 1/19/10), which would have the effect of raising income taxes. “Chafee is apparently even willing to throw jobs and small business into the mud to secure his victory,” Cicione added.

“If Mr. Chafee succeeds in raising both sales and income taxes after he has already raised property taxes as mayor, his apparent aspiration to make history by winning the triple crown of tax hikes will be accomplished.” “Of course, he’s betting our money and our future, but this is of no consequence to Mr. Chafee,” said Cicione

Mr. Chafee will have made history in the vain hope that we can then “leave benefits alone” for public sector union employees (ProJo 1/13/10). “As the horse race for Governor begins,” concluded Cicione, “taxpayers should place no bets on Mr. Chafee.” “The only winner in this race would be Mr. Chafee and of course, the horse he would ride to victory- the public employee unions.”

Source: Rhode Island Republican Party