A Better Choice: no cuts - no layoffs -tax the rich

As Governor Malloy inisits that state public workers either take $2 million of concessions or layoffs of 40,000 workers, a different solution.offered by Better Choices for Connecticut would raisse needed revenue with a progressive tax increase on those earning over $1 million, and by closing corporate tax loopholes.

Last month the Better Choices coalition held a press conference at the state captiol, largely ignored by media, ansering the Governor's claim that the wealthiest residents will move if their taxes are raised any more.

"If you raise state income taxes for the wealthiest people, the overwhelming majority will stay, and you will get significant new resources to meet growing public needs," said Jon Shure, Deputy Director of the State Fiscal Project at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"Tax policy should be made by debating public needs and how to meet them, not through fear tactics and false assertions." he concluded.

Jeffrey Thompson of the Political Economy Research Institute at University of Massachusetts, Amherst agreed. "People are not going to leave a state because of some modest changes in taxes," he said. "But they will leave if public safety deteriorates and if there are no jobs."

The press conference was one of many actions the Better Choices coalition has taken to show that Connecticut has the resources to close the budget gap without laying off workers or cutting much needed services.

Tax Fact of the Day #5, distributed to legislators, shows that a modest gradual tax on the portion of income above $1 million dollars could fund hundreds of teachers, police officers, and health care providers and cover the costs of thousands of children in early care and in college.

The extension of the Bush era tax cuts gave a family earling over $3 million a year a tax break of $2,477 a week. The Better Choices proposal would only increase their state income tax by $250. The coalition is made up of non-profit providers, public service workers and community and advocacy organizations.

Video segments from the press conference:

Jamey Bell at Better Choices Press Conference 4.13.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o6i3bYxX6Q

Jon Shure at Better Choices Press Conferenc 4.13.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90vlSEzshog

Wade Gibson at Better Choices Press Conference 4.13.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L-NByi9ylc

Jeffrey Thompson at Better Choices Press Conference 4.13.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u41CcpJeuOc

Response to Foley Report at Better Choices Press Conference 4.13.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4Bw2N1eowc

Protesters demand Bank of America pay taxes

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Chanting "We Pay Taxes, Why Don't You?" 100 protesters rallied in front of Bank of America here on Tax Day. The event was one of several in Connecticut and hundreds around the country by labor and consumer groups singling out that bank and other corporations for enjoying huge profits while paying little or no taxes.

Modest increases in revenues from large corporations and billionaires would help close state and city budget gaps and enable services and jobs to continue.

Last week the Connecticut Action Alliance for a Fair Economy, who sponsored the protest with Connecticut Citizen Action Group and MoveOn, issued a research paper, "Bank of America in Connecticut: Profiting Without Pitching In."

The paper showed that Bank of America paid no federal or state income taxes in 2009, due to 115 offshore tax havens. In Connecticut, 500 of the bank's workers and their families receive such low pay and benefits that they qualify for the state's Husky health program for children, costing taxpayers $6.4 million a year.

While the mega-corporation accepted federal bailout money to be used for small business loans to stimulate the economy, the paper states, in 2009 the bank made only two small business loans in Connecticut, totaling $75,000.

Bank of America's record on home foreclosures was also examined. Instead of mitigating and restructuring mortgages, they often foreclose on families, driving down local property values and hurting the local community.

In the last decade, the bank spent $11 million on campaign contributions and $24 million on lobbying. They received $2.3 billion from the federal government in 2009, while posting $4.4 billion in profits.

"America and Connecticut are not broke - we need to demand that everyone pays their fair share to rebuild the American Dream," said Tom Swan, director of the citizen action group.

Similar actions were held in Danbury, Fairfield and New Haven, where many drivers honked their horns in support. Protesters there marched from the Elm Street post office to the Bank of America next to City Hall. A poster-size tax bill was delivered to the bank manager.

At the main Brewery Street post office in the evening, members of the New Haven Peace Council distributed fliers to a steady stream of people coming to mail their tax returns. "See how your tax dollar is being spent," they said, showing that more than half of discretionary funding goes to the military.

"This is very bad," said one middle-aged woman, worried about how cuts to services would affect her.

The Connecticut Citizens Action Group and Connecticut Action for a Fair Economy have been visible at each of Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy's 17 town hall meetings on the state budget, asking why Bank of America isn't paying their fair share, especially in a time when we are asked to participate in "shared sacrifice".

Testimonies also highlighted income inequality, which is at it's highest in the United States since the 1920s. The richest 1 percent own 40 percent of the wealth. Millionaires comprise one fifth of 1 percent of taxpayers, but receive about 17.6 percent of income tax cuts.

In Connecticut, the Better Choices for Connecticut budget would close the shortfall with several measures to make the tax system more progressive. In response to the public pressure, Gov Malloy has announced he will amend his proposal to include more taxes on the wealthiest and less on middle-income residents. His proposal also includes an Earned Income Tax Credit for the lowest incomes, but there is concern that this measure might be sacrificed.

http://peoplesworld.org/protesters-demand-bank-of-america-pay-taxes/

1199 SPECTRUM STRUGGLE - ONE YEAR STRONG

[Photo Above: The cake celebrating the one year struggle of the 1199 Spectrum Health Care workers strike.]

The one year anniversary of the 1199 Spectrum nursing home workers' struggle what held on Saturday, April 16 at the Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street in Hartford. Hundreds of representative from community and labor organizations joined the action in support of the workers.

[Photo Above: Part of the crowd at the April 16 rally at Park Place Health Care Center in Hartford, CT]

Labor and community participation is playing a critical role in supporting almost 400 workers who have faced firings, harassment, bad faith bargaining and permanent replacements. And they haven't given in. If fact, they are as determined as ever to win their jobs and a decent contract. The government has the Spectrum bosses on trail now for numerous violations.

HOW YOU CAN HEP

JOIN THE PICKET LINES anytime between 6 AM and 12 Midnight at the following locations:

Birmigham Health Center, 210 Chatfield Street, Derby CT

Hilltop Health Center, 126 Ford Street, Ansonia

Laurel Hill Healthcare, 106 East Lake Street, Winsted

Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford

SEND A DONATION

Send a donation to: The 1199 Strike and Defense Fund. Checks should be sent to : District 1199, 77 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.

Posted by Tom Connolly

THE 1199 SPECTRUM STRIKE ONE YEAR RALLY- SAT. APRIL 16 - 10 AM AT PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER - HARTFORD

FOLLOWING IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM STEVE THORNTON OF DISTRICT 1199 NEW ENGLAND HEALTHCARE WORKERS:

Sisters and Brothers:

The one-year anniversary of the 1199 Spectrum nursing home workers' struggle is fast approaching. This Saturday, April 16 we will be organizing the biggest picket line yet to support them. The event takes place at 10:00 am at the Park Place Health Center, 5 Greenwood Street, Hartford.

You're invited!

Your solidarity has already played an critical role in supporting almost 400 workers who have faced firings, harrassment, bad faith bargaining and permanent replacements. And they haven't given in. In fact, they are as determined as ever to win their jobs and a decent contract.

The government has the Spectrum bosses on trial as I type this. But we can't simply wait for a judge's decision. These nurses, aides, dietary, housekeeping and laundry workers need you now.

If you have any questions please call me at 860-251-6013. See you on the picket line!

Steve Thornton
As posted on a AFL-CIO email -- Tom Connolly

THE FIGHT BACK CONTINUES - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS!

[Photo above: Banner of the New Haven People's Center in the WE ARE ONE rally in New Haven on March 30, 2011. Over 3,000 community and labor representatives turned out for the rally.]

Action in Connecticut to put PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS continues to intensify. Below are some of the actions that are planned.

THURSDAY APRIL 14 - MAKE BIG BANKS PAY - 2 PM - ROOM 1-D, Legislating Office Building (LOB), 300 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT --Join legislative leaders and the State Attorney General for the release of a full report exposing how Bank of America "profits without pitching in."

STATUARY APRIL 16 - 1199 RALLY - ONE YEAR ON STRIKE - 10 AM - PARK PLACE HEALTH CENTER (5 Greenwood Street in Hartford) --Hundreds of brothers and sisters in SEIU Local 1199 have been on strike while trying to reach a fair contract settlement with the Spectrum nursing home chain. All they want is a fair contract that values their work and their commitment to the people they care for. Sounds simple, right?

Unfortunately, they have been on strike for one year. On strike for one year when all you want to do is do your job. Every other nursing home company in Connecticut reached agreements with 1199 a long time ago. But one company, Spectrum, decided it was more important to put patients at risk than it was to settle a contract with dedicated professionals. The One Year in Struggle solidarity rally will be Saturday, April 16 at the Park Place Health Center (5 Greenwood Street in Hartford) at 10 AM.

MONDAY APRIL 18 - PROTEST CORPORATE TAX DODGERS ON TAX DAY- 4:30 PM - Bank of America in West Hartford (Corner of South Mains Street and Farmington Ave.) Sponsored by MoveON. -- While vital government services get cut, corporations like Bank of America and GE are making huge profits, but paying no federal tax.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 - GET ON BOARD FOR SUSTINET - 6:00 PM - Hartford Train Station, 1 Union Place, Hartford, CT - Sponsored by healthcare4every1.org. -- SustiNet is Connecticut's health care reform law that is will be voted on by our state legislators.

THURSDAY APRIL 28 - WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY - 12 Noon - State Capitol North Steps (Rain or Shine) -- Join the Connecticut AFL-CIO & the Health and Safety Committee to honor the men and women who were injured or killed on the job.

SUNDAY MAY 1 - THERE WILL BE TWO MAY DAY ACTIONS

CONNECTICUT WORKERS' RIGHTS RALLY - 1-3 PM (Rain or Shine) - Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT - Sponsored by a coalition of unions. --Be sure to join thousands of Connecticut workers on this historic day as we show strength for all workers and our rights. Presently, there is a national assault on the average union worker! We need to send a message to our elected officials and the general public that all workers and their families are looking for is fair pay and fair benefits.

WORKERS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! - 4 PM - People's Center, 37 Howe Street, New Haven, CT - Hosted by the People's World in Connecticut. -- The program will be honoring the public service workers in Connecticut, their unions and the services they provide. The Newsmaker Awards and panel discussion includes: SEBAC (the state workers unions) - CWA Local 1298 (Workers at AT&T) and solidarity recognition of 1199 Spectrum nursing home workers on strike for one year. Home made light supper will be served.

Posted by Tom Connolly