Can’t The Most Wealthy Pay Some More Taxes In Hard Times?—When Will We Grow Up?

Even in this deep recession, we are having a hard  time getting the top 2% of wealthy Americans to pay a tax rate that they were paying in case just a few years ago.

Senate Republicans say they will fight the repeal of Bush tax cuts for top earners. These are people making over $200,000 in single earner households and $250,000 in dual income homes.

Why is it so hard in this nation to get anybody to sacrifice for anything?

Is this a great nation where the people are willing to do what it takes to get back to prosperity, or are we just out for ourselves even as we go on and on about how we love America?

Here is what President Obama said in his inaugural address—

“Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.  Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered.  Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many — and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet….We remain a young nation.  But in the words of Scripture,the time has come to set aside childish things”

I think President Obama should return to this theme that we need to grow up and realize we are part of a society. This message should not be directed only at the wealthy. We should also recall that in some respects, though in not all respects, we brought this recession upon ourselves. Muslims and immigrants did not force us to buy big houses and big cars that we could not afford. Nor did Muslims or immigrants force to pass tax cuts that we could not afford.

Ellen Cohen Set To Return In Texas House District 134—Picture Of My Bookshelves

(Blogger’s Note–Brilliant Harvard Kennedy School of Government graduate and Burnt Orange Report blogger Phillip Martin has teamed up with Annie’s List to report on some of the most competitive  races for the Texas House of Representatives in 2010. Phillip has been nice enough to allow me to share this analysis with Texas Liberal readers. Today’s profile is on Texas House District 134 here in Houston. I live in this district. Above you see a picture of my bookshelves. These books are part of  District 134. Below it says that 134 is one of the most well-educated in the state and I want to show you that this is indeed the case with a picture of books.  Also, as if blogging itself was not a sufficient act of vanity, it suits my ego to show folks that I have a lot books. )

Candidate Pages: Rep. Ellen Cohen website, on Facebook, on Twitter

Candidate Pages: Sarah Davis website, on Facebook, on Twitter

District Overview: The Numbers, The Issues, and the Candidates

• House District Map: District 134
  
• District History: 2008 Election Results

Rep. Donna Howard and Rep. Cohen share similar circumstances although their districts are very different: they have run and held districts that were previously held by Republicans by appealing to a relatively well-informed electorate. And they have won support from independent voters by serving as intelligent, common sense Democrats in districts where they have deep personal roots. They remain subject to targeting by Republicans because their districts were held by Republicans just five years ago, but their outstanding representation gives their oppponents little chance of winning. District 134 is home to Rice University and is one of the most affluent and well-educated in the entire state. It is also home to the highest concentration of ticket-splitting voters in the state, and one of the most closely divided in terms of partisanship. The 2008 Presidential election split 49.8% to 49.1% in favor of John McCain. Rep. Cohen, however, won with 55.5% of the vote, and polls from insider her district have shown that she is expected to win re-election handily.

Rep. Cohen, as a cancer survivor, a widow and mother of two  understands that Texas families must be able to afford their property taxes, health insurance and have access to quality public education, and those are the issues she will focus on this election. Sarah Davis, however, is a muddled mess in terms of policy and politics. A comparison of screen shots from (1) her website taken earlier this spring, and (2) the website content this fall indiciate a sudden lurcing to the right — she’s gone from a moderate Republican to turning almost Tea Party. What’s even more puzzling is that Sarah Davis signed in and voted for Hilary Clinton in 2008. Who is the real Sarah Davis? No idea, but it probably won’t matter after November

Why Rep. Ellen Cohen Will Return Next Year

Rep. Cohen took House District 134 by storm in 2006, and she has earned greater support ever since. She serves on the Higher Education Committee as well as the powerful Appropriations Committee, and has been able to pass legislation that directly improves quality of life in her district. With more cash, a solid record, a top-notch team and proven leadership, Rep. Cohen would be tough for even the best GOP candidate to beat. Davis, however, can’t seem to stay firm on major policy points and even voted Democratic in the last election. Her campaign isn’t saying anything, so voters are left wondering who the real Sarah Davis actually is. Rep. Cohen should win the race.

June 30 Campaign Finance Report:

HD 134: Cohen vs.Davis	Contributions	Expenditures	Cash on Hand	Loans
Rep. Ellen Cohen (D)	$230,181	$175,331	$265,536	–
Sarah Davis (R)	$54,130	$35,685	$103,073	$114,200
Cohen’s Advantage	$80,014	–	$202,026	–

Houston Area League Of Women Voters Host Meet The Candidates Event On Sept. 18

The League of Women Voters of the Houston Area will be holding a big meet the candidates day for Harris County on Saturday, September 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The event starts at 3 PM.

(Above–A great deal better than a Glenn Beck rally. Here is some history of the struggle for Women’s suffrage.)

You say that Saturday September 18 is Yom Kippur and you can’t go? Okay…Hard to say anything other than that is indeed an oversight for what will otherwise be a great event. I hope the League keeps this fact in mind for the next time.

Here are the facts on the event—

September 18, 2010, the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area is cosponsoring I-Day Houston (Infrastructure Day) with the Houston Chapter of the American Society of Civil engineers. I-Day Houston is being held in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Entrance C, 3rd Floor, starting at 3pm. The event is free and open to the public. I-Day Houston includes town hall meetings, a candidate meet and greet, and debates.

Town Hall Meetings on Infrastructure

Co-sponsored with American Society of Civil Engineers
Talk about problems and solutions with experts, such as Dr. John Lienhard,
host of The Engines of Our Ingenuity
Session One: 3:00–4:00 pm
1a. Transportation
1b. Energy
Session Two: 4:30–5:30 pm
2a. Storm & Waste Water
2b. Ports & Airports

Candidate Meet and Greet

Brought to you by the League of Women Voters
of the Houston Area Education Fund
Talk to candidates seeking federal, state, and county offices. Ask them why they deserve your vote.
Open to the public at 3:00–5:30 pm