Jamie Raskin on Tax Reform

Voted YES to increase state income tax rates

This bill impacts State and local revenues as follows:
• increases State income tax revenues by (1) increasing State income tax rates and establishing new individual income tax brackets beginning in tax year 2012; and (2) repealing the credit for telecommunications property taxes.
• increases sales and use tax revenues by (1) requiring specified out-of-state vendors to collect the sales and use tax; and (2) repealing the State sales and use tax exemption for demurrage charges;
• expands the State refundable earned income credit
• increases the other tobacco products tax
• Reduces the public school maintenance of effort amounts counties are required to provide to local school systems.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-20-1 on March 15; Sen. Raskin voted YEA; passed House 81-56-4 March 23; bill did not proceed to Governor.

Supports tax increases to balance the budget.

The Project Vote Smart Voter Guide inferred how candidates would respond to the question, 'Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?' Project Vote Smart notes, "in response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided [for candidates who] refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads."