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| Bishop Morris Thompson |
Religious leaders from across Louisiana complained Friday that the math behind Gov. Bobby Jindal’s tax proposal is flawed.
Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith, a Shreveport-based religious organization, said the Jindal administration underestimated the expected tax burden on families by omitting part of a proposed state sales tax hike from calculations.
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| The Rev. Melvin Rushing |
“This is about more than just numbers on a page. This is about integrity and people’s lives,” the Rev. Melvin Rushing, of Baton Rouge, said during a news conference at the State Capitol.
The Rev. Morris Thompson, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana in New Orleans, said the governor should withdraw his sales tax proposal. He was among ministers from around the state drawing attention to the governor’s tax overhaul proposals. (My emphasis)
“Our numbers are growing,” Thompson said. “Our voice of justice is being heard.”
The math doesn't add up. The governor won't answer questions, nor will he give full details of the sales tax plan. Jindal is known to hold details until the last minute, just before the vote, so that the legislators don't have time to do a proper review. What could possibly go wrong if Jindal's plan becomes law? Will the legislators once again submit meekly to the governor's wishes in a last minute rush?
Thanks be to God that the clergy in Louisiana are speaking out against the injustice and fuzzy math in Jindal's proposed tax policy.
[Tim Barfield, executive counsel for the state Department of Revenue,] concluded his statement by appearing to blame the ministers’
complaints on misinformation spread by the Louisiana Budget Project,
which he called a liberal special interest group.
The liberals are out to get them. But wait! The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana and The Council for A Better Louisiana are also critical of the plan. They're all out to get you, Tim, but hang on and don't let paranoia get the best of you. But wait again! I had a thought: Does it ever cross your minds that it may not be "them", the people and groups who disagree with the tax plan, but perhaps the Jindal administration's plan on offer is just really, really bad?
