WHEREAS:

Nearly every state in the United States is claiming to have a massive budget crisis, caused by the unregulated financial practices and colossal greed of the ruling class on Wall Street, and the refusal of the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes; and

WHEREAS:
All public sector jobs and services are under attack, while salaries and benefits for the poor and working class continue to shrink as the incomes and investment portfolios of the rich continue to balloon; and

WHEREAS:
A February, 2009, Rasmussen report shows that 51 percent of voters in America believe that a tax increase on those earning over $250,000 a year would be good for the economy; and

WHEREAS:
Research has shown that a marginal tax increase on the rich has very little effect on residency choices (VoteYesforOregon.com); and

WHEREAS:
Voters in New Jersey oppose Gov Christie’s $1 billion tax cut for the rich (households with incomes above $400,000 a year) by a 2-1 margin, and 35,000 New Jerseyans rallied against those cuts in Trenton on May 25th; and

WHEREAS:
The state of Oregon has chosen to trailblaze ahead of the rest of the nation and pass Measure 66 and Measure 67, to raise the minimum corporate income tax and raise the tax rate on household incomes over $250,000 a year to fund schools and other public services, and protect public sector jobs.
 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will fight to implement measures at all levels of government to tax the rich in the United States, so that jobs and services by and for Americans will be saved, so that the middle class can be saved, and so that the unequal distribution of wealth in this country can finally begin to be addressed.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: 
Pauline Turlow, Delegate
Stephen Edwards, President and Delegate
Bunnie Johnson, Delegate
Elijah Edwards, Delegate
AFSCME Local 2858, Council 31
Illinois