Kansas Telling Corporations How to Spend their Money?
Will conservatives raise their voices?
posted over 12 years ago
In their unending wisdom, those controlling the Kansas legislature (elected and not) have decided to double down on their efforts to REALLY make sure that only rich folks get access to abortion services in their lovely state. Well, everyone needs a hobby, I suppose.
Among the most recent measures is a bill that would, among many other Atwoodian things, "bar employers from deducting any money they contribute to a health plan for supplemental insurance coverage of an abortion. It also would ban corporations from taking a tax credit for contributions they make to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services in Kansas."
Something smells suspicious here- the state would not only raise taxes on corporations who choose to provide insurance coverage that allows employees to access legal abortion services (remember, taking away tax credits is the same as raising taxes in today's world), but it also removes the tax incentive for donating to a specifically identified organization recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity.
A few short months ago, a panel of nattily attired clergy got up in front of Congress and scolded them quite heartily for their attempts to do just this- penalize employers for doing what they thought was right, and conservatives across the county stood up for their right. Will these same folks stand up in protest for Kansas corporations? Will Grover Norquist roll into Topeka and start shooting fireballs out of his mouth?
Probably not. After all, Republican state representative John Rubin boldly stood up and said "“There might be some small, incremental increases in the amount of taxes some people would have to pay as a result of what we did in this bill.”
So clearly, "small incemental increases in the amount of taxes" are just fine, as long as they apply to people doing things Rep. Rubin doesn't agree with.
Among the most recent measures is a bill that would, among many other Atwoodian things, "bar employers from deducting any money they contribute to a health plan for supplemental insurance coverage of an abortion. It also would ban corporations from taking a tax credit for contributions they make to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services in Kansas."
Something smells suspicious here- the state would not only raise taxes on corporations who choose to provide insurance coverage that allows employees to access legal abortion services (remember, taking away tax credits is the same as raising taxes in today's world), but it also removes the tax incentive for donating to a specifically identified organization recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity.
A few short months ago, a panel of nattily attired clergy got up in front of Congress and scolded them quite heartily for their attempts to do just this- penalize employers for doing what they thought was right, and conservatives across the county stood up for their right. Will these same folks stand up in protest for Kansas corporations? Will Grover Norquist roll into Topeka and start shooting fireballs out of his mouth?
Probably not. After all, Republican state representative John Rubin boldly stood up and said "“There might be some small, incremental increases in the amount of taxes some people would have to pay as a result of what we did in this bill.”
So clearly, "small incemental increases in the amount of taxes" are just fine, as long as they apply to people doing things Rep. Rubin doesn't agree with.
(edited over 12 years ago)
