Bill allowing tax credit for working to expire poised for Senate passage

By Matthew Burns

Posted: March 5
Updated: March 6

Raleigh, N.C. — The state Senate gave key approval Tuesday to legislation that would end a state tax credit for low-income workers at the end of this year.

The demise of the earned-income tax credit was included in House Bill 82, which updates sections of the federal tax code for North Carolina taxpayers.

The bill, which has already cleared the House, passed 32-18 on second reading. A final vote is expected Wednesday before the bill heads to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk.

As in the House, Democrats in the Senate tried to amend the bill to extend the EITC, but much of the debate on the proposal offered by Sen. Daniel Clodfelter, D-Mecklenburg, dealt with taxes on business income and mortgage debt.

Still, Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake, criticized the loss of the EITC and the negative impact that would have on the working poor in North Carolina.

"You are raising taxes on one-fifth of the state by cutting the earned-income tax credit," Stein said, noting that Republican President Ronald Reagan created the credit three decades ago as an anti-welfare, pro-work program.

Senate Minority Leader Martin Nesbitt said "virtually everything in (the bill) is designed to increase people's taxes," noting a number of other adjustments also have tax impacts for individuals and businesses.

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"I know it stinks to have to fix the leaky roof in the middle of a downpour, but when the sun was shining the takers kept playing. Now they're angry because the evil rich who have been sharing the house with them are forcing them (because asking nicely hasn't worked in 50 years) to help patch before the roof caves in."

Revisionist history at its finest. You should at the very least demand some compensation for spreading such mindless propaganda. Don't do it for free.

downtowner
March 6, 2013 11:48 a.m.

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I know it stinks to have to fix the leaky roof in the middle of a downpour, but when the sun was shining the takers kept playing. Now they're angry because the evil rich who have been sharing the house with them are forcing them (because asking nicely hasn't worked in 50 years) to help patch before the roof caves in.

Terkel
March 6, 2013 11:27 a.m.

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People need to be able to work and still get some kind of relief. They should NOT be able to get back more than they paid in.

AConservativePerson
March 6, 2013 11:08 a.m.

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Wasn't if Obama who's been touting "everyone pay their fair share". In a lot of instances with the EITC people get back MORE than they paid in. That has to stop. Once you become a taxpayer and see the waste of our dollars, you will see why we need to cut spending. Once that happens ALL our taxes will go down.

jlhpcarew
March 6, 2013 10:35 a.m.

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Right just increase taxes on the poor and yell no new taxes. Take away unemployment,refused money from the Feds and then go to bed at night with more money in your pocket and say amend

fisherman0117
March 6, 2013 9:25 a.m.

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Surely we can learn from the mistakes of the past and openly admit that the goals for "anti-welfare" and "pro-work" have failed. Time to try something else instead of trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.