An editorial from The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING, W.Va. — Why is it that many liberals’ answer to virtually any challenge in government is higher taxes?
Revenue to fund government lagging? Raise taxes. Never mind that budget shortfalls often indicate constituents are having their own financial problems.
Some social need, perhaps involving health, on officials’ minds? Raise taxes. That will provide money government can use to do something, or at least appear to be doing so. Never mind that every dollar taken out of taxpayers’ pockets is one less they can spend on their own priorities.
Money is in relatively short supply in Charleston. West Virginia’s general fund budget has been difficult to balance for the past couple of years. Less than a month into the fiscal year, revenue already is lagging severely behind estimates on which the budget was based.
Legislators and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin already have increased taxes on tobacco products. Not enough, says the liberal West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy…
