Family Care & Tax Breaks for Wealthy

Something I've been saying lately is that politics is about choices and how they show the person's priorities.

Latest case in example:

The Legislature froze funding for Family Care, allocating just $5 million for individuals in urgent need of long-term care.  This will serve only an additional 400 persons-even though the waiting list is over 9,000 for Family Care and IRIS.  This freeze is particularly foolish in light of the fact that it costs an average of $2,800 per month for Family Care while the average cost in a nursing home can cost $4,000!  More details on the need for, and benefits of, Family care in a report by the Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations, Keeping the Promise: Lifting the Cap on Long-Term Care in Wisconsin.

"Wisconsin is broke" insists the Governor and others in justifying budget cuts and other funding freezes.  In fact, when Wisconsin unexpectedly received a revised estimate of an additional $600 million (over three years) in revenues, the insistence was that the new revenue be used to pay off debt, such as restoring over $200 million to a medical malpractice fund that was illegally raided in 2007, as well as paying back Minnesota over $50 million.

Fine, fine, fine, we're broke.

Why, then, does AB 85 propose to give over $213 million during the 2011-2013 budget cycle to the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers?  AB 85 would restore tax breaks on capital gains such as investment income, sale of expensive assets like art, etc.  Homes are not included unless the profit is over $500,000 (that is, not the sale price, but the profit).

Now, let's go back to people in need of long-term care.  We're talking about people (including children) with severe disabilities, the elderly, etc. who need assistance with daily life-physical, mental, or medical.    If $5 million could fund 400 people, $10 million could fund 800, $100 million could fund 8,000, which a major chunk of the waiting list of 9,000. 

Based on simulations using the 2008 Individual Income Tax Model, the bill will reduce revenue by $118 million in fiscal year 2012, $113 million in fiscal year 2013, and $127 million annually beginning in fiscal year 2014.

Why, by not passing this tax break, we could serve most people who are on the waiting list to receive much-needed care!

You know what the insulting part is?  The Institute for Wisconsin's Future estimates that the average extra income for the super-wealthy would be just $5,400, and for middle-class households, it would be just $88. 

Are we really going to tell the parents of a child with severe disabilities that the child can't get the care that is needed just so some guy who sell stocks can pocket an extra $5,400?  Sure, to me, and probably to you, that's alot of money.  But to the top 1% of taxpayers?  Chump change.

Politics is choices, and those choices show priorities.