LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Cuts to state income taxes create few, if any, jobs and will undermine North Carolina’s future by making it more difficult for the state to invest in the things that build a strong economy. As policymakers in the General Assembly consider proposals to reform our tax system in a way that will shift the load to the middle class while giving the wealthy a tax cut, we want you to make your voice heard. Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is a great way to accomplish that.
General tips for writing a letter to the editor
Visit the website of your newspaper and find out the word limit on letters. Most letters to the editor must be 150-200 words long. To make things a little easier, you can reach most of the major North Carolina papers by clicking these links: News & Observer, Charlotte Observer, News & Record, Winston-Salem Journal, Fayetteville Observer, Asheville Citizen-Times.
Try to tie your letter to something happening in your community or an article that’s been in your paper – all of the newspapers listed above have run articles on the tax reform proposal that is currently being considered by the NC General Assembly. This will help ensure it gets printed.
Tax reform talking points
Tax reform is needed, but it’s important that it be done in a way that:
- doesn’t shift the burden to the majority while the wealthiest North Carolinians get a tax break.
- doesn’t put essential public investments like education or services for seniors at risk.
- doesn’t put basic family economic security at risk for thousands of North Carolina families.
Under the current proposal, middle and low-income taxpayers would see their tax contributions increase while the wealthiest would get a tax cut.
The personal and corporate income tax would be cut and replaced by broadening the base of the sales tax to cover more goods and services, which would increase the cost of a family’s basic needs like food, medical expenses and prescriptions.
If this proposal fails to raise the same amount of money that the state has collected through the personal and corporate income taxes – more than half of the state budget – it will put at risk:
- teacher positions
- adult day care services for seniors
- pre-Kindergarten services that prepare children for school
Cutting the personal and corporate income tax will eliminate many of the credits that help working families and seniors on fixed incomes make ends meet.
This is not an effective way to create jobs or economic opportunity. Most wealthy households are not small businesses. Moreover, the tax cut is not likely to make a difference in the calculation of hiring an additional worker.
If you need help with your letter to the editor, you can email us HERE.
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