In other Arkansas news: In order to pay for capital gains cut - Cut library funds 18%

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/03/31/hell-with-books-the-rich-need-a-tax-cut
?cb=1427824045


In its wisdom, the 90th General Assembly has decided that tax breaks for the rich are more important than literacy. The legislature has cut state library funding by 18 percent, or around $1 million, to help pay for a tax break on capital gains from 30 percent to 50 percent (and to zero on gains more than $10 million). Hell, we don't need no free book readin' and learnin' in Arkansas.

The decision to grant the capital gains break added insult to injury anyway, since the planned cut (which was originally passed back in 2013) was repealed at the first of the session to pay for Gov. Asa Hutchinson's $102 million tax break for the middle class. Once that middle class tax cut — which, by the way, didn't help at all the 40 percent of Arkansans who make less than $21,000 a year — was in the bag, the legislature said just kidding and restored the capital gains tax cut.

The cut will cost the Central Arkansas Library System about $105,000, director Bobby Roberts says, which in the scheme of things isn't a terrible blow. But it will hurt smaller Arkansas libraries who rely on state funds to operate. Roberts called it "a sad day for the public library movement and for those counties that desperately need support from the state."

[phantom power]

1. well, those tax cuts for the "ownership class" don't pay for themselves

the 99% won't be able to read anyway, if these motherfuckers have their way.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. All hail the omniscient GOP goobers in Little Rock!

[hobbit709]

3. Slaves are forbidden to be literate. They might get restless or something.

[riversedge]

4. Well WI Walker is paying tax money for a new statdium but cutting health, education

environment and everything he can put a pen to!

[procon]

5. Arkansas is already ranked near the bottom in education.

It makes perfect sense. Why would a state that already holds education in such low esteem support library services?

I live in a small community where the little rural libraries are like a one-stop-shop for almost anything. You could find entertainment from books, magazines, newspapers, movies and music. There are mobile library vans that make weekly stops at remote locations, and they will bring you anything you ask for, and there is even a free mail pouch delivered to your home if you can't get about.

These tiny libraries have displays of museum artifacts with a docent presenting lectures, or examples of textile arts with accompanying classes in knitting, embroidery, etc. There's afterschool kids reading programs, mentoring, literacy outreach. Local authors talk about their books, the college drama club puts on dramatic readings of the classics. There's a foreign film club, a chess club, and so many other activities that help the community.

[Marr]

6. That's our problem in a nutshell. One percenter parasites killing their host.

When you consider that it's likely the case that the politicians who voted for the cuts make a lot of money from capital gains, they're almost directly liquidating state assets and putting the money in their own pockets.

[LiberalArkie]

7. I hope this wakes up the Arkansas Democrats. I know a lot of Democrats in Arkansas

And quite a few 'R's. Only the R's voted. I asked around and all my D friends "could not find the time".