Liz Burke, WPRO News
Around 60 people gathered at the rotunda at the State House to show support for the group Rhode Islanders for Tax Equity. The RITE group says they are advocating for a tax policy that would take the burden off of the middle class.
“It’s been frustrating that our state legislative leaders are reluctant to even talk about this important issue. It’s time to talk, let’s have the hearings and let’s have the debate,” says UFCW Secretary and Treasurer, Jim Riley.
Riley says it’s time that the 2% of Rhode Islander’s making over $250,000 pay their fair share.
“They’ve been disproportionately better for the rich,” says Riley.
According to statistics released at the news conference, Rhode Island has had four tax cuts for the rich since 1997, totaling over $1.243 billion of foregone revenue.
“I understand that they feel that we are stealing their money but we are not. If they were to pay anywhere close to the same tax amount that we pay…isn’t that fairness?” says Stanely Banach, an unemployed Rhode Islander and single father.
The proposed bill would increase the income tax rate from 5.99% to 7.99% on those making over $250,000.
