Cynthia Lummis votes to take away your Medicare!

Well it’s tax time. How’d you do last year? I just filed mine, last minute of course, but at least it’s done for another year. Speaking of money this seems like a perfect time to blog about the deficit. The debate in Washington of course is "How do we tackle the $14 trillion dollar deficit?"

A new Washington post poll today revealed that over 70% of Americans think we should raise taxes on the rich.  The latest statistics show the wealthiest 400 Americans earn about $350 million dollars per year. By the way, the highest tax bracket for individuals is 35%. Would you be surprised to find that these 400 wealthy individuals averaged paying roughly a 17% income tax?

Tax rates are at historic lows. Did you know that back in the 50's and 60's it was possible for people to be in a 91 or 92% tax bracket?  Even as recent as 1980 people could find themselves in a 70% tax bracket.  So what is a fair tax rate for people to pay that earn $350 million per year? I think most would say 92% is to high, but is 17% to low? I think it is!! 

And speaking of Washington and wealthy individuals, our Representative Cynthia Lummis, has a net worth just shy of $50 million according to 2009 statistics. Interestingly her idea of trimming the deficit is to give people like herself a tax break and cut out Medicare completely. In fact that’s exactly what she voted to do last week!

Does that represent you? Does that sound like something Wyoming voters would stand for? Cutting benefits to millions of seniors and giving yourself a tax break doesn’t sound like anything but hypocritical to me!

I hope everyone saw former Republican Senator Alan Simpson on TV last week talking about the ultimate sin in politics, hypocrisy! Friends I hope you can see through this double standard that Cynthia Lummis is touting from her Washington pulpit. We can find better ways to eliminate the deficit. Cutting these programs shouldn't even be an option!

I want to know what you think. Do we cut Medicare, gut Medicaid and give the rich a tax break or do we raise taxes on corporations and the super rich? Like so many Americans I have paid my fair share of taxes for years and years. Now with this record deficit we need to re-examine what is a fair share and who needs to pay less and who needs to pay more. 

Seniors I think you should be outraged! I’m outraged! This is not what Wyoming is about.

If you agree with me please share this blog on your facebook page and help me spread the word.  This is unacceptable for America and Wyoming! Cynthia Lummis needs to be held accountable for voting to take away Medicare!

Jeran