I'm constantly amazed that federal agencies are able to use geography-based Cost Of Living Adjustments in determining employee compensation levels, but federal legislators and their minions in the IRS are evidently unable to grasp the concept that different areas have dramatically different costs of living. And we see that yet again in the tax rebates:

Individual taxpayers would get up to $600 in rebates, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child under the agreement. In a key concession to Democrats, 35 million families who make at least $3,000 but don't pay taxes would get $300 rebates.

The rebates would phase out gradually for individuals whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 and for couples with incomes above $150,000. Contributions to IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts and health savings accounts would not count toward the income limit.

For families in Des Moines, $75K is a stack of cash. In Northern Virginia, most families aren't making ends meet on $75K. But, no, geographic cost of living disparities are evidently too difficult to grasp.

Or not worth wrangling over, when you can simply tell the families in expensive metro areas to suck it up. To heck with justice; there are political points to be scored, and legislative careers to be built.

Comments

[Michael Snow]

"In a key concession to Democrats, 35 million families who make at least $3,000 but don't pay taxes would get $300 rebates."

Its things like this that make the "Republicans are just for the fat-cats" charge stick.

[Allen]

Hey, I'm no defender of the GOP Michael. I love Reagan, but the GOP abandoned Reaganism long ago, and they took with them any sense of allegience to RR's 11th Commandment that I may have ever possessed.

Though I don't understand how we can give tax rebates to people who don't pay taxes either. It's a math problem.