On November 17th, The Advocate published “Group Raps La. Tax On Poor,” a front page article highlighting a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The article gives statements from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s spokeman, Kyle Plotkin, and director of the Louisiana Budget Project, Jan Moller regarding their views on the state-level Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax credit that benefits families with low incomes.
Here is an excerpt:
A new study directs criticism at Louisiana for being among states taxing the incomes of families living below the federal poverty line. . .
. . . The study found that:
- Louisiana was one of 11 states in which a single-parent family of three living at the poverty line still owed state income taxes. The poverty line for a family of three in 2010 was $17,374.
- Louisiana was also one of 15 states in which a two-parent family of four living at the poverty line still owed income taxes. The poverty line for a family of four in 2010 was $22,314.
- Louisiana is among 22 states where a family of three living just above the poverty line (125 percent of poverty, or $21,718 per year) pays income taxes, and one of 23 states that tax families of four earning 125 percent of the poverty line ($27,893). . .
Read the full article here.
For more information on Louisiana taxing its working poor, read “Louisiana Among Few States That Tax Incomes of Poor Working.”
Throughout last week, the Louisiana Budget Project was also cited in several media outlets throughout the state including The Town Talk, Times-Picayune, Shreveport Times, WBRZ, Baton Rouge Business Report and The Advocate.