PBO finds Harper Govt saved middle class tens of billions

[Argus]

So in a new report titled Revenue Distribution Analysis of Federal Tax Changes 2005-2014 the parliamentary budget office has determined that tax changes made by the tories since taking office has saved the middle class approximately $30B, much of that going to the lower middle class.

This will certainly be trumpeted by the Tories in the next election, and is in line with previous commentary which suggest the Tories have done an overall good job of governing, despite a certain regretable level of nastiness at times, and a tendency to put their foot in dumb places.

So the question will be, do we want a government which we don't particularly like, but does a pretty decent job, or a happy, happy friendly government (think Dalton McGuinty) which is fiscailly incompetent and runs the economy into the ground?

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/05/28/kelly-mcparland-pbo-report-praising-30-billion-in-tax-cuts-is-like-a-pre-election-valentine-for-tories/

Edited May 28, 2014 by Argus

[Michael Hardner]

the tories since taking office has saved the middle class approximately $30, much of that going to the lower middle class.

Rejoice, middle class. Harper has saved you $30, much of which goes to your bottom half.

[Michael Hardner]

So the question will be, do we want a government which we don't particularly like, but does a pretty decent job, or a happy, happy friendly government (think Dalton McGuinty) which is fiscailly incompetent and runs the economy into the ground?

False choice. We are the people, we can and do ask for it all.

[Argus]

False choice. We are the people, we can and do ask for it all.

Nothing about Justin Trudeau gives me any confidence a government headed by him would be at all different from the Dalton McGuinty Liberals. Nothing about the Quebec based NDB gives me much confidence in anything but tax increases.

[Michael Hardner]

Nothing about Justin Trudeau gives me any confidence a government headed by him would be at all different from the Dalton McGuinty Liberals.

Ok, you probably shouldn't support them, as many Canadians support them today.

Nothing about the Quebec based NDB gives me much confidence in anything but tax increases.

Another new party from Quebec ?

[Moonlight Graham]

$30? Wicked! Off to the strip club....

[Boges]

When Liberals are in power. Cutting Taxes: Good

When Tories are in Power. Cutting Taxes: Endangering the safety of all Canadians. You're pretty much the most evil person on earth for wanting to let people keep a bit more of THEIR OWN MONEY!!!!

[cybercoma]

When Liberals are in power. Cutting Taxes: Good

When Tories are in Power. Cutting Taxes: Endangering the safety of all Canadians. You're pretty much the most evil person on earth for wanting to let people keep a bit more of THEIR OWN MONEY!!!!

How about we cut all taxes to zero, since cutting taxes is an absolute good?

[cybercoma]

I guess this news is great if you don't consider the government's total fiscal policy.

To put the findings another way, the Harper government, by starving the public coffers, is losing $43 billion that could be used to boost investments in axed services, build needed national programs, as well as balance the budget and pay down debt. . .And the PBO's report indicates that median income taxpayers with kids (averaging between $42,450 and $56,505) would see between 2.8% to 2.9% increase in their after-tax income.

http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/stephen-harper-will-blow-43-billion-year-tax-giveaways

I guess it's all a matter of your perspective or ability to use a calculator.

[Boges]

How about we cut all taxes to zero, since cutting taxes is an absolute good?

You provide the opposing hyperbole to the one I was highlighting.

The point is, Liberals have cut taxes too.

[Black Dog]

I for one am glad that the government is doing so well at performing what I assume is its only function: saving me money.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Black Dog

[Shady]

This is one of the reasons why the Canadian middle class has overtaken the American middle class. And that $30 billion dollars saved is money that gets injected back into the economy, over and over, and taxed over and over, as individuals use that money to purchas products and services. This report also shows a 4% increase in after tax income to people making $23,000 or less per year, which is signficant.

One may not personally find Harper all that likable. But as an executive and manager of the federal governemnt, he's top notch. One just has to look south of the border to see what a great politican, but lousy manager of said government is like.

[guyser]

Hyperbole perhaps?

And that $30 billion dollars saved is money that gets injected back into the economy, over and over, and taxed over and over, as individuals use that money to purchas products and services. This report also shows a 4% increase in after tax income to people making $23,000 or less per year, which is signficant.

Half the cost of a pair of semi-decent shoes

Wont buy a case of beer

Wont get you a good gallon of paint

Might fill up a small car...but not likely.

Wont buy one family of four a dinner.

Sorry, where would the over and over spending/tax occur?

Or did you mean..woo hoo, I gots $30 bucks !

Now dont get me wrong, 30 bananas is 30 bananas, but as soime sort of measuring stick, it is pretty dreadful.

But I will give you this, at least Provincially, the Liberals would be crowing from the rooftops and saying "Hey Look, we only raised your net taxes 30 bucks this year. Arent we great? "

Neither the scenario is anything to write home about.

[Argus]

I guess this news is great if you don't consider the government's total fiscal policy.

I guess it's all a matter of your perspective or ability to use a calculator.

Reading that cite was a fascinating insight into the mind of the Left. It's a mournful discussion of all that money that was lost to the government, that the government could have used for whatever the government wanted -- instead of the people who worked and owned that money getting to use it. Darn! Darn them! Darn them to heck! They let people keep more of their own money!!

Interesting way you cut one of their quotes, though, right in half, so it makes it sound as if people would have had higher after tax incomes were it not for the cuts. In fact, the after tax income is higher NOW, because of the cuts.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Argus

[Argus]

$30? Wicked! Off to the strip club....

Obviously it was $30 billion. If you'd bothered to read the cite you'd know that, of course.

[Bob Macadoo]

Glad to see the PMO won't be vilifying the PBO this year......wonder if Ferguson will get more vitriol in lieu.

[guyser]

Obviously it was $30 billion. If you'd bothered to read the cite you'd know that, of course.

Oops.....I didnt read and relied on the others who said it amounted to $30.

Mea culpa.

IN that case.....thumbs up to the govt

[Keepitsimple]

Couldn't find the story anywhere in the Front section of The Star this morning. Maybe tomorrow? Funny how any negative stories from the PBO (Remember Kevin Page?) get splashed as front-page headlines - and of course, the obigatory appearance on CBC's Power and Politics. Maybe tonight?

[PIK]

Hyperbole perhaps?

Half the cost of a pair of semi-decent shoes

Wont buy a case of beer

Wont get you a good gallon of paint

Might fill up a small car...but not likely.

Wont buy one family of four a dinner.

Sorry, where would the over and over spending/tax occur?

Or did you mean..woo hoo, I gots $30 bucks !

Now dont get me wrong, 30 bananas is 30 bananas, but as soime sort of measuring stick, it is pretty dreadful.

But I will give you this, at least Provincially, the Liberals would be crowing from the rooftops and saying "Hey Look, we only raised your net taxes 30 bucks this year. Arent we great? "

Neither the scenario is anything to write home about.

That is nice that 30 bucks is nothing to you, but to some people it is a few days food. Especially in ONT where some people have to decide between food and heat.

[overthere]

That is nice that 30 bucks is nothing to you, but to some people it is a few days food. Especially in ONT where some people have to decide between food and heat.

Move to Alberta and your choices will be steak vs lobster.

[jacee]

Oops.....I didnt read and relied on the others who said it amounted to $30.

Mea culpa.

IN that case.....thumbs up to the govt

Yup ... about $100 each per year.

How are you spending that extra $8 this month?

Likely on some new government "fees" ... that aren't called taxes.

.

Edited May 30, 2014 by jacee

[CPCFTW]

Yup ... about $100 each per year.

How are you spending that extra $8 this month?

Likely on some new government "fees" ... that aren't called taxes.

.

Your math skills need a little work. $30B/30M = $1000

Also there are significantly less than 30M taxpayers.. So it's really more like $100+/mo.

[Topaz]

If one looks at the other side of the government...there's what 1.3 million unemployed, at what cost to EI, welfare and lost revenues in income taxes plus the loss to the communities of those unemployed. As any government does, we only hear the good things not the bad.

[Bob Macadoo]

I thought the PBO only does analysis on the request of Parliament. Who requested this and what is the next cost analysis? Maybe now Harper can get the "analysis" he wants of military purchases.

[Keepitsimple]

Still haven't seen the PBO report in the Star or on CBC. CBC used to salivate about having Kevin Page on to bash the government......but good news like this?........crickets.