Rep. Says He Can’t Afford A Tax Hike...
arq
Posts: 8,049
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/0 ... ines-400k/
I don't know what to say about this...
ps
I love one of the comments:
Multi-Millionaire Rep. Says He Can’t Afford A Tax Hike Because He Only Has $400K A Year After Feeding Family
Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) appeared on MSNBC with Chris Jansing this morning to attack President Obama’s new deficit reduction plan, which includes some tax increases on the wealthy. Taking up the typical GOP talking point, Fleming said raising taxes on wealthy “job creators” is a terrible idea that kills jobs because many of these people are small business owners who pay taxes through personal income rates.
Fleming is himself a businesses owner, so Jansing asked, “If you have to pay more in taxes, you would get rid of some of those employees?” Fleming responded by saying that while his businesses made $6.3 million last year, after you “pay 500 employees, you pay rent, you pay equipment, and food,” his profits “a mere fraction of that” — “by the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over.” Watch it:
Jansing pointed out that whining about tax increases while making $400,000 annually is “not exactly a sympathetic position.” Fleming could only respond by saying that “class warfare has never created a job” and that his success is a “virtue.” But he noticeably never answered Jansing’s question about whether he would actually be forced to lay off workers if his taxes went up.
Considering that he has $400,000 “left over,” it seems that Fleming could actually afford to hire workers and still bring home a respectable pay. The average household income in the U.S. in 2010 was just under $50,000 — down 2.3 percent from 2009 and lower than it was in 1997.
And how hard does the congressman work to make the equivalent of eight median household incomes? Fleming told the Wall Street Journal that “he spends very little time on day-to-day management, though he weighs in on broad strategy decisions.” “I monitor the reports. I’m certainly in communication with the managers,” he told the paper.
I don't know what to say about this...
ps
I love one of the comments:
"Maybe he can use that meager $400,000 to buy the world's tiniest Stradivarius."
"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it"
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
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He employs 500 people. That's great. He want to grow his business and employ more. That's great.
If Mr. Fleming wants to be rewarded and take a large income from his business then he will be taxed on it. If he wants to continue to grow and improve his business he will keep more of that money as operating capital and improve his benefit from a preferred tax rate. If he needs $400,000 to feed his family he might want to consider getting them on weight watchers; they eat like horses.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
Oh please. His own personal income is what's going to be taxed. Not the money his company makes.
Cry me a freaking river.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
whcih is amazing that so many Americans vote against their own interests.
Just keep harping on god, guns and gays and you too can be elected.
what i don't get is how the poor will go out of their way to protect the rich and protest the rich being taxed at a higher percentage of their income, while the rich are the ones that don't want to pay taxes for things like medicare, medicaid, and social security that are designed to take care of those same poor people...it is absolutely astounding to me..
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
do you guys think it is smart policy to simply have the government provide everything?
if not, there will always be have's and have nots... and very few other countries in the world can you invent the pet fucking rock and become a millionaire...it isn't everyone who can do this(become a millionaire), but there are many self made millionaires out there who worked hard for it...It is simply a belief...there is nothing wrong with believing in the idea that if I work hard I can succeed. But it all depends on how you measure success...
Class warfare does nothing...it creates separation and keeps the bases of both parties happy...if we keep buying into it we will keep allowing the same situation to persist. But keep calling people stupid who don't support the government taking more money. They have plenty, they need to figure out how to spend it properly. The government should not be in the position to choose who succeeds and who doesn't. they shouldn't play favorites with companies at the top(tax loop holes and bailouts) nor should they punish those who are successful(higher tax rates for the wealthy)...
You ask when will people stop voting against their best interest...that is funny...because i ask the same thing...
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
This guy does not want to get taxed up the ass. I can appreciate that.
How does his personal income taxes have anything to do with his business' hiring practices?
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
working class Americans are over taxed and OUR government over spends...on stupid shit like aid to other countrys while they talk about OUR social security like it's a freebie they give us :evil: I'm starting to wonder who are the stupid ones,those in office or the people that vote them in ?
Godfather.
if you're the owner of a company it is easy as fuck to shelter your money in investments that are either a) tax free today or b) taxed at a much lower rate than earnings income, e.g., interest and dividends. But that's not the point. The point is he's saying his PERSONAL income taxes affect his BUSINESS decisions... which is just not the case, unless he is comingling funds, which is illegal.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
So you're saying that you want to take away my chance to become a millionaire as a full time bullshitter politician!?!? We all should have the chance!
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08
Um...you work for it. That's how. It's not rocket surgery. Pretty straightforward. In the case of Rep Fleming (who this thread is about) here is a quick little history I found on wikipedia...
He grew up in a working class home in which his mother became disabled when he was still young and could not work. Just prior to graduating from high school, Fleming's father suddenly died of a heart attack which required him to work his way through college. He attended college at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and medical school in Jackson. He entered the United States Navy to help fund his medical education. He was awarded his B.S. degree in 1973 and M.D. degree in 1976.
After earning his medical degree, Fleming acted as chief resident in family medicine at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Camp Pendleton, California. He also trained at the drug and alcohol treatment unit at the Navy Regional Medical Center in Long Beach. Serving in the Navy after his residency, Fleming practiced military family medicine on the island of Guam. There from 1979 to 1981, he was the director of drug and alcohol treatment and chairman of the Navy’s Family Advocacy Committee. Thereafter, he performed similar duties in Charleston, South Carolina.
After leaving the Navy, Fleming established a private practice in 1982 in Minden. His family practice emphasizes the treatment of depression, attention span disorder, and the prevention of chronic disease. He is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and is on the staff at the Minden Medical Center. Fleming is a member of the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP). In 2007, he was chosen as the LAFP "Louisiana Family Practice Physician of the Year."
Fleming is the author of the 2006 book Preventing Addiction: What Parents Must Know to Immunize Their Kids Against Drug and Alcohol Addiction, which is aimed at assisting parents in keeping their children from potential chemical dependency. He has appeared on numerous national broadcast programs to promote his book.
Business careerFleming is also a businessman; he owns 33 Subway sandwich shops in northern Louisiana and owns Fleming Expansions, LLC, a regional developer for The UPS Store, which supports stores in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. According to Fleming, his businesses collectively employ 500 workers. He states his annual income as approximately $600,000.
I guess he doesn't deserve to make that much money huh?
And now he finally gets to pay his fair share! Hooray!
It’s about time these fat-cats pay up.
How does this guy run his business...
AND be a Representative in Congress at the same time?
...
it seems like there might be conflict of intrests implications... if bills appropriate tax dollar funding to his district (or the district where his company operates).
Is that the case? Anyone know?
Hail, Hail!!!
Sorry... no disrespect intended... but, this is just fucking awesome. I am totally stealing this phrase.
Thanx.
Hail, Hail!!!
Fleming told the Wall Street Journal that “he spends very little time on day-to-day management, though he weighs in on broad strategy decisions.” “I monitor the reports. I’m certainly in communication with the managers,” he told the paper.
I know a franchisee with six times his gross sales. Same story. You get weekly sales reports, decide what stores need work, improvements, what territories could support new units etc. Which stores need to be closed. Put your ass on the line for large loans and hope that you run a successful business and continue making payrol for hundreds if not thousands of people. The stress of that alone is a full time job. You go to sleep and wake up thinking about it. You don't have to be at a desk.
As for conflict of interest, I don't see it. Any examples?
I'm wondering... does he drafts legislation to help small businesses? Being a small business owner... wouldn't his business benefit from tax payer money he appropriates or tax breaks his business would get or laws and regulations that his business would benefit from?
If so, that's a conflict of interests.
Hail, Hail!!!
It doesn't matter.
It would be like an executive officer of Lockheed/Martin getting elected to office. If he drafts legislation of simply votes on appropriations to defense contract... you don't see a conflict there?
...
His voting for tax breaks for small businesses means HIS small businesses benefits from the tax breaks... meaning, HE benefits from HIS vote. Conflict.
Hail, Hail!!!
I know that's a bad word for you... so, maybe your work should fire you after 8 years and bring in someone new, right? That makes sense to you, doesn't it?
What is worse... having a 'career politician' or a businessman with his own interests in mind so he can make more money off of taxpayers. Or is there a difference?
Hail, Hail!!!
Come on.
Conflict of interest. I'm embarrased for you.
As for letting me go...I have only been at my gig for 7 and at 8, they probably should!
Paw
As for career politician, I support and have worked for Fred Upton. He is family of Whirlpool. What conflicts does he have living in Benton Harbor (where whirlpool headquarters is) and being a kick ass "career politician"
Like I said, you are reaching
Didn't Obama talk about his grandma or some shit when he pushed through Obamacare?
Subway. Funny