'What Does $40 Mean to You?' Sad Stories Roll In to White House

CNSNews ^

[Sub-Driver]

'What Does $40 Mean to You?' Sad Stories Roll In to White House December 22, 2011

(CNSNews.com) - The White House says it's been flooded with responses to the question it posed Wednesday: "What does $40 mean to you?"

An extension of the payroll tax cut will save a "typical" family earning $50,000 around $40 a paycheck, the White House says. (It also will reduce the only dedicated funding source for Social Security benefits, but few in Washington are talking about that.)

One day after the White House asked "working" people to "tell us what your family will give up if your taxes increase," the stories are rolling in, including one from a person who worried about not having enough to pay the cable bill:

"Our cable internet bill is $49 per month. If we lose this payroll tax cut then we will have to give up either (our) internet access or possibly our 'Friday Family Pizza' night. Either way, we will lose something that brings us together as a family," wrote "K.Z" from Frederick, Maryland.

Another person wrote that $40 will "buy lunch from the cafeteria for almost a whole month for my twins."

Someone else who "can barely get by now" said taking $40 out of his paycheck "would just about put me under."

A person from New Mexico said "$40 less a paycheck means I will have to pick between my insulin and the water bill. It means never being able to see my doctor -- even though I have insurance."

[Gaffer]

Lemme guess......Two pack o’ Newports....a 6 pack o’ forties, $10 in Lotto tickets, and the rest in scratch offs....

[Gaffer]

They don’t even realize this is all going to come crashing down. The only way to pay for all of the unfunded liabilities is to confiscate IRAs, 401Ks and bank account savings over a “normal constituent” amount.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The fuzzy math coming from the White House is way too deep for most if these idiots who are in charge of America these days.

Who cares that the National Debt and Government spending is hopelessly out of control. What matters is if they can buy that extra 50 inch flat screen, get a new i-phone w/unlimited texting and Internet, afford a weekly banquet at Buffalo Wild Wings or Pizza Hut, and all work a 30 hour week earning 100 grand a year. (Mostly Union)

America is history folks! This is now the average American stereotype.

[Doe Eyes]

Secondly SS is supposedly going broke and will have to either be cut or eliminated.

The rest of our Government is running a trillion dollar deficit. I think that part is already broke. Should we be cutting or eliminating other pensions, such as those paid to our veterans?

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

It means a couple of fatties and a bottle of Night Train. Spark that dude and don’t Bogart it!

[longtermmemmory]

what about the employers?

how about those stories?

“I will not hire anyone until because of Obama’s instability.”

“I will lay off more workers because of the tax increase.”

“Obama is unstable.”

[freeangel]

Perhaps the Senate should have been thinking about this and acting on SOMETHING or ANYTHING since 2009 since that’s how long the DEMOCRAT controlled Senate has been kicking the can down the road with no real financial plans in sight.

[tenger]

He's probably got a point if we didn't have all these other fees and taxes to worry about. They do tend to add up. I'm sure this list isn't exhaustive but it makes a point. Even if 50% of them don't apply to you, it's still quite a bit going out the door.

1. Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Accumulated Earnings Tax
3. Accumulation Distribution of Trusts
4. Activity Fee (Dumping Permit Fee)
5. Air Tax (PA coin-operated vacuums)
6. Aircraft Jet Fuel Tax
7. Aircraft Excise Tax
8. Alcohol Fuels Tax
9. Alcoholic Beverage Tax
10. Alternative Minimum Tax - Amt
11. Ambulance Services (Air Ambulance Services, SD)
12. Ammunition Tax
13. Amusement Tax (MA, VA, MD)
14. Annual Custodial Fees (Ira Accounts)
15. Ballast Water Management Fee (Marine Invasive Species)
16. Biodiesel Fuel Tax
17. Blueberry Tax (Maine)
18. Bribe Taxes (Pay If You Dare)
19. Building Permit Tax
20. Capital Gains Tax
21. California Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
22. California Redemption Value (Can and Bottle Tax)
23. CDL License Tax
24. Charter Boat Captain License
25. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee
26. Cigarette Tax
27. Cigarette Tax Stamp (Acts) (Distributors)
28. Compressed Natural Gas Tax
29. Commercial Activity Tax (OH - for Service Providers)
30. Corporate Income Tax
31. Court Fines (Indirect Taxes)
32. Disposable Diapers Tax (Wisconsin)
33. Disposal Fee (Any Landfill Dumping)
34. Dog License Tax
35. Electronic Waste Recycling Fee (E-Waste)
36. Emergency Telephone User Surcharge
37. Environmental Fee (CA - HazMat Fees)
38. Estate Tax
39. Excise Taxes
40. Facility Fee (CA - HazMat Fees)
41. FDIC tax (insurance premium on bank deposits)
42. Federal Income Tax
43. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
44. Fiduciary Income Tax (Estates and Trusts)
45. Fishing License Tax
46. Flush Tax (MD Tax For Producing Wastewater)
47. Food License Tax
48. Fountain Soda Drink Tax (Chicago - 9%)
49. Franchise Tax
50. Fresh Fruit (CA, if Purchased From A Vending Machine)
51. Fuel Permit Tax
52. Fur Clothing Tax (MN)
53. Garbage Tax
54. Gasoline Tax (44.75 Cents Per Gallon)
55. Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
56. Generator Fee (Recycled Waste Fee)
57. Gift Tax
58. Gross Receipts Tax
59. Hamburger Tax
60. Hazardous Substances Fees: Generator, Facility, Disposal
61. Household Employment Taxes
62. Hunting License Tax
63. Illegal Drug Possession (No. Carolina)
64. Inheritance Tax
65. Insect Control Hazardous Materials License
66. Insurance Premium Tax
67. Intangible Tax (Leases Of Govt. Owned Real Property)
68. Integrated Waste Management Fee
69. Interstate User Diesel Fuel Tax
70. Inventory Tax
71. IRA Rollover Tax (a transfer of IRA money)
72. IRA Early Withdrawal Tax
73. IRS Interest Charges
74. IRS Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax)
75. Jock Tax (income earned by athletes in some states)
76. Kerosene, Distillate, & Stove Oil Taxes
77. Kiddie Tax (Child's Earned Interest Form 8615)
78. Lead Poisoning Prevention Fee (Occupational)
79. Lease Severance Tax
80. Liquid Natural Gas Tax
81. Liquid Petroleum Gas Tax
82. Liquor Tax
83. Litigation Tax (TN Imposes Varies With the Offense)
84. LLC/PLLC Registration Tax
85. Local Income Tax
86. Lodging Taxes
87. Lump-Sum Distributions
88. Make-Up Tax (Ohio, applying in a salon is taxable)
89. Marriage License Tax
90. Meal Tax
91. Medicare Tax
92. Mello-Roos Taxes (Special Taxes and Assessments)
93. Minnow Dealers License (Retail - For One Shop)
94. Minnow Dealers License (Distributor - For One+ Shops)
95. Mobile Home Ad Valorem Taxes
96. Motor Fuel Tax (For Suppliers)
97. Music and Dramatic Performing Rights Tax
98. Nudity Tax (Utah)
99. Occupation Tax (Various Professional Fees)
100. Oil and Gas Assessment Tax
101. Oil Spill Response, Prevention, And Administration Fee
102. Pass-Through Withholding
103. Pay-Phone Calls Tax (Indiana)
104. Personal Property Tax
105. Personal Holding Company (undistributed earnings)
106. Pest Control License
107. Petroleum Business Tax
108. Playing Card Tax (Al)
109. Pole Tax (TX - A $5 Cover Charge On Strip Clubs)
110. Profit from Illegal Drug Dealing
111. Property Tax
112. Rain Water Tax (Runoff after a Storm)
113. Real Estate Tax
114. Recreational Vehicle Tax
115. Road Usage Tax
116. Room Tax (Hotel Rooms)
117. Sales Tax (State)
118. Sales Tax (City)
119. Sales And Use Tax (Sellers Permit)
120. Sales And Use Surcharge (electric)
121. School Tax
122. Service Charge Tax
123. Self Employment Tax
124. Sewer & Water Tax
125. Social Security Tax
126. Sparkler and Novelties Tax (WV Sellers of Sparklers, etc.)
127. Special Assessment Tax (Not Ad Valorem)
128. State Documentary Stamp Tax on Notes (FL RE Tax)
129. State Franchise Tax
130. State/Local Consumption Tax
131. State Income Tax
132. State Park Fees
133. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
134. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Fuel Tax
135. Stud Fees (Kentucky?s Thoroughbred Sex Tax)
136. Tangible Personal Property Tax
137. Tattoo Tax (AR Tax On Tattoos)
138. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
139. Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
140. Telephone Federal Surcharge Taxes
141. Telephone State Surcharge Taxes
142. Telephone Local Surcharge Taxes
143. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
144. Telephone Recurring Charges Tax
145. Telephone Non-Recurring Charges Tax
146. Telephone State Usage Charge Tax
147. Telephone Local Usage Charge Tax
148. Tire Recycling Fee
149. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Consumer Tax)
150. Tobacco Tax (Cigar, Pipe, Dealer Tax)
151. Toll Road Tax
152. Toll Bridge Tax
153. Toll Tunnel Tax
154. Tourism or Concession License Fee
155. Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation)
156. Transportable Treatment Unit Fee (Small Facility)
157. Trailer Registration Tax
158. Trout Stamp (Addendum To Fish License)
159. Use Taxes (On Out-Of-State Purchases)
160. Utility Taxes
161. Unemployment Tax
162. Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee
163. Underpayment of Estimated Tax (Form 2210)
164. Unreported Tip Income (Social Security and Medicare Tax)
165. Vehicle License
166. Registration Tax
167. Vehicle Sales Tax
168. Wagering Tax (Tax on Gambling Winnings)
169. Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) Fuel Tax
170. Water Rights Fee
171. Watercraft Registration Tax
172. Waterfowl Stamp Tax
173. Well Permit Tax
174. Workers Compensation Tax

[Safetgiver]

As has been said by the Dems, FICA is NOT a tax it is a contribution. They say you should NOT get anymore back because it is not a tax.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

FICA taxes are separate from the income taxes you compute on your return. You really are being taxed less.

[midwyf]

We should NOT cut veterans benefits. We should eliminate retirement and every thing except health insurance during their employment by the people, for elected officials. We should abolish the ESA and EPA and end all grants and awards for every thing except disaster emergencies. Them oney spent on supposedly “endangered species” is astounding, and the impact of food and energy production is staggering.

[DeaconRed]

"FICA taxes are separate from the income taxes you compute on your return. You really are being taxed less."

You still don't get it. Yes FICA is a separate category. However under the current tax code you owe a certain amount of FICA taxes at the end of the year. Unless they change the rate: (which they have not by the way) it is NOT a TAX decrease.
At the end of the year when you or your accountant are doing your taxes you will still owe the same amount for Federal and FICA. If they didn't take out enough, guess what? You will have to PAY, or you will get a smaller refund.

[newbie 10-21-00]

It’s you that don’t get it amigo. The FICA rate for 2011 went from 6.2% on the the first $106,800 of income to 4.2%. For those making $100k, you saved $2k. It’s got nada, zip, zero to do with income tax. For those making $100k who have any brains, the 2% rate cut was offset by a 3% increase in their 401k contribution. My takehome went down about $300 this year, but I have $3,000 more contributed to my 401k. If my portfolio would do that earning thing, I’d be in great shape.