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New Jersey Adds Millionaires Tax to Ease a Crunch (2)
At least eight other states — including California, Massachusetts and New York —have considered proposals to increase taxes on high-income residents, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The trend mirrors a pattern that followed the Great Recession, when at least 10 states raised taxes between 2010 to 2012 to balance budgets decimated by the economic downturn. But the decision to increase taxes in New Jersey also comes as progressives across the country are pushing for tax policies that can begin to narrow the gap between rich and poor, a divide amplified by a pandemic that has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities. The new tax in New Jersey, the nation’s second wealthiest state, is expected to generate an estimated $390 million this fiscal year; 16,491 New Jersey residents and 19,128 nonresident taxpayers will now pay the higher rate, state officials said.
In Albany, where Democrats also control all branches of government, progressives have been pushing Mr. Cuomo to consider a variety of bills, including one to raise the tax rate on those earning more than $100 million to almost 12 percent. A fiscal moderate and third-term Democrat, Mr. Cuomo has largely resisted proposals to raise billions by taxing the wealthy, and has instead consistently called on the federal government to bail New York out, saying its state and local governments are facing $59 billion in budget shortfalls this year and next. With every call for a new tax comes criticism from Republicans and some business leaders who warn that higher taxes will lead to an exodus of affluent residents, draining revenue needed to pay for basic services like education and health care. Mr. Cuomo’s budget director, Robert Mujica, noted on Thursday that the “overwhelming majority” of billionaires and millionaires in the state live in New York City, and are already subject to a combined city and state tax rate of 12.6 percent. “Let’s make sure the discussions are informed,” he said in a statement.
【文章翻译】
全国州议会会议数据显示，至少还有其他八个州（包括加利福尼亚州、马萨诸塞州和纽约州）在考虑对高收入居民增税的提议。这一趋势与（2009年）大萧条爆发后的情势如出一辙，当时，至少有10个州在2010~2012年期间上调税率，平衡经济低迷导致的预算大幅缩水的问题。不过，新泽西州做出增税决定背后还有一大原因，那便是因疫情对黑人和拉丁裔社区造成了格外严重的影响，贫富差距问题已进一步凸显，全国各地的进步人士都已开始致力于推行缩小贫富差距的税收政策。作为美国第二富裕的州，新泽西州的新税预计将在本财年产生约3.9亿美元的收入；据统计有16491名新泽西州居民，19128名非居民纳税人需要支付更高税率。
在同样被民主党人控制着政府所有部门的（纽约州首府）奥尔巴尼，进步派人士一直在敦促科莫考虑数项法案，包括将收入超1亿美元的纳税人的税率提高至近12%。作为一名在财政政策上趋向温和且已连任三届的民主党州长，科莫极力反对通过向富人征税来筹集数十亿美元资金的提议，相反，他一直呼吁联邦政府救助纽约州，称该州和地方政府今明两年将面临590亿美元的预算缺口。每一次要求征收新税的呼声都会招致共和党人和一些商界领袖的反对，他们警告称，更高的税收将会引发富裕居民的外流，导致当地支付教育和医疗等基本服务所需的收入大规模流失。科莫的预算总监罗伯特·穆希卡周四指出，该州“绝大多数”亿万富翁和百万富翁都住在纽约市，他们已经缴纳了12.6%的市和州综合税。“我们还是要确保大家对讨论的知情权，”他在一份声明中说道。
【表达积累】
- mirrors a pattern 反映了一种模式
- narrow the gap between rich and poor缩小……之间的差距
- be subject to屈服于……，易陷入……，易受……
