Raleigh, NC - The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) released the following statement in response to the State Senate's passage of an income tax constitutional amendment. During debate, Senator Sydney Batch offered an amendment that would have protected tax cuts for 99% of North Carolina taxpayers while creating a path for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share — but it was tabled on a party-line vote.
"Today, North Carolina Senate leaders showed their true colors," said Tamika Walker Kelly, NCAE President.
"When Senate Democrats offered a simple amendment — to protect 99% of North Carolina taxpayers from income tax increases — Republican leadership said no. They killed it without hesitation, to protect tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.
That tells you everything you need to know. While Democrats offered a reasonable solution for rising costs, for Republicans, this was never about tax relief for working people. It was always about protecting the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.
Capping the income tax at 3.5% doesn't just benefit the rich — it locks it in permanently, written into our state constitution. And it does so on the backs of working people who depend on public schools, roads, police, and fire departments to keep their families safe and their communities strong.
NCAE stands with the working people of North Carolina. Our kids deserve fully funded schools, our communities deserve the public services they pay for, and our families deserve a legislature that works for everyone — not just those at the top."
