17. October 2010 by admin.

Chris Coons, Delaware Senate Race, Cap and Trade, Delaware Senate Debate, Christine O’Donnell

Chris Coons stated in the Delaware Senate Debate with Christine O’Donnell that he did NOT believe that his Father-in-law’s company Gore-Tex, would benefit from Cap and Trade.  Here is evidence to the contrary:

Chris Coons takes pride in knowing how lawyers think (from his own website)

A lawyer himself, Chris understands the importance of the legal community to Delaware’s citizens, non-profits, government, and businesses. Rooted in a legal perspective, Chris brings a logical, deliberate, and ethical approach to policy deliberations.

http://www.chriscoons.com/communities/lawyers/

If this is true, then explain this grant from the recovery act for “clean energy manufacturing” back in the beginning of 2010, well before the date of this debate where Chris Coons looked into the camera and told the voters an outright lie:

http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/Recovery_Act_Memo__DC.pdf

Award(s): 2 totaling $814,000 from DOE / Treasury, Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C)

Location: Elkton, MD

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD ‐ $604,000

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., in Elkton received $604,000 to re‐equip two manufacturing facilities in New York and Maryland to produce the Gore Turbine Filter. The filter is used in natural gas turbines that deliver high fuel efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions.

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD ‐ $210,000

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., in Elkton received $210,000 to retool a manufacturing facility to produce a key component of fuel cell systems used to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles.

Posted in Delaware Politics, Delaware Senate Race, Chris Coons, Delaware Election, cap and trade | No Comments »

9. October 2010 by admin.

http://meetchriscoons.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/even-seniors-not-safe-from-coons-tax-addiction/

Chris Coons lust for taxes seems to know no bounds.  Even DE seniors are unsafe in his wake:

New Castle County Council members are expected to vote Tuesday on legislation that would reduce future property tax exemptions for senior citizens and the disabled. … County Executive Chris Coons said he supports the ordinance because it doesn’t eliminate the exemption entirely, which was the recommendation of a task force convened last year to examine county finances. (Angie Basiouny, “NCCo Tax Exemption Cuts Up For Vote,” The News Journal, September 10, 2007)

The county’s senior tax exemption, which is $50,000 for those older than 65 who qualify, helps cushion the impact of a tax increase for older residents. Their tax bill would rise an average of $18 a year, under the proposal. (Angie Basiouny, “17 Percent Tax Hike Proposed For NCCo,” The News Journal, March 21, 2007)

But his determination to raise taxes on seniors is a bit ironic considering how, a couple of years earlier, he tried to take credit for the tax exemptions for seniors–even though he wasn’t even in office when the exemption was enacted:

Mr. Gordon’s press office had good reason to criticize. Mr. Coons tried to take credit for expanding the county’s senior citizen property tax exemption, which was enacted before he even took office. Mr. Coons tried to wiggle out of that confrontation by saying he ‘fought for the exemption,’ which is different from passing it. (Editorial, “Press Advantages,” The News Journal, September 10, 2004)

It looks like Coons will say anything to get elected as long as he can still raise taxes once in office.

Posted in Delaware Senate Race, Chris Coons | No Comments »

9. October 2010 by admin.

http://meetchriscoons.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/coons-is-like-a-fixed-gear-politician-his-one-speed-is-tax/

It seems there isn’t a tax that Coons has seen during his political career that he didn’t immediately fall in love with.  Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?

• Eliminate Tax Credit for First Time Home-buyers: In 2006, Coons lobbied the General Assembly to repeal the tax credit for first time home-buyers.  This would have cost the citizens of his county at least $4.2 million. (Angie Basiouny,  “5 Percent Tax Increase Proposed For NCCo,” The News Journal, March 22, 2006)

• Lobbied for 911 Tax, Hotel Tax, Paramedic Tax: In 2007, while New Castle County Executive, Coons planned to pile on new taxes on all three DE counties by lobbying the General Assembly to pass brand new taxes including a hotel tax, a 911 tax, and a paramedic tax. (Angie Basiouny, “Tax Hike, Deep Cuts In Store For NCCo,” The News Journal, March 17, 2007)

• Delaware Swats Down Coons Tax Gouging Plan, Coons Vows to Keep Pushing Tax Hikes: The General Assembly turned down repeated requests from Coon to gouge his citizens with new 911, hotel and paramedic taxes.  How does Coons respond?  He says he is “undaunted…[and] working with state leaders for permission to levy new taxes or fees.” (Angie Basiouny, “Historic NCCo Budget Finally Set For Vote Tuesday,” The News Journal, May 25, 2009)

• Neighborhood Stalker Tax Plan: In 2009, to fund a new “problem properties” cleanup program, Coons wanted to start stalking neighborhoods looking for property code violations, levy fines, and fatten up a $375,000 abatement fund. (“Coons Proposes Using Fines To Clean Up NCCo’s Problem Properties,” The News Journal, October 23, 2009)

• The Annual Sewer Tax Hike: Almost every year as County Executive, Coons raised the sewer taxes. In 2005, Coons hiked the tax up $63 for the average household. In 2006, Coons hiked the tax up by 2.5%.  In 2008, Coons proposed a 4.4% hike.  In 2009, Coons successfully raised the tax by 10%!  Earlier this year, Coons again proposed a 4% tax hike.  (Angie Basiouny, “NCCo Budget Ups Sewer Rates But Holds Taxes Steady,” The News Journal, May 25, 2005; Angie Basiouny, “NCCo OKs Tax Hike, Budget,” The News Journal, May 24, 2006; Angie Basiouny, “Coons To Propose Sewer Rate Increase,” The News Journal, March 20, 2008; Angie Basiouny, “25% NCCo Property Tax Hike OK’d,” The News Journal, May 27, 2009; Adam Taylor, “Coons Proposes Layoffs,” The News Journal, March 17, 2010)

• Reassess Property Values so Property Tax is Hiked Even Higher:  Apparently, Coons was not satisfied with merely jacking up property taxes.  He wanted a more aggressive reassessment of the property values in order to gouge his county as much as possible.  (Angie Basiouny, “17 Percent Tax Hike Proposed For NCCo,” The News Journal, March 21, 2007)

Posted in Delaware Senate Race, Chris Coons | No Comments »

9. October 2010 by admin.

http://www.communitypub.com/news/county/x1083525291/NCCo-Council-approves-budget-25-percent-tax-increase

Wilmington, Del. —

After more than two months of deliberations, New Castle County quietly approved a $228 million operating budget and 25 percent tax increase Tuesday night.

Apparently all talked out, the 13-member body voted 10-3 to approve the spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The vote on the tax increase was 8-5.

The budget approved by council is virtually unchanged from what County Executive Chris Coons proposed presented to council in his March 17 budget address - balancing $23 million in spending cuts with the tax increase expected to generate $21.2 million in revenue.

The average annual tax bill will jump $100, to $501, following the increase, which is the second highest in the government’s history. The cuts, meanwhile, represent the largest budget-to-budget reduction in county history, officials said.

Several council members, like William Bell (D-Middletown), said they carefully scrutinized the budget and were convinced the county cut all it could without impacting core services.

“The vast majority of citizens we come in contact with have a high regard for the services we provide - especially police, paramedics and 911,” Bell said.

But Councilman William Tansey (R-Greenville), who ultimately voted in favor of the budget and tax increase, said council shouldn’t give itself too much credit.

“It’s all rhetoric,” said Tansey. “All we did was go after the low hanging fruit. We taxed the taxpayer to recover what we’re spending.”

Posted in Delaware Senate Race, Chris Coons | No Comments »

9. October 2010 by admin.

http://meetchriscoons.wordpress.com/category/raised-taxes/

Boy, what 4-years of Coons can make!

2005: Coons Called The County’s Economic Health “Fundamentally Sound.” “While the county’s economic health is ‘fundamentally sound,’ Coons said, there’s been a widening gap between expenses and revenues in the past several years. His proposals would help avoid a projected $152 million shortfall by 2009.” (Angie Basiouny, “NCCo Exec Proposes Reining In Spending,” The News Journal, March 30, 2005)

2009: “‘We’re 18 Months From Being Out Of Money — Unable To Operate, Not To Use The “B” Word,’ Coons Said, In A Reference To Bankruptcy. ‘That’s where we are, and it’s at a time when many families are struggling, and they’re looking to government to help them.’” (Jeff Montgomery, “Sobering Challenges Reflected In Speeches,” The News Journal, January 22, 2009)

I wonder if the AP will ever fact-check Coons’ recent claim that he “restored his county to financial health and is ready to do the same for the federal government.”  If he is going to do to the country what he did to the poor folks in New Castle County, I think I’ll pass.

Posted in Delaware Senate Race, Chris Coons | No Comments »