Alaska Judge Strikes Down State Tax Law That Discriminates Against Gay Couples

[SandraJane]

ThinkProgress-LGBT

Alaska Judge Strikes Down State Tax Law That Discriminates Against Gay Couples

By Ian Millhiser posted from ThinkProgress Justice on Sep 20, 2011 at 4:45 pm



http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/issue/

Alaska law permits older married couples to take a property tax deduction that is as much as twice as generous to married couples as it is to unmarried couples who own their home together. Because gay couples are unable to marry in Alaska, this means that people in committed gay relationships are excluded from the favorable tax treatment enjoyed by straight married couples.

[Wolfsnake]

Maybe my home state isn't as backwards as I thought! I'm always happy to be pleasantly surprised like this.

[spacial]

While I have little knowledge or interest in tax affairs in the US, (naturally), the more I hear about Alaska the more I wonder how the Republicans could have been taken in by the self rightious stance of Sarah (I can see Russia from my back porch) Palin.

[Ann Onymous]

While I have little knowledge or interest in tax affairs in the US, (naturally), the more I hear about Alaska the more I wonder how the Republicans could have been taken in by the self rightious stance of Sarah (I can see Russia from my back porch) Palin.

some of it comes to trying to appeal to middle America, where that 'golly gee' crap has a tendency to sell well...and when you go into an election conceding certain States with lots of electoral votes, it becomes critical to win the fly-over States. 

But what was going on in Alaska re: property taxes is/was hardly unique to that State.  It is no different than we see in MANY jurisdictions not to mention with the federal tax code (have no idea about State income taxes since Texas does not have one at this time). 

[JessicaH]

While I have little knowledge or interest in tax affairs in the US, (naturally), the more I hear about Alaska the more I wonder how the Republicans could have been taken in by the self rightious stance of Sarah (I can see Russia from my back porch) Palin.

Sarah Palin never said that.  There is enough legitimate stuff to dog her on without quoting Saturday Night Live characters...

[tekla]

Yeah, but she deserved it.  It's not like the proximity of Alaska to the former Soviet Union gave her foreign policy experience, which is what she WAS claiming.  Its not like she personally had to scramble the jets when the Russkies got too close.  Really, if you look at what she really said, it's even dumber...

"It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where - where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border."

She is trying to lay claim to National Security credentials, when in fact, she has none at the time she said that, had never meet with a foreign leader, nor had ever been outside of the US (except to go to Canada to get free medical care....hum...).

And money - being sacred to Americans - is it's own issue.  These cases are being decided on grounds from removed from any gay issues.

[JessicaH]

Politics is nasty enough without making stuff up. I also correct my local rednecks when they talk about our "Muslim President".

[tekla]

They all seem to be making it up as they go, Michelle Bachmann on HPV, Nikki Haley on drug testing, Sara on her running/not running routine, Ron Paul on just about anything,

[spacial]

Sarah Palin never said that.  There is enough legitimate stuff to dog her on without quoting Saturday Night Live characters...

I really am grateful for that corection. I was led to believe that she actually said it. While the US political scene is beyond me, personally, it is more comforting to be sure that, if I do say something, it would at least be accurate.

I've heard of Saturday Night Live and understand it is very satrical.

[JessicaH]

They all seem to be making it up as they go, Michelle Bachmann on HPV, Nikki Haley on drug testing, Sara on her running/not running routine, Ron Paul on just about anything,

It's still wrong and repeating lies makes you no better thena them if you do it! I don't cut a politician any slack if they lie, cheat or steal regardless of their political affiliation. I won't make excuses for anyone!