The Assisted Suicide of Lofty State and Local Taxes

Source: RealClearPolitics
by Rob Arnott

“We get the government we choose to elect, hence the government we deserve. Voting for ever-higher punitive taxes on the rich is arguably a form of civic suicide. Consider that a wealthy New Yorker can get a raise of almost 40% just by moving. That’s right. If moving eliminates a 14.8% top state and local tax rate, our top-tier taxpayer gets a 36% raise, not a 14.8% raise, by leaving. It’s doubtful if any of our city and state leaders have done this math, but it’s shocking. Mamdani wants to take the top rate up another 2%, if not by the state then by the city, which would mean that our rich neighbor can get a 42% raise.” (03/26/26)

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/03/26/the_assisted_suicide_of_lofty_state_and_local_taxes_153980.html