Here is a summary of the Tax Day actions in Saginaw and Jackson that SEIU members participated in to support the 99% and the “Buffett Tax Rule.”

ABC12 – http://www.abc12.com/story/17512397/supporters-of

Supporters of ‘Buffett Rule’ gather at Saginaw post office (with video)

By Rebecca Trylch

SAGINAW (WJRT) – (04/17/12) – Supporters of the so-called ‘Buffett Rule’ chose Tax Day to demand action on legislation which was shot-down by the Senate Monday. They gathered at the downtown post office on Washington Avenue in Saginaw Tuesday.

The Buffett Rule was introduced by President Obama last year.

It’s named for wealthy businessman Warren Buffett, who has said it is unfair for him to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary.

The Buffett Rule would raise taxes for people earning more than $1 million a year.

Some believe that tax hike would level the playing field between the wealthiest Americans, and the other 99%  who pay a higher tax rate.

“If they don’t raise the taxes on them, what are we to do?  Who is responsible? The 99%, we can’t pay it,” said Patricia Mayo, a Saginaw resident.

Ernie Ahmad, an SEIU Local 517M member, brought a sign that read, “stop cuddling the super rich. Pass the Buffett Rule.”

Some people honked as they drove by, a sign of support to the protestors. “That means we’re fighting, we’re out here and we’re letting the American public know, Saginaw, that we’re out here. We are trying to be a part of the solution and not the problem,” explained Cheryl Merrill, the SEIU Local 517M chapter president.

Just Monday, the U.S. Senate failed to move the legislation forward. President Obama blames Republicans for blocking it. Meantime Republicans argue there just wasn’t enough Democratic support for the plan.

These protestors say they’re not done fighting.

“We have to continue to fight for whatever we need to do, we need to continue to fight. You know the fight isn’t over but if we don’t do anything about it, we don’t say anything about it, that’s means we’re just accepting it the way it is, and we have to fight for what we want,” said Merrill.

Meantime, Republican Congressman Dave Camp called it a ‘job-killing tax hike’ in a statement released Monday night.

Camp’s full statement is:   “President John F. Kennedy once said that the soundest way to raise revenues in the long run is to cut the tax rates now. Apparently, modern day Democrats just don’t see it that way. Instead, President Obama and Congressional Democrats have pursued higher taxes at every turn under the pretense that raising taxes is fair. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this latest job-killing tax hike will only provide them with more money to feed even more reckless spending. The real truth is not that families and job creators are taxed too little, it is that Washington is spending too much. There is nothing fair about the federal government taking between 30 and 40 percent of your income, especially on top of all the other taxes you pay – like sales taxes, gas taxes, and state and local taxes. Tax Day is a timely reminder that instead of increasing taxes, we should reform the tax code so that it really is fairer for families and so we can spur greater investment, innovation and job creation here at home.”

NBC25 -  http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=743146#.T47EpdUud3U

National protests in favor of the “Buffett Rule” reach Saginaw on tax day

Small group supporting the law organized by S.E.I.U. union

SAGINAW — The Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.) is fed up with what they call an “unfair” tax system.  On Tuesday nationwide protests organized by the union reached Saginaw.  NBC25 visited a group of about 2 dozen people holding up signs in support of the “Buffett Rule”.  The rule is named for billionaire investor Warren Buffett who famously came out and said that his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does, and then teamed up with the White House to try and pass legislation to change that.

“For him to stand up and say this isn’t right… the system isn’t set up right… we need to do something about that.  That’s what we’re standing up for,” said protestor Roderick Pritchett, also an SEIU organizer.  “We agree with him, he’s right.”

The “Buffett Rule” would apply a minimum of 30% tax rate to individuals making over 1 million dollars per year.  Something opponents say could be a job killer.  The bill is currently stalled in the U.S. Senate.

Press Coverage of Jackson Action

http://www.wlns.com/story/17516667/supporters-of-warren-buffett-rule-protest-in-jackson

http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2012/04/buffett_rule_failure_to_clear.html