Two Democrat California state legislators are pushing for a new law that would exempt public school teachers from any form of state income tax.
The bill, Senate Bill 807, was introduced last month by Sen. Henry Stern of Los Angeles and Sen. Cathleen Galgiani of Stockton. The main aim of the bill is to address a shortage of teachers in the state of California, according to a report by The Sacramento Bee.
Supporters of the bill say California needs this law as the school districts in the Golden State are having a hard time replacing aging baby-boomer teachers who are retiring in large numbers.
The Daily Caller reports:
The bill, Senate Bill 807, would operate by providing new California teachers with tax credits equal to the amount they have spent on college tuition, certification exams and others costs associated with obtaining their teaching credentials, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Teachers would have to teach in California for five years to rack up enough tax credits to recoup those costs completely.
Teachers who stick around for five years would then become completely exempt from state income tax.
Leaving other deductions and exemptions aside, the basic effect would be an income increase for California teachers ranging between 4 percent and 6 percent for every teacher in the state.
Bill Lucia, president of EdVoice, a group advocating the bill, has this to say to the teachers: “You’re important, it’s a noble profession and we want you to stay in California classrooms.”
Apparently, in liberal California, some are more important than others.