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The Earned Income Tax Credit
There are two primary reasons why a lot of Americans do not pay Federal Income taxes:
1. High rates of unemployment which depresses wages. Thus, many people simply don't make enough to have to pay federal taxes
2. The Earned Income Tax Credit, a Republican idea that was a reward for work over welfare. You would enhance the piss-poor wages with small subsidies for chidren. This was deemed preferrable to raising the minimum wage.
Now, these Republican assholes are complaining that the poor don't pay enough in income taxes.
Originally enacted in 1975, the Earned Income Tax Credit was borne out of welfare reform efforts of the early 1970s. The Tax Reduction Act of 1975 originally added the credit to the Internal Revenue Code. After expanding during the years, the credit is now one of the principal anti-poverty programs for working families in the federal budget.
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 included provisions to improve compliance. In 2001 the Economic Growth and Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act promoted simplification and provided new marriage penalty relief.
In 1997 and 2001, Republicans controlled congress.
In sum, if you want Americans to pay more in federal income taxes, pay them more money.
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