Why are so many Democrats opposed to Alabama's tax reform?

By all accounts I've read, Republican governor Bob Riley wants to reform the Alabama tax code to make it much more progressive than it is now. He's getting blasted by many in his own party for his stance. What is baffling to me is the fact that many Democrats aren't supporting the measure. Is there something about the proposal that isn't being reported, or are many people just uninformed?

...The barrier to such change in Alabama is embedded in the state constitution, written in post-Reconstruction days, when large timber companies and cotton farmers locked in such low property tax rates and other tax limits that Alabama has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation.

Many Republicans who supported Riley for governor are stunned at his advocacy, but he has found allies in the business elites and the newspaper editorial page editors who agree with his contention that building a first-class education system is vital to the state's economic future.

"We're behind in the polls," Riley conceded in the interview, adding that he has not been able to persuade lower-income Alabamians -- including many African Americans -- whose income taxes would be cut by his plan, to trust a Republican to look out for their interests. Some supporters of the tax-reform referendum have even reached out to Oprah Winfrey for help in selling the proposal, but the odds are against it.

I don't think there is any poison pill in there, or if there is I wasn't aware of it. Maybe just reflexive partisanship?

Until I see details, I'll also not trust any proposed GOP "progressive" change to the tax system!

and paid careful attention to letters to the editor in the states newspapers, I have seen a lot of support from Democrats.

There have been suggestions, though, that the Democratic leadership has not said much publicly for fear that their support could actually hurt the measure by allowing opponents to argue that Riley is in league with the Democrats, has sold out to them, or whatever.

The Alabama electorate's skepticism toward tax increases is understandable, by the way. The legislature has such an amazing talent for pissing away money, and has indulged that talent for so long, that voters are reluctant to give them more. I support Riley's plan, but I can understand why so many people are afraid to hand the legislature more money.

Voting is on September 9th.

I do. I am unnerved by the cap limit that we all (including Riley) just found out about, but I think the right thing to do is vote for the package and then work out the kinks.

No, the Dems are very surprised at this package. It is what needed to be done.

Make no mistake about it, however, the package will fail. This will not be because of the Dems, it will be because of the christian fundamentalists and wealthy land owners of our State who put their own interests ahead of those of the State.

Dems are on board.

I guess a columnist from DC is uninformed about what is going on in Alabama (surprise, surprise!)

"Don't tax you, don't tax me. Tax the guy
behind the tree."

It's interesting that the National office of the Christian Coalition has come out in favor of the Progressive Tax plan, while the Alabama regional office and Conservative Christians are doing all they can to DEFEAT the measure. Are they playing both sides of the fence here? Is the national office giving the locals cover, so that they can claim to have been on the right side of the issue while the locals defeat it?

You seem to be implying that blacks would benefit more from this "reform" more than whites. I really do not see this as a legitimate argument...especially since this reform would slice and dice the current state income tax system in favor of a regressive sales tax as the primary means of raising revenue.

The best way to help low income Alabamians is to increase state revenue. Alabama does not have much in the way of a statewide public school system, or even basic funding for its Medicaid program.

What Alabama needs are some income tax hikes on those in the higher brackets, and a corporate income tax to raise revenue from the profits that large companies make using state labor.