At a public forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce in Crowley, Louisiana yesterday, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) attacked his Democratic opponent Charlie Melancon for saying people in the top income bracket should pay higher taxes. But in doing so he implied that “virtually everybody” in attendance would see their taxes raised.
“I hate to tell you, by Washington’s definitions that [Melancon]’s using, virtually everybody in this audience is the wealthy.”
Though the event was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, it was open to all residents. According to the U.S. Census bureau, the average household income in Louisiana was $43,635 in 2008.
Speaking at the same event, Melancon argued that people in the highest income bracket should be paying more in taxes than they have been.
“I think it was unfair that for ten years that a person making a million dollars a more or year got to keep a larger percentage of his income than did the people making a quarter of a million dollars or less,” Melancon said.
Video of the question and of Vitter’s response is below.
