Monday I mentioned that John Street, in his annual budget address, decided to stick it to the poor, and thumb his nose at the memory of David Cohen, by proposing to repeal the soon to be enacted wage tax cut for working class families.

The Daily News editorial board, with all of its infinite wisdom, attacked Street for not arguing for a bigger tax cut for Philadelphia businesses. I guess they are a little anti-tax these days, huh? But then, they turned to Philly's working poor, and their tax cut, and give us this pearl of wisdom:

But nothing comes free. As part of his budget proposal to Council, Street is arguing for the elimination of the low-income wage-tax credit set to begin in 2010. The easy choice would have been to keep the tax credit, even though it would cost the city more than $45 million, and let the next mayor worry about it.

To Street's credit, he didn't duck this one. No one else on City Council should, either.

Say what?

OK, so, we need Street to stand up for what is right, and give tax breaks to businesses big and small, many of whom are not tied to Philadelphia, and will not necessarily return that extra money to the Philly economy. But, when we are going to give the working poor another $100 or $200 dollars, money which will overwhelmingly be spent in the Philly economy, it is somehow brave to take that tax break away? Huh?

Plus, you know, the whole idea that it is brave to make our tax system more regressive, all while arguing for lowered corporate taxes, seems a little effin' weird.

Luckily, it does not look like the bill will pass:

The early reaction to Street's plan suggests a stormy battle ahead.

"You go to the man's funeral, speak a bunch of platitudes about how he helped the poor and in your next budget you want to reject his crowning legislative achievement. How cold is that?" Councilman James Kenney asked. "This is a personal dismantling of a colleague's legacy, and it's smacking David Cohen in the grave."

Kudos to Councilmembers Kenney, Goode, Ramos and others, who likely will not let this pass. Progressive taxation did not come to Philly easily, and we should not get rid of it before it is actually enacted for single day.