Tulsans Divided Over Idea Of War Tax

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK – President Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 U.S. troops into the long war in Afghanistan on Tuesday night, but balanced the buildup with a pledge to begin withdrawing American forces in 18 months.

The troop buildup will begin almost immediately -- the first Marines will be in place by Christmas -- and will cost $30 billion for the first year alone.

Some Democrats in Congress are proposing a "war tax" to pay for the troop increase. 

The Congressional proposal would increase income taxes anywhere from one to five percent, for higher-income Americans. The Obama Administration hasn't weighed in on that proposal, but in Green Country, the idea has people split down the middle. 

Sharon Mims of Tulsa says a War Tax troubles her.

"We're being taxed on everything and the economy is really bad," said Sharon Mims.

Many Tulsans say amidst the biggest recession in generations, imposing new taxes is the wrong way to go. They suggest cutting other areas of government instead.

"I think right now people are struggling as it is, and with the economy and everything, we can barely afford to even buy groceries, much less anything else, so most definitely opposed to that," said Mike Ownbey, of Tulsa.

But there are plenty of people who say they're willing to put up with a new tax to support our troops.

"I'm perfectly fine with paying as we go on this one. I think most Americans need to realize we haven't been asked to sacrifice anything when we went to war. We were told to go shopping after 911 for goodness sake. It's time for us to step up as Americans and say ‘this is what we need to do as a country,'" said Jill Endicott, of Tulsa.

The decision to send more troops is final. The debate on how to pay for them is just beginning.

As it stands right now, citizens making less than $30,000 a year would be exempt from the war tax.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.