Roger Marshall must be getting a whole lotta love from his campaign staff.
Cuz he’s certainly not paying them their due.
Marshall, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, provides neither health insurance for the bulk of his staff or pays payroll taxes on their wages, according to a recent story in the Kansas City Star. Instead, Marshall classifies his employees as independent contractors, who do not, as such, qualify for such benefits.
Marshall’s campaign manager Eric Pahls defended the “thrifty” maneuver by saying most of those affected are 26 or younger, and thus can remain on their parents’ health insurance plans.
Oh, you mean the measure provided by the Affordable Care Act that Marshall is determined to deep-six?
The same.
But if Republicans ever get around to writing their own healthcare act, they say they’ll be sure to include that coverage, too.
Uh huh.
Pahls also said that Marshall’s campaign is not unique in having independent contractors. But in Bryan Lowry’s reporting, he could find no other campaigns, including those of Republicans, who were so stingy.
That’s because it’s the right thing to do. Payroll taxes, after all, are what support our Social Security system.
Also, independent contractors are highly taxed, facing self-employment taxes of roughly 15.3% and income taxes of 30-35%.
The campaign of Marshall’s opponent, Democrat Barbara Bollier, provides both health insurance and pays payroll taxes for her staff.
WE CAN’T venture as to why the Marshall campaign has chosen to treat its staff in such a manner, but it’s consistent with his world-view of working against expanding Medicaid in Kansas, denying rights for the LGBTQ community, and downplaying the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for which he has endorsed far-fetched treatments such as hydroxychloroquine and refused to follow public health measures.
Again, it’s by wearing masks and social distancing that we show our concern for others, not necessarily ourselves, by preventing the spread of the virus.
INCREASINGLY, the difference between conservative Republicans like Marshall and moderate Republicans and Democrats is ideological.
