Johns Vows to Cut Taxes on Poor

Marie Johns, a distant third in the polls, is pledging to eliminate the District's income tax on workers making less than $25,000. According to the Post:

Such a measure, she said, would provide a bit of relief to the needy and show that the city is serious about retaining a working class as rents rise and the amount of affordable housing shrinks. The tax cut would cost up to $70 million a year, she said.

Good for Marie Johns. I would much prefer she advocate across the board tax cuts, but at least she seems to fundamentally understand that people in the District are over-taxed.

In addition to having the sense to advocate for tax cuts for the working poor, Johns also is smart enough to understand the realities of her current standing in the Mayoral race:

Johns acknowledged yesterday that she is trailing Fenty and Cropp by a wide margin, though she said her appeal is more than the 8 percent of likely Democratic voters who supported her in a recent Washington Post poll.

The Post also reports that Johns finance committee chairman, Deborah Royster, recently bolted the campaign to support rival Adrian Fenty. Apparently, Johns rejected Royster's advice that she drop out and run as an independent.

More from the Post:

Johns said she is determined not to quit and wants to secure additional endorsements. She said she has no plans to bolt the party, as U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) did this month after losing in his state's Democratic primary.

Too bad. Johns running as an independent could really shake this race up.