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DEL.ICIO.USThe Speaker’s tax plan: Before the blow from the left, a swipe from the right
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This afternoon, Democrats in the state House and Senate will formally announce their opposition to House Speaker Glenn Richardson’s plan to shift the state away from the school property tax in favor of an expanded sales tax.
But they were beaten to the punch by Grover Norquist, leader of the Washington-based Americans for Tax Reform, who e-mailed a letter to House members urging them to vote “no.”
“This plan, which has been modified numerous times, is now being fast-tracked with little room for legislators to analyze or fully digest the consequences to taxpayers. This is not the way to set tax policy. Barring any possibility for further review, which would help clarify certain issues and allow signers of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to get certainty that this is in fact not a tax increase, ATR urges you to vote no on the GREAT plan,” wrote the leader of the anti-tax group.
This doesn’t bode well for Richardson, who needs two-thirds of the House to move his plan to the Senate.
See the complete letter on the jump.
Dear Legislator,
As you continue to debate the latest version of the GREAT plan, I urge you to take into consideration all of the moving parts of this package and ensure that taxpayers will truly be rewarded for the fruits of your labors. Before enacting comprehensive tax “reform”, please step back and consider the implications of each piece of the package.
Many of you have pledged to your constituents that you will oppose and fight against any efforts to raise taxes. As a result, you will want to ensure that the result of this package is at minimum, revenue neutral, or better yet, an overall tax cut.
In its current form, the package contains one key element to ensuring that this reform effort is a victory for taxpayers: assessment and millage rate limits. Without these essential taxpayer protections, you run the risk of enacting only “loosely-stitched” property tax relief that could easily be undone in future legislative sessions.
Without the guarantee of limitations to local spending, Georgians could be subject to increased local spending (supplemented by higher assessment and millage rates) on top of higher grocery and services bills. If these taxpayer protections are dropped, this package runs the risk of becoming a tax increase.
In stark contrast to the rate limits, one element of this package potentially disables the viability of your “reform” effort. Calling for an expansion of the states sales tax to include what appears to be a telephone-book listing of services, is a move that both harms the taxpayer and is likely to cause great contention if passed.
In the last 6 months, Michigan and Maryland each passed a similar services tax, which were immediately opposed by voters throughout the state. Michigan legislators were forced to overturn their tax, while Maryland legislators are currently working to do the same. It seems that taxpayers do not respond well when winners and losers are selected by their elected officials.
Experience in other states shows that the more moving parts involved in a tax “reform” package, the greater the risk of unintended consequences. Taxpayers oftentimes find themselves on the losing side of the bargain when comprehensive “reform” is on the table.
Bearing this in mind, I urge you to proceed with caution. Rumor has it that this bill continues to develop and that all of the aforementioned elements may have been subtracted or changed in the process. If that is the case, the likelihood of this package being an overall tax increase goes up exponentially. One thing is certain, if you cannot identify all the moving arts of this plan- you should be wary of what dangers may lay in store for taxpayers if it passes.
This plan, which has been modified numerous times, is now being fast-tracked with little room for legislators to analyze or fully digest the consequences to taxpayers. This is not the way to set tax policy. Barring any possibility for further review, which would help clarify certain issues and allow signers of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to get certainty that this is in fact not a tax increase, ATR urges you to vote no on the GREAT plan.
Onward,
Grover Norquist
Comments
By rj
February 28, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Great analysis. This defeat as well as the defeat of his efforts on the DOT Commissioner should end his political craving for power and ascess to the Governor position. Hopefully he will just go away from state politics
By Gina - Glenn's OTHER mistress
February 28, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
All of you should know that “Speaker” Richardson had ANOTHER extramarital affair, I know because it was with me. I did not know who he was when we met and he did not tell me he was married, or was also seeing a lobbyist. When I found out who he was, I confronted him and he became very angry and threatened me that he was very powerful and I would have trouble with custody of my kids, etc. This man is a serial adulterer and I will gladly tell my side of the story to the media soon if this man continues to behave the way he has done. I have since learned that there is still yet another woman who he had lied to in order to continue an affair with her. PLEASE vote this man out of office! He has ruined too many lives of women he has cheated with, not to mention the lives of Georgia families.
By kristen
February 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
I doubt Glenn Richardson will ever just “go away”….. only if it were that easy RJ.
By kristen
February 28, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
I doubt Glenn Richardson will ever just “go away”….. only if it were that easy RJ.
By brad
February 28, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately “rj” doesnt understand state politics and the dynamics surrounding the office of the speaker. The speaker only has to get re-elected by his constituents in Paulding County who are not crazy enough to not re-elect him. Therefore, he can continue his “political craving” for as long as he wishes. Neither Paulding County nor his peers will dare vote him out of power. There is nothing for either party to gain by such action and in politics no action is taken without a near-sighted gain. That being said, there is nothing negative associated with the speaker “pushing the envelope” and sparking debate on issues such as taxes and how they are collected and distributed. Anyone that does not recognize that there are major inequeties involved in the current process automatically removes themselves from legitimate debate.
By OneForTheRoad
February 28, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
There is something wrong with politicians that sidestep the law for their own personal gain. Richardson and his divorce, Cagle and his shenanigans in Hall County (check out www.ngass.com), Perdue and his special tax break….These are the types of people that have no business holding public office.
By Will Jones
February 29, 2008 5:49 AM | Link to this
“Birds of feather”…
The sort comfortable with the homosexual draft-dodger cheated into the White House by the Roman Catholic Supreme Court Justices to commit 9-11.
By Insider
February 29, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this
The Speaker is done. Work there everyday, hear the whispers in the halls. He p** off rank-and-file with the DOT demotions and will finish himself off if he pitches a fit about this tax plan, which has been held in Rules Committee for a week because they don’t have the 120 votes to pass it. And he will.
Re-elected by the Paulding Co. folks or not, his reign as Speaker is done after this session.
By Jerry
February 29, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Have to agree with Insider on this. Stick a fork in the petulant, philandering Speaker. He’s done as Speaker, and he’s paved his own downhill path. But at least with Richardson, you know what you’re getting: an arrogant power monger with all the subtlety of a shovel to the face. God help us if someone like Jerry Keen (a behind-the-scenes sneak with conservative Christian pretentions and delusions of God-hood) slithers to the Speaker’s podium. Oh, how I miss Tom Murphy.
By kristen
March 1, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Well, the republican leadership has messed up so much that I won’t be surprised if the democrats are back in control next year. The statement made by Tom Graves comes to mind “This is a low point in the House and this is a dark day.” The low point and dark day has continued and does not seem to end. The only light I see is if we get new republican leadership…
By Republican Dawg
March 1, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Jerry-
Why do you miss Speaker Murphy? We have replaced a rural/suburban, hot-tempered, egocentric, power-hungry moderate lawyer with another one in his image and reputation. We just got a different political label in front of Richardson this time.
For the sake of the Republican Party in Georgia, something needs to be done. The only way for House Republicans to protect themselves is to get through this election cycle and elect new leadership before next session.
By kristen
March 1, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
true true Dawg… but you don’t me to tell you that. :)