The bill to remove the food tax passed out of committee on a vote of 11-2. It now goes before the full house (probably this week, unless we bog down). If you want to track its progress, click here.
I'm glad you are optomistic about it. Could you elaborate on why it will be difficult? I'm curious since as a legislator you have insight that the rest of us regular Joes don't.
I am optimistic because a majority in the House and the Governor want it to pass. The difficulty is that a majority in the Senate currently do not want it to pass. The magic numbers we look for are 38-15-1 (a majority in the House, a majority in the Senate, and the Governor). Currently, we need to find 15. Of course, it would be helpful, if people talk to their senator.
There are probably two main reasons some people are leaning against removing the food tax: (1) the belief that the hit to state revenues is too great and/or (2) the belief that everyone should contribute something and that this is the only tax some people pay.
On point one, we will still have unbelievable revenues, even if we remove the food tax. On point two, everyone pays taxes, if they buy clothes or any other retail item, have a phone, or own a car, etc., etc. Utah has a very broad tax base that catches people at every turn.
We all want what we want, exactly as we want it. The political process doesn't often work that way. For this session, the issue is whether people want a big tax cut coupled with removing the sales tax on food. It's not one or the other; rather, it seems to be both or neither. Thus, the editorial didn't have much relation to the issue at hand. Maybe I'm wrong. But, if I read the House correctly, one doesn't pass without the other.
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8 Comments:
What are the chances that it will pass?
I think its chances are good. But, it won't be easy.
I'm glad you are optomistic about it. Could you elaborate on why it will be difficult? I'm curious since as a legislator you have insight that the rest of us regular Joes don't.
I am optimistic because a majority in the House and the Governor want it to pass. The difficulty is that a majority in the Senate currently do not want it to pass. The magic numbers we look for are 38-15-1 (a majority in the House, a majority in the Senate, and the Governor). Currently, we need to find 15. Of course, it would be helpful, if people talk to their senator.
Would you mind elaborating on their reasons for being opposed to removing the tax?
There are probably two main reasons some people are leaning against removing the food tax: (1) the belief that the hit to state revenues is too great and/or (2) the belief that everyone should contribute something and that this is the only tax some people pay.
On point one, we will still have unbelievable revenues, even if we remove the food tax. On point two, everyone pays taxes, if they buy clothes or any other retail item, have a phone, or own a car, etc., etc. Utah has a very broad tax base that catches people at every turn.
Thanks for your response. Did you read the Tribune editorial yesterday coming down against removal of the food tax? What do you make of it?
We all want what we want, exactly as we want it. The political process doesn't often work that way. For this session, the issue is whether people want a big tax cut coupled with removing the sales tax on food. It's not one or the other; rather, it seems to be both or neither. Thus, the editorial didn't have much relation to the issue at hand. Maybe I'm wrong. But, if I read the House correctly, one doesn't pass without the other.
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