Food Tax – Government Needs You to Do More
Rep. Kay McIff seeks to double the taxes that Utahns pay for the food they eat.
He explains that Utah should raise its most regressive tax (meaning that the food tax disproportionately impacts poor people), in order to . . . wait for it . . . help poor people.
Government gets its money by taking it from people. Government now has less money, because people have less money. As Rep. McIff points out, sales tax revenue from food sales has not dropped off significantly. Why not? Because citizens still eat. When our citizens are struggling, the correct response is not to take more of their money by going after something they cannot live without.
He explains that Utah should raise its most regressive tax (meaning that the food tax disproportionately impacts poor people), in order to . . . wait for it . . . help poor people.
Government gets its money by taking it from people. Government now has less money, because people have less money. As Rep. McIff points out, sales tax revenue from food sales has not dropped off significantly. Why not? Because citizens still eat. When our citizens are struggling, the correct response is not to take more of their money by going after something they cannot live without.
posted by steve u. at 2/18/2009
Subscribe
7 Comments:
I don't have much to say except a dismissive: stupid idea, stupid stupid tax.
Any tax on food is immoral. You guys have made good progress on minimizing the tax on unprepared foods.
Please, please don't let anyone take that progress away...
Did he really say, "Even in this severe economic downturn, food sales and the tax receipts from them have remained stable. General sales tax receipts have plummeted. Income tax receipts are expected to follow suit."
Awesome.....income taxes are down becuse folks are losing thier jobs and/or making much less so let's tax the food! What is he thinking?
This is probably the most poorly thought out idea I have heard in a long time.....I hope it dies the swift death it deserves.
Food tax is sinful, even on prepared food.
Most legislature members just do not understand that the Government should be the FIRST to live within it's means. That is to say, live like the PEOPLE (voters), and cut spending when income is down.
That same group that make laws claim to be CONSERVATIVE. NOT.
Is it true that Chris Butters is making fun of memebers of his own party? Where are you on this issue Steve? Will you pound your chest just like your great freind Chris Buttars?
Legislator is arrested, resigns seat
Deseret News (Salt Lake City) , Mar 1, 2003 by Pat Reavy
A Utah lawmaker resigned Friday after it became public that he had been arrested for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover police officer posing as a male prostitute.
Rep. Brent Parker, R-Wellsville, 57, was arrested Wednesday night in Salt Lake City for investigation of sex solicitation, a class B misdemeanor. He was issued a citation and released at the scene.
After obtaining the police report, the Deseret News contacted Parker on the House floor Friday afternoon for his reaction to the charge. "It's not what it appears," he said.
Parker then asked if the Deseret News would hold the story until after the session ended Wednesday. When told the paper would run the story today, he was asked if he had any further comment. "I can't at this time. . . . I can't," he said, after a long pause.
Shortly thereafter, Parker gave House Speaker Marty Stephens a handwritten letter of resignation and left the building. The letter thanked Stephens for his leadership and said his resignation was effective immediately but did not give a reason.
At a news conference following caucus meetings where lawmakers were told of Parker's resignation, Stephens announced the development.
"As with any person accused of a crime, there is a presumption of innocence. (except when Chris Butters is talking) I fully expect that Representative Parker will be given an opportunity to defend himself through the appropriate process as he sees fit," Stephens said. "My heart goes out to Representative Parker and all the other gay and lesbo's,and his family during this difficult time. I wish him well as he works through this period of personal adversity."
Parker recently was elected to a second term in the House, which he initially won in 2000 by defeating longtime GOP legislator Evan Olsen.
The incident happened Wednesday shortly before midnight. Salt Lake City police officer Thomas Flores was working undercover near Cactus Street (41 East) and Exchange Place (355 South), an area known for male prostitution, according to a police report.
A man "motioned towards me to come to his vehicle," Flores said in his report.
When Flores approached the car, the man asked the undercover officer if he "wanted to get together with him," the report states.
Flores told him he was working as a male prostitute and would perform sex acts for $15 to $20. The man then asked Flores if he was a police officer and he replied "no," according to the report.
The man offered the officer $20 to perform a sex act and then attempted to fondle the officer, according to the report.
The man asked for the undercover officer's number so he could call him "every time he came into town," according to the report.
Flores then went to his own vehicle and called for backup. Two more police officers drove into the parking lot with their lights flashing.
Parker was arrested, and officers asked for identification, according to the report. Parker gave the officers his driver's license and his House of Representatives card. He was ticketed and released without incident.
If convicted, a class B misdemeanor carries a penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Parker is married with six children and six grandchildren. He is serving his second consecutive term representing District 5, which includes Hyrum, Wellsville, part of Logan, Paradise and the greater part of Cache County.
Parker was seen as a moderate in the House, not a member of the conservative wing of the House GOP caucus, and often spoke in favor of public education issues.
He was on the Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee and House Business and Labor Committee, where he was vice chairman.
The Cache County Republican party was planning an emergency session today where members were expected to submit three names for possible replacements, said Cache County Republican Party Chairman Clair Ellis. Those names will then be sent to Gov. Mike Leavitt, who will choose Parker's replacement.
"Our legislators have assured me that the governor would move on it over the weekend and there would be a new replacement sworn in Monday morning," Ellis said. The Legislature adjourns Wednesday.
Possible nominees include Providence Republican Curt Webb, who lost to Parker in last June's primary, Clair said.
Wow, appearently GOP out can't follow a thread. Not sure what his post had to do with a food tax. What a weird way to chatize Butters for "making fun" ... wallowing in the sordid sorrow of others while diluting a thread about something so important.
McKiff probably should have stayed a judge, oh wait, not with that type of judgment.
Stupid idea, just like the private club proposal, just plain short sighted and creates more problems than it solves.
<< Home