State tax

[flatwater]

For all of us washingtonions there is rumbling about our State government wanting to put forth a State tax. Just remember that they will promise you that the rest of the taxes would be gone but don't believe it because in time they all come back on top of the State tax. Just ask oregon, california , and Idaho

[conundrum]

uh-huh. Signed the petition against it this a.m.-not that it will do any good. Queen Christine and her cohorts already have the deal done, just like all the other con jobs they have shoved through.
I am trying to get some folks down here to just secede. Sent a letter to the idiot representative(hah!)from this area, but that too is a waste. Pitcairn Island looks better all the time...

[flatwater]

I think she has been smoken some dirty stuff because she is talking about running for a third term

[EarthMama]

For all of us washingtonions there is rumbling about our State government wanting to put forth a State tax. Just remember that they will promise you that the rest of the taxes would be gone but don't believe it because in time they all come back on top of the State tax. Just ask oregon, california , and Idaho

What kind of "state tax", Flatwater? Income, sales, what?

[flatwater]

I believe its a state income tax EarthMama

[EarthMama]

I believe its a state income tax EarthMama

So you don't pay any income tax right now, Flatwater?

[bee_pipes]

One thing I really like about Tennessee is that there is no income tax. Revenues are taken from sales tax. That does result in high sales tax - almost 10%. We do have some entrenched interests - tobacco, etc. but they are falling out of favor and have recently become cash-cows as vice taxes to pay for various programs.

Sales tax make good sense to me, as a vehicle for collecting revenue. If you are going to get taxed, tax money as it's spent, not as it's earned. It would be nice to have exclusions for some items - food comes to mind - but the special interests seem to be able to fight that off. Indiana has sales tax exemptions like that.

Government, being what it is, eventually grows and appetite for more than it's diet - the beast grows bigger and wants to consume more. The subject of a state income tax was broached in the state senate some years ago. It set of riots in the streets of Nashville. We have a program called TennCare - medical coverage for the poor and indigent. The Tennessee budget was hemorrhaging freely with this loosely controlled program. Pregnant women were being driven into state by their families from out of state and getting a PO box to qualify for residency. We then had the privilege of paying for their babies. The entire system was rife with abuses. A noble and generous intention, but it did not work in practical terms. The Governor, a democrat, spent much time and effort wrestling this program to the ground. The program, a state instituted program, actually filed suit and sued the Governor! He eventually got the program reduced, and while claiming it is under control would be gross exaggeration, it has been brought to heel. I remember hearing the governor talking about TennCare - no spending caps, no limitations, no restrictions "Heck! I don't even have medical insurance that good!" he said.

The decline in the economy has greatly reduced revenue. People are not spending money in traditional venues. They are either not spending money, or using barter (in this part of the state) starving the beast. The governor has done well in requiring certain percentages of decrease in state expenditures per department, per year for the last 5 years. There have been layoffs of state employees and forced retirements to reduce state payroll. It has not been popular, but this guy is allright by me. Sometimes I am amazed he is a democrat.

He has also been accumulating a rainy-day fund for lean times. This has been a life saver, though he has had to constantly battle the state legislature to keep them from spending this money on other poorly thought out boondogles, like TennCare. It just kills the legislature to have funds that are not being over-spent.

Like any other government, the folks in the legislature seem out of control. They are riddled with corruption and not responsive to their electorate. The FBI ran a sting operation a number of years ago - it made the news as the "Tennessee Waltz" They rounded up 9 democrats and one lone republican, I believe. Political machines are still alive and well in the big cities. One other thing I liked about Indiana was that they had "citizen legislators". These folks worked their normal jobs, then would meet in Indianapolis when the legislature was in session. When the session was over, they would return to their jobs. This was a disadvantage to those who would not work and would seek a career as a professional politician. I don't know that the quality of legislator or corruption were much improved, but I did like the idea of not paying for a career with my tax dollars. Other states do that and it makes eminent sense to me.

Regards,
Pat

[flatwater]

Just sales tax earthmama and a few other sundry taxes. And of course we pay uncle Sam.

[EarthMama]

Just sales tax earthmama and a few other sundry taxes. And of course we pay uncle Sam.


Through what venue do you "pay Uncle Sam", flatwater? The list on my darlin's paystub is a mile long, of all the taxes that are taken out of it.... the biggest sum being income tax. I must confess my stupidity here but I didn't realize that some folks don't pay income tax. ??? My gawd, the money we'd save. Sheesh!!!

[flatwater]

I pay federal income tax but not state income tax. A lot of states have both

[jonvee]

I think I'm gonna pay my CA state income tax with my personally guarunteed, custom made IOU :P
To be redeemed at a future date.

[EarthMama]

I pay federal income tax but not state income tax. A lot of states have both

OK, now I get it, flatwater. Duhhh... I'm not too keen on this stuff. My man does the "tax thang". It's probably a good thing that he does too. My blood pressure's high enough!

;D