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2/22: Tackling tax policy reform

6:01 pm February 21, 2012, by AJC Opinion

Moderated by Rick Badie

Republican politicians across the heartland are tackling tax policy reform. Their idea: Repeal or reduce the personal income tax. Should Georgia do likewise?

The director of a policy organization says Georgia would suffer without it. A think-tank president suggests the tax’s demise would enhance the economy. And we offer a few more facts about the topic.

What do you think?

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13 comments Add your comment

Hillbilly D

February 22nd, 2012
12:32 pm

They probably paid tax on that $100,000 when they earned it.

So did those who invested it in land.

Not Blind

February 22nd, 2012
11:06 am

They probably paid tax on that $100,000 when they earned it.

Hillbilly D

February 22nd, 2012
10:33 am

Then get rid of the personal income tax and replace it with state property taxes.

Bad idea. People in rural areas are already struggling to pay their property taxes (except for a certain state representative who paid $1.27 on his home in 2010 and paid nothing this year). Property taxes are antiquated. When property taxes were started, most people’s major worth was in whatever land they had, which isn’t always the case nowdays. If a person had $100,000 invested in land, they pay property taxes every year. If a person has $100,000 invested in the stock market, they pay nothing as long as they don’t sell and then they only pay on the profits that they make. Nothing fair about that. If you’re going to have a property tax, tax all property, not just some things.

Not Blind

February 22nd, 2012
9:49 am

With Caterpillar and other corporations moving to GA it seems like our current corporate tax structure must not be too much of a deterent. Not saying that the corps wouldn’t enjoy having more money for executive pay…..

jm

February 22nd, 2012
9:00 am

tax reform in GA is desperately needed.

Eliminate the corporate tax entirely, flatten and broaden the sales / consumption tax.

Then get rid of the personal income tax and replace it with state property taxes.

There, much more competitive GA economy.

TN and FL are cleaning GA’s clock because they don’t have income taxes.

Old timer

February 22nd, 2012
8:29 am

tN has had really good growth ….with no state income tax. the state parks are in better repair than Georgia’s. Roads have been maintained. education is about the same. Texas also has no income tax…maybe a new idea to try.

Ken

February 22nd, 2012
12:45 am

> > Did you know that if you sell your house
> > after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That’s $3,800 on a
> > $100,000 home, etc. When did this happen? It’s in the health care bill
> > and goes into effect in 2013.
> >
> > �
> >
> > Why 2013? Could it be to come to light
> > AFTER the 2012 elections? So, this is “change you can believe in”?
> > Under the new health care bill all real estate transactions will be
> > subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax.
> >
> > �
> >
> > If you sell a $400,000 home, there will be
> > a $15,200 tax.
> >
> > This bill is set to screw the retiring
> > generation who often downsize their homes. Does this make your
> > November and 2012 vote more important?
> >
> > �
> >
> > Oh, you weren’t aware this was in the
> > Obamacare bill? Guess what, you aren’t alone. There are more than a
> > few members of Congress that aren’t aware of it either

Centrist

February 21st, 2012
11:26 pm

Too late to discuss this. It is already in the works behind the scenes and will be the last thing announced, passed by the legislature, and signed by the Governor soon after the session ends.

Hillbilly D

February 21st, 2012
10:01 pm

What are they going to replace it with? They have to get their money somewhere.

Tim

February 21st, 2012
9:23 pm

I think the Republicans are trying to completely gut education and social programs. And it’s time for the AJC to call them out Rick. The Republicans have already cut 1 BILLION DOLLARS from the education budget.

With state parks being closed and with almost every state agency asked to do more with less, how can Republicans even entertain the thought of bringing in fewer taxes? They want to move to a consumer tax, so they can make the poor and middle class take up the slack. THIS IS THEIR DIRTY PHILOSOPHY. But many people don’t realize this, because the AJC and other outlets portray the Republicans as if they are truly looking for a solution. Which is a joke. They want to gut everything and shift the burden to the poor.

Just look at what they did to HOPE last year. Now you must have a 3.7 GPA and a 1200 score on the SAT to get a full scholarship. They actually tied the SAT- which is a culturally biased test- to the HOPE scholarship! With the Zell Miller scholarship, we have the average working people buying lottery tickets in rural Georgia so that rich Dunwoody kids can go to college for free. This is why I disagree with what the media calls “objectivity”. I understand giving both sides their say. But when you know that one side is a BALD-FACED LIAR, it’s disingenuous for the media to play this game.

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