2/22: Tackling tax policy reform
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
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.
Hillbilly D
February 21st, 2012
10:01 pm
What are they going to replace it with? They have to get their money somewhere.
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.
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
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.
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.
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…..
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
11:06 am
They probably paid tax on that $100,000 when they earned it.
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.
BlueMoon
February 22nd, 2012
12:40 pm
Hey Tim-
The GOP doesn’t want to “gut education” as you say they just want more local control. Since when has central planning EVER come up with a better educated society? Here’s your answer…NEVER. Not one time in the history of the world has it ever worked. Not for education, not for the economy or personal liberties. If you would crack open a history book you would know that though. Instead you just hate everyone that doesn’t believe in the same things you do. Oh heaven forbid we all have independent thoughts!
And the consumption tax is the ONLY way to broaden the tax base enough to take the brunt of tax collection off the middle class. We now have almost 50% of American no longer paying income taxes! So who’s lying??? Who’s paying the lions share of taxes???
We simply have too many utopian entitlements that we cannot afford. They HAVE TO BE CUT. There is no question in this. Without cuts to these programs the country will simply cease to exist as we know it.
Michael Z. Hammock
February 22nd, 2012
3:52 pm
A reform of tax policy, both at the federal and the state level, is long overdue. Those who live on the public’s dime will resist the change, which is natural. Those of us who realize that wasteful, inefficient governments will not continue welcome the news that reform talk is in the air. If you don’t believe the part about wasteful government, just take a look at what is happening in Greece. At this moment, though, reform talk is just talk. Let’s hope our leaders find the courage to make it a reality. Incidentally, payroll deduction is the only reason taxing income has been palatable for so long.
lynnbo
February 22nd, 2012
10:03 pm
Tim is right. The republican agenda is to put the tax on consumers of our basic needs so they can give their buddies hugh tax breaks. CAT is just an example of corporations becoming richer while we become poorer. I keep hearing TN is the model they aim to go after this year.
My fellow Georgians we are a people without representation. Tyranny is at work.
Vote everyone out at every chance until we get representation of people of Georgia.
Most Georgians would not agree with their plan and it will be voted on without our consent.