Thread: GA - Legislators outline 2007 agenda

http://www.waltontribune.com/story.lass ... fb7d0720b5

Legislators outline 2007 agenda

By Stephen Milligan
The Walton Tribune

Published December 3, 2006

MONROE — Seeking to share legislative successes while looking for public opinion, Walton County’s elected state officials stopped by last week for a special legislative listening session.

Sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and held at the Walton Career Academy on Wednesday, the event brought state representatives Jeff May and Len Walker, state Sen. John Douglas and state Sen.-elect Bill Cowsert to Monroe to talk about the issues they felt were facing the state and Walton County.

Among the various issues addressed, the lawmakers focused especially on illegal immigration and tax reform.

“We’re looking at significant tax reform this year,” May said. “Hopefully we’ll find something easier on individuals as well as businesses.”

Douglas, who campaigned in part on his belief in eliminating the state income tax, said he would move forward in attempting to remove the yearly tax.

“We’re looking at a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state income tax and part of the state property tax,” Douglas said. “This would put us on an even keel with Florida and Tennessee, neither of which have a state income tax.”

Instead of the income tax, Douglas instead advocates an increase in the state sales tax — from 6 percent to 9 percent — in an effort to tax those currently not covered by the income tax.

“This allows us to capture those who aren’t paying taxes now,” May said, including illegal immigrants. “It also lets us catch interstate travelers, people at the airport. It’s a new source of revenue.”

Illegal immigration was a sensitive issue as well, not only for the lawmakers but for citizens who attended the meeting, and Douglas said that others around the state are also intent on doing more about the problem.

“This was the number one issue I heard, was illegal immigration,” Douglas said. “People are frankly sick and tired of paying the way for people who are here illegally. Whether it’s hospital care, emergency services or public schools, people are tired of it and want something done.”

Douglas is helping to sponsor bills that would directly fight against illegal immigration, including one that would require anyone applying for a vehicle tag to have a legal driver’s license. Douglas is also interested in increasing prison time for illegal immigrants.

“The federal government has basically abdicated its role, so people want the state to step in,” Douglas said, but added the state only has so much power over illegal immigration. “These are band aids we are putting on the problem, because the federal government has ultimate authority on immigration.”

Both Walker and Cowsert also spoke on the issues they felt were important, including health care and the certificates of need necessary for hospitals.

With the 2007 legislative session quickly approaching, Douglas said that they are ready to fight for Walton voters and their values.

“We’re going to continue to attack tough issues, apply down-home logic to the problems,” Douglas said.

Instead of the income tax, Douglas instead advocates an increase in the state sales tax — from 6 percent to 9 percent — in an effort to tax those currently not covered by the income tax.

“This allows us to capture those who aren’t paying taxes now,” May said, including illegal immigrants.

Such a move would only undermine the need to arrest and deport illegal immigrants. Why should new laws be passed that would clearly give the impression that illegal immigration is acceptable, assuming the illegals pay taxes? I'm sorry, but I have to question Mr. Douglas' real motivations for wanting to create such an accomodating law. IMHO, he's basically standing behind the position that non-tax paying illegal immigrants are the problem - not illegal immigration in general.

Good point, MW, although fiscally I support eliminating all income, inheritance and capital gains taxes and moving towards sales taxes to support all forms of government.

Here is the link to http://www.fairtax.org which explains the Fair Tax, a National Sales Tax proposal that would eliminate income, inheritance and capital gains taxes on the federal level and replace it with sales taxes.

It has a Rebate Program that protects everyone from taxes paid on essentials which ensures the regressive nature of this tax doesn't hurt the lower incomes regardless of assets. It's a great plan and I hope at some point we can get this through Congress.

Judy wrote:

I support eliminating all income, inheritance and capital gains taxes and moving towards sales taxes to support all forms of government.

I do not support the so-called "fair tax" proposal, but that's a discussion for another place, time, and board.

Well, keep in mind MW that the power Globalists have over the US Congress is rooted in the corporate income tax, depreciation schedules, deductible items, winfall profits tax, tax credits against income tax, social security tax which employers pay one-half of, capital gains taxes ... all of which would be eliminated for corporate America with the Fair Tax.

Keep in mind that because corporate America pays billions of dollars in corporate income tax and capital gains taxes and windfall profits taxes ... they want in return something for their money and that's how they buy the US Congress to advance agendas that promote illegal immigration, free trade agreements, SPP/NAU and the end of our nation.

Walmart spends $1 Billion a year in lobbying JUST TO get something back in return for the billions they spend nationally in corporate taxes.

We can't really get our country back under the current tax system and the US Tax System is one of the reasons we are in this disastrous situation.

Just keep that in mind in the months ahead.

Decrease Spending! Increase Import Taxes.

Dixie

RIGHT ON!!

Restore Tariffs (import taxes).. they protect our market, they protect our jobs, they protect our wages, they protect our economy, they protect our industry, they protect our technology, they protect our country ... which means they protect US.

End "Free Trade Agreements" and restore tariffs that equalize the price of inbound goods to comparable prices in our country.

Judy wrote:

Well, keep in mind MW that the power Globalists have over the US Congress is rooted in the corporate income tax, depreciation schedules, deductible items, winfall profits tax, tax credits against income tax, social security tax which employers pay one-half of, capital gains taxes ... all of which would be eliminated for corporate America with the Fair Tax.

Keep in mind that because corporate America pays billions of dollars in corporate income tax and capital gains taxes and windfall profits taxes ... they want in return something for their money and that's how they buy the US Congress to advance agendas that promote illegal immigration, free trade agreements, SPP/NAU and the end of our nation.

Walmart spends $1 Billion a year in lobbying JUST TO get something back in return for the billions they spend nationally in corporate taxes.

We can't really get our country back under the current tax system and the US Tax System is one of the reasons we are in this disastrous situation.

Nope, I refuse to be baited.

"Nope. I refuse to be baited."

Well ... then keep your lovely IRS and zillions of tax forms and Corporate Lobbyists!!

I retreat to fight another day!!

Well ... shoot .. one more thought or bait as you put it.

You know that it is the corporate income tax structure that creates the Not-For-Profit Tax Exempt Status that encourages Corporate America and the Elites to create these organizations like La Raza, Maldef, ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Ford Foundation, LULAC, El Pueblo ... etc., etc. that we battle every single day against zillions of millions of dollars to keep our country? You know that right? That without a corporate or personal income tax .. these organizations would not be able to secure tax exempt contributions to fund their lyin' anti-American end our nation agendas, right?

While some would still be able to buy some contributions from their "true Earth Citizen believers" ... none of the corporations would be able to contribute. They only contribute now because the contribution is 100% deductible to offset corporate income tax obligations.



Something to think about ....