The State Tax Reformers (More Governors look to repeal their income taxes)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 01/30/2013

[SeekAndFind]

Washington may be a tax reform wasteland, but out in the states the action is hot and heavy. Nine states—including such fast-growing places as Florida, Tennessee and Texas—currently have no income tax, and the race is on to see which will be the tenth, and perhaps the 11th and 12th.

Oklahoma and Kansas have lowered their income-tax rates in the last two years with an aim toward eliminating the tax altogether. North Carolina's newly elected Republican Governor Pat McCrory has prioritized tax reform this year and wants to reduce the income tax. Ditto for another newcomer, Mike Pence of Indiana, who has called for a 10% income-tax rate cut. Susana Martinez, New Mexico's Republican Governor, has called for slashing the state corporate tax to 4.9% from 7.6%, and the first Republican-controlled legislature since Reconstruction in Arkansas is considering chopping its tax rates by as much as half.

But those are warm-up acts compared to Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman's announcement this month that he wants to eliminate the state income tax and replace it with a broader sales tax. "How many of you have sons and daughters, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and other family members who no longer live in Nebraska because they couldn't find a job here or they couldn't find the right career here in Nebraska?" he asked. He believes eliminating the income tax—with a top rate of 6.84%—will make the Cornhusker State a new magnet for jobs.

Then there's Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who wants to zero out his state's income tax (top rate 6%) and the 8% corporate tax and replace them by raising the state's current 4% sales tax. He would also eliminate some 150 special interest exemptions from the sales tax, including massage parlors, art work and fishing boats.

[GailA]

If you are looking to move to a no income tax state, TN is a great one, as LONG AS YOU STAY OUT OF MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY. Highest crime and highest property taxes, and you pay both city and county, and they are purposing upping it 10% this year. Course it is libtard controlled.

[econjack]

Interesting...smart at the State level, dumber than plankton at the Federal level.

[cotton1706]

This is a very good trend. The states are taking the lead in eliminating the socialist, progressive idea of the income tax and moving to sales taxes.

In other words, they are moving from direct taxes to indirect taxes. Liberty is on the march at the state level. And the legialators enacting these changes will eventually take these ideas to the Federal level.

[Kolath]

What’s Knoxville like?

[SeekAndFind]

RE: TN is a great one, as LONG AS YOU STAY OUT OF MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY

What is the best city in TN to move to?

[avalonmistmoon]

State of Florida has a $400 million surplus in the budget and is in the black. Maybe because we have a Republican governor and no state income taxes.

I have also read that the hedge funds in NY are moving to Palm Beach area because of heavy taxes in the State of NY and that someone quoted “You can’t beat the weather in the winter either”.

[Oatka]

In other words, they are moving from direct taxes to indirect taxes.

Indeed. The motto should be "We don't care what you earn, we'll getcha when you spend." At least you have the decision to spend or not spend. The hook would be not to bump the sales tax up so high that residents go to the neighboring low sales/high income tax state.

[cotton1706]

And illegal aliens, layabouts, those on federal disability, etc. who pay no income taxes will now be paying to support the services around them.

[CORedneck]

In the past, I have considered wanting to live in Washington State where there is no state income tax but then go shopping in Oregon where there is no state sales tax. Of course when buying a car, you cannot skip the sales tax when you register it in WA. So basically the only tax I pay is Federal Income tax and car tax.

[SeekAndFind]

RE; In the past, I have considered wanting to live in Washington State where there is no state income tax but then go shopping in Oregon where there is no state sales tax

_______________________

You gotta have one or the other. You can’t have no taxes at all, otherwise there would be no government (and no law enforcement)

So, which of the two — either no income tax or no sales tax — would you prefer?

[Vince Ferrer]

Red states need to focus on education as well. We need to be at the forefront encouraging homeschooling, online education, and reducing the costs of education. This and taxes can bring the high tech companies to red states.