2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Candidate for R.I. Congress calls for lower taxes, less regulation to encourage business growth
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/10/08 - To the Cigar,
An issue has been brought to our attention that has received some acknowledgment among the populace and is therefore an issue we would like to discuss. A piece of legislation has been proposed by the Rhode Island General Assembly for consideration and it is titled the Economic Growth and Fairness Act of 2008.
The legislation calls for the gradual reduction of the Rhode Island sales tax from 7 percent to 5.5 percent by the year 2012. While this portion of the legislation is noble, it is not a new promise. When the sales tax was implemented by the state, we were told that it was only temporary.
Now, the General Assembly is promising, as a compromise to raising other taxes, to reduce a tax that should have been rescinded years ago. The proposed legislation also calls for the immediate increase of the state income tax from the current 25 percent to 27.5 percent. It also calls for the elimination of the flat tax option and for an increase in capital gains taxes.
Apart from these provisions are sections that relate to the new taxation of commodities and services such as dry cleaning, uniforms, dating services, movie tickets, dietary supplements, precious metals and janitorial fees. The legislation also removes tax exemptions from newspapers, containers, research and development equipment, horse food products and aircraft, just to name a few.
There are no words that can fully describe the objections we have to this legislation. A state must never subject its citizens, nor should it consider legislation, that would hinder the progress of the populace in its commercial affairs. Not so long ago a form of government imposed upon its people various unreasonable taxes on commodities such as tea and parchment. The people found the actions of their government as tyrannical and that no government should go against the will of the people.
Today, it can be said that history does repeat itself. How can we be certain beyond doubt that the current populace will remain within this state when they are faced with such an uncertain future? We are not stating that a mass exodus of epic proportions will occur in the state. We are merely voicing concerns of ours and others, who have stated that they will leave the state of Rhode Island and take their labor and wealth elsewhere.
An issue has been brought to our attention that has received some acknowledgment among the populace and is therefore an issue we would like to discuss. A piece of legislation has been proposed by the Rhode Island General Assembly for consideration and it is titled the Economic Growth and Fairness Act of 2008.
The legislation calls for the gradual reduction of the Rhode Island sales tax from 7 percent to 5.5 percent by the year 2012. While this portion of the legislation is noble, it is not a new promise. When the sales tax was implemented by the state, we were told that it was only temporary.
Now, the General Assembly is promising, as a compromise to raising other taxes, to reduce a tax that should have been rescinded years ago. The proposed legislation also calls for the immediate increase of the state income tax from the current 25 percent to 27.5 percent. It also calls for the elimination of the flat tax option and for an increase in capital gains taxes.
Apart from these provisions are sections that relate to the new taxation of commodities and services such as dry cleaning, uniforms, dating services, movie tickets, dietary supplements, precious metals and janitorial fees. The legislation also removes tax exemptions from newspapers, containers, research and development equipment, horse food products and aircraft, just to name a few.
There are no words that can fully describe the objections we have to this legislation. A state must never subject its citizens, nor should it consider legislation, that would hinder the progress of the populace in its commercial affairs. Not so long ago a form of government imposed upon its people various unreasonable taxes on commodities such as tea and parchment. The people found the actions of their government as tyrannical and that no government should go against the will of the people.
Today, it can be said that history does repeat itself. How can we be certain beyond doubt that the current populace will remain within this state when they are faced with such an uncertain future? We are not stating that a mass exodus of epic proportions will occur in the state. We are merely voicing concerns of ours and others, who have stated that they will leave the state of Rhode Island and take their labor and wealth elsewhere.