Unbelievable
It’s a charge I heard so often as a newspaper journalist, I could recite it in my sleep. And it usually came from the mouths of politicians. Reporters, they said, are cynics. Always looking for the worst in human nature, always waiting for misfortune, trying to be glib and smart.
Well, the “Tax Me More” bill introduced this week by Rep. Greg Hughes, a Draper Republican, takes the grand prize for cynicism.
Hughes favors a $400 million tax cut for Utahns, based on our whopping projected $1.6 billion budget surplus. Polls consistently show that more than 37 percent of Utahns would reject a tax cut if it meant more money going directly to schools and transit. So in the best tradition of a legislative “screw you,” Hughes has come up with this sorry proposal.
It’s no joke. Hughes wants a “tax me more” provision included on state income tax returns. It would allow taxpayers to turn over $1 or more of their tax refund to the state’s general fund. Hughes says other states are doing it. Guess it’s his version of “put your money where your mouth is.”
It also lets him off the hook. Now Hughes and his pals who agree with him can go off and hack away at the tax base, while simultaneously claiming they gave constituents their chance to use tax money the way they wanted. No hard choices for this guy. He’ll leave it up to taxpayers.
It’s glib. It’s sophomoric. It’s unbelievable, really.
Now just who is the real cynic here?
Oh, and a follow-up to an earlier post, #31, titled “One Driven Mother:”
The Utah Senate yesterday voted down the effort to allow anonymous reports (also known as “squealing,” “tattling,” and “ratting out”) of incompetent drivers to drivers license authorities.
January 24th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Glad to see you blogging!
The “Tax Me More” bill may be sophomoric. However, if I read the tea leaves correctly, 15 other states have passed similar legislation. A majority of legislators in these 15 states couldn’t really be called sophomoric, can they?
That only leaves us 34 serious states (I’m not counting Utah). I’m not sure I like those odds.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Holly-
As someone who has done his fair share of gambling, I know from personal experience that it will always suck when someone calls your bluff. When the dealer says, “You have been called: Show your cards,” your heart sinks. How did the other guy know you didn’t have that gut shot straight you were implying you had from the start?
Well, it’s probably the same way Greg Hughes knows that, when asked to pay more, folks who whine incessantly about tax cuts stealing from education rarely back up what they say. When was the last time you told your accountant, “This year, I want you to pay what I did last year. I know tax cuts probably leave more money in my pocket than before, but public education needs my money more than I do.” Nope. Just like everyone else, they take the tax cut, and keep on whining, in spite of the hundreds of millions of dollars more the Governor and Legislature continue to put in to shore up education funding. It’s the height of hypocrisy, and Rep Hughes is offering the honest, true blue, bleeding heart the chance to honor their convictions through action. And you hate the bill? No, you hate being a hypocrite, just like most everyone else.
So call it sophomoric, glib, whatever you like. Luckily for you, personal tax records are not public records. So when Rep Hughes bill passes, no one will ever know whether you “put your money where your mouth is”, or just shut your mouth and took the money. So, win - win for you, right? Whining with no responsibility? Your teenagers must envy you…
January 24th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Now if they add a code to that box that let’s us choose what our taxes are spent on (such as public transportation, health care for the homeless, or education), I could probably agree to that. I don’t trust our legislature to make a good decision on what to do with since they are driven by their own special interests or those of their corporate lobbyists.
January 24th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Counterpoint,
I don’t think Holly was saying she wants to pay more taxes. I think she was pulling out her journalistic hat, and being somewhat neutral. She was pointing out that a legislator has been caught trying to zing a few eager taxpayers, though. Other than placing Holly in the “Please tax me” camp, I think you have it right.
Even if you are right about Holly’s motives, your attack is a little harsh.
January 24th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
It is easy to stand on the sidelines and criticize; it’s harder to offer alternatives and even more difficult to “get in the game.” While Hughes’ proposal isn’t practical, it’s far from “unbelievable” and it does not merit the hyperbolic tone of your post. Surely, there must be bigger issues out there than this.
January 24th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Tyler-
I know you’ve read Holly before. Her politics are on her sleave. Perhaps she didn’t say she wanted to pay more, but can you doubt my conclusion based on her snearing comment: “Now Hughes and his pals who agree with him can go off and hack away at the tax base, while simultaneously claiming they gave constituents their chance to use tax money the way they wanted. No hard choices for this guy. He’ll leave it up to taxpayers.” Please.
As liberals and conservatives love personal liberty, one way or another, economically or socially, I think the bill should be altered for taxpayers to be able to check “tax me more” and put their money in a specific portion of the budget, IE education. That’s choice everyone could agree on. And I get the feeling even some die-hard economic conservatives might throw another few bucks in education or transportation. I know I would.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Counterpoint,
Okay, I’ll concede your point. And, I do agree with the intent of this bill. I’m all for it, because I do think those who vocally opposed last years tax break were bluffing.
February 25th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
hydrocodone…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
buy hydrocodone without a prescription…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
hydrocodone apap…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
phentermine no prescription…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
antibiotic zithromax…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
tramadol side effects…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
phentermine…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
buy tramadol…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
tramadol hcl…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
buy phentermine…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
danger levaquin zithromax…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
zithromax…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
buy hydrocodone…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
tramadol…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
generic propecia…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
online casino…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
free nokia ringtones…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
cingular ringtones…
news…
February 25th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
cheap tramadol…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 12:39 am
zithromax z-pak…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 1:43 am
no prescription valium…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 2:10 am
phentermine diet pills…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 2:29 am
tramadol cod…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 2:46 am
zithromax z-paks…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 2:59 am
hydrocodone online…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 3:20 am
phentermine 37 5mg…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 3:31 am
tramadol hydrochloride…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 5:38 am
meridia generic…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
discount phentermine…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
generic levitra…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
online phentermine…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
xenical scam…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
fioricet online…
news…
February 26th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
zithromax tablets no prescription…
news…
March 1st, 2007 at 10:30 pm
cheap xenical…
news…