|
Republicans
will balance the budget without raising taxes
Despite the problems with
the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, Iowans can rely
on Republicans to approve a budget that balances, that protects
education and does not raise taxes.
After
we take care of the problem in the current fiscal year, the rainy
day fund will be virtually eliminated which means the only
responsible way to take care of the problem in next year's budget
is to cut spending. Shifting funds around in next year's budget does not solve
the problem it just prolongs it.
Make no mistake, these
will be real cuts and will real effects.
Government can no longer do everything that it is currently
doing. Things will
have to be eliminated.
The state can't spend
money it doesn't have. We
can't spend our way out this problem; we can't borrow our way out
of this problem.
Since
Governor Vilsack's first session in 1999, Republicans have
proposed a budget that spends less than Governor Vilsack.
And every year the Governor refused to sign the Republican
budgets and insisted on more and more spending.
Every session since
Vilsack has been Governor he has proposed spending more than
Republicans. Every
year he has proposed robbing from the EEF and the Road Fund.
Had we taken from the EEF
every time the Governor has asked us to in the past, the state
would be in a far worse position now than we actually find
ourselves.
Every
session since Vilsack has been Governor there has been a tax
increase hidden in his budgets.
|
Whether it is property tax
increases or the income tax increase on eastern Iowans in his budget
this session.
Since the 1999 session,
the Governor has proposed spending over $500 million more than the
Republican Legislature proposed.
Republicans compromised by spending an additional $150
million. We should have
stuck to our guns and not spent the $150 million.
Ways
& Means Update
Governor
Signs Digital Download Sales Tax Exclusion
Governor
Vilsack signed SF 2321, the Electronic Transfer of Tangible Personal
Property/Sales Tax Simplification bill into law late this (Friday)
afternoon. This bill permanently excludes from sales and use tax the
substance of a transaction that is delivered to the purchaser
digitally or electronically. It also provides Iowa a seat at the
Streamlines Sales Tax Project.
During
the 2000 legislative session, HF 2562 became law and permanently
excluded all intangible information service transactions from sales
and use tax. It also excluded from tax the substance of a
transaction delivered digitally or electronically. This section was
slated to sunset on December 31, 2002. This section now becomes
permanent with the signing of SF 2321 today! Iowa’s business
community is facing tough economic times and is attempting to remain
competitive. Now is not the time to force a new tax on electronic
commerce
|
Week
in Review Archives
