Jan. 31: Where Do We Stand?
Today's Daily Record provides a good status report on efforts to repeal the computer services sales tax. In a nutshell:
- Nearly a dozen bills have been introduced, including one co-sponsored by a majority of the House of Delegates.
- Success will likely hinge on whether or not lawmakers can agree on a measure to replace the $200 million that the new tax would reportedly generate.
- House Republicans unveiled a plan to offset the repeal with spending reductions. House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) said many of the proposed reductions are temporary and that an alternative to the computer services tax must provide a permanent solution to be acceptable.
- House Ways and Means Committee Chair, Del. Sheila Hixson (D-Dist. 20), said her committee would not hear any of the repeal proposals until after the Senate is finished with Gov. Martin O'Malley's budget bill.
- Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist.15) will propose a plan to replace the computer services tax with two 3 to 4 cent increases in the gasoline tax. Legislative leaders have indicated a gas tax is not palatable to many lawmakers.
To read the full story, click here (pdf).
In the short term, we need to continue to work to ensure that lawmakers are hearing from impacted constituents. Help us spread the word.
Comments
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Seems to me that civil disobediance -- that is, refusal to collect and pay this tax -- is the only response if the Legislature Leadership quashes attempts by the majority of the Legislature to repeal this heinous tax. This is the case where threatening to "vote the rascals out" doesn't carry water. Maybe we could lobby the Comptroller to endorse the mutiny. "When in the course of human events ..."
# Posted By Grant Ellsworth
| 2/29/08 12:34 AM
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