Democrats: Raid rainy day fund, it's storming!

Florida Democratic Senate and House leadership held a press conference this morning to denounce the way in which Republican leadership, especially in the House, has concentrated on cutting state government, ignoring looking at ways to increase revenue.

They said that tax cuts during the Bush years nearly equals the increased burden of homeowners to shoulder more of the burden to fund education spending through the required local effort. They want to target sales tax exemptions and make non-Florida headquartered companies pay more in state taxes.

They also want to raid the rainy day fund to offset losses in health and education spending.

"It's called rainy day, rainy day, well it's storming, and I say it's time we tap into that," said Rep. Joyce Cusak, D-DeLand.

Comments

By Jove, I think they've got it! Tax breaks for corporations should not be held sacred while services to FL citizens are being cut. Go for it!

Stop corporate welfare, cut wasteful spending, and end the funding of pork projects… no need for service or job cuts and resulting in improved efficiency and effeteness of government.

Problem Solved!

[Joe]

I agree. Companies will say they will leave, but considering there is not state income tax, and a reduction of the tax cuts is still more attractive than moving out of state and spending millions in relocating.

Jeb was the idiot twin of W. i'm a repub and glad he's gone.

Let's see, raise taxes, raise taxes, raise taxes. Same old Democratic talking points as always.

Let's see, corporate welfare, corporate welfare, corporate welfare... same ol' Republican talking points as always.

Joe = Bushderangementmove.orgdemocract

Tax breaks for corporations should not be held sacred while services to FL citizens are being cut.

Companies will say they will leave, but considering there is not state income tax, and a reduction of the tax cuts is still more attractive than moving out of state and spending millions in relocating.

And as for the threats relating to job losses, services moving out of state and all the other bogus claims about the elimination of various sales tax exemptions and taxing of SOME services, get over it. It's done in other states and guess what? Life goes on. At least that's a more equitable spread than what's being done right now with property taxes! Newer homeowners and smaller businesses cannot continue to shoulder the bulk of the burden for carrying this state economically.

LEAVE THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS OUT OF IT. UNLESS THEY WANT TO FOOT THE BILL, STAY THE H3!! OUT OF IT. The people who live here are what keeps this state alive. Not the lobbyists and special interests who cause more problems than they solve.

[Eric]

Drop the excemptions on services. When colleges have to cut enrollment and the court system faces a shut down due to lack of funding, there are no further budget cuts available. People need to understand that government services they use are not provided out of thin air and need to be paid from us. Eliminating excemptions first created from political pandering need to go.

When will it be understood that there is no such thing as a tax on corporations. All taxes are eventually and directly paid by consumers. Corporate taxes get passed through on the costs of goods and services. There is no free lunch.

[Wiseguy]

10:40
No one saying anything about raising taxes. Just getting everyone to pay their fair share. Only problem is when the $$ starts to roll in does the pork start to roll out. Instead of taking care of basic needs. Lottery money was a scam from day one. it all just fell back on the little guy. Taxes are a fact of life so whats wrong with them being fair.

Corporations need to pay the taxes which are absolutely necessary to fund government oversight of corporations.

It's way past time to realise that given their unregulated way, corporations will lay waste to our state just to enrich their overpaid officers.

11:02 But the other side of the coin is, when you give a corporation a tax break, they don't pass it on to their customers or their rank and file employees - it goes directly to line the pockets of the wealthy.

See "Bush - George W. - Tax cuts for the wealthy, 2000 to 2008"

[sandy]

It's just like Cheney sending all of his business headquarters to Dubai, offshore accounts = no taxes.

Sandy = Bushderangementmove.orgdemocract

[Omega83]

10:40

the rainy day funds were from taxes collected and not spent while Jeb was Governor.

if you really want to complain, demand it be sent back in the form of rebates, but don't call it a tax increase

Thank you 11:02 for explaining basic economics to this crowd of morons.

So basically, if you follow the thinking of 11:02 and 12:29… if we let corporations pay no taxes or fees of any kind… they are certain to offer their goods and services free to everyone.

Man, I dig the dream world of the rich and moronic!

2:05

No one said anything about no taxes and no fees. The point is, any taxes and fees paid by corporations are passed along to their customers, so at the end of the day, we are pying for it.

The real problem comes when those taxes go too high and stifle a corporations ability to sell it's product at prices the market will bear.

When that happens, companies will have to make several decisions to lower costs. That includes jobs, salaries, and other expenditures....

So yes, let's tax the hell out of corporations, just so we cna drive up the prices on ourselves and put our fellow citizens in the unemployment line.

Like I said, basic economics...

Oh, I see now, 2:38!

Well then, that explains why the cost of everything has been going way down while the corporate tax breaks have reached record-high levels. Boy, I really dig this basic economics thing you corporate guys teach!

Thanks,

… putz

Cut the drunken spending.

Problem solved!

[Buzzard]

So they "concentrated on cutting state government, ignoring looking at ways to increase revenue". Sounds good to me. Why in the world would we want to increase waste?

[Buzzard]

And I repeat:
If an increase in revenue is truly needed,TAX ADVERTISING. Let out-of state businesses fund us while they annoy us with their ads pointed at our millions upon millions of residents and tourists.

Times lobbyist against taxing advertising

[Gene Smith]

2:38 and all you other "basic economics" morons out there:

Not all taxes paid by corporations are passed along to customers. Here's a basic economic concept (maybe not so basic to you) - elasticity of demand.

Look it up. You just might learn something beyond basic economics.