Tax 'swap' in trouble?

John McKay's tax swap may be threatened if the tax cap goes down today. (and it did. see above)

Taxation commission Mike Hogan said he is going to change his vote because a 1-cent sales tax increase would not cover enough of the revenue shortfall. Hogan said it was not clear during debate that the increase would be limited to a penny.

He also said he views the swap and the cap as working in tandem -- a sentiment shared by Richard Corcoran and other TBRC members who supported the swap. Corcoran said he is not sure how he will vote when the swap comes up for a final vote April 24.

Bruce Kyle said there are outstanding questions about the swap and that "if the facts are borne out that my initial vote was wrong then I have no problem changing it. .. We’ll just have to see."

The swap passed 21-4 last month and was heralded by many as the most significant attempt at tax reform. It would greatly eliminate school property taxes for other revenue sources or budget cutting. Seventeen votes are needed to put something on the November ballot.

Comments

[THE PEOPLE!]

STOP DIVERTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOUR LIES AND FAILURES, AND FIX PROPERTY INSURANCE LIKE YOU PROMISED!

So, these folks are afraid to put someonthing on the ballot that will require voter approval... what a bunch of wasted air and space...

Grow some folks... represent the people, not your future clients!

[Bamboozled]

So the do-nothing TBRC follows the lead of the do-nothing Legislature.

No tax relief for you! Enjoy your $240 Florida - that's all you get.

These are, unfortunately, empty threats designed to force McKay to release votes for their initiatives. I wish that they were going to get rid of a swap of $10 billion for $4 billion where the public schools were further destoyed, but I just don't see these guys really caring about the schools.

Good job idiots.

What a waste of time.

[Straight Talk Express]

What do you expect from a bunch of Bush/Crist appointees? Leadership? Innovation? Independence from well-financed special interest groups?

The joke's on you, lemmings!

the swap is genuine tax relief for all taxpayers - homeowners and businesses (who can pass along a lower tax bill in the form of lower prices to customers or, in the case of landlords, can pass along a lower rent amount) - but of course, it's too much to expect for anyone in tallahassee to see it from the taxpayer's perspective, so they won't even allow us to vote on it by placing it on the ballot - thanks for nothing

Mike Hogan will be targeted at any future elections if he changes his vote.

This fatcat wants to do nothing. His political future will be over.

2:45 p.m.,

The tax swap proposal will not be defeated in the TBRC. Instead, it will fail to get the 66.7% vote needed for a tax increase in the constitution.

[moderate]

2:56

It only needs 60%. Learn your issues before you open your Pie Hole

[Tom]

Best news I heard since the first vote! That tax swap would put a big hurt on the mom and pop businessman to no end. Sure he might get minor relief on his school tax portion of his property taxes, but all the increases in sales and use taxes and hidden fees to make up the difference will hurt him big-time. Cannot wait to hear the vote failed.

hey - 3:18, speaking of pie holes, why don't you take yours over to the Constitution. You DO need a 66.7% vote to institute a NEW TAX. The legislature and the voters have a higher threshold when it comes to authorizing a new tax.

[Rich]

Tom,

Mom and Pop pay property taxes too. Cutting them by 40% would not be considered minor relief. The consumers pay the 1 cent tax not the businesses. Their just the ones responsible for collecting them.
Do you work for the retail lobby or Disney? Funny Disney opposes the idea of raising sales taxes 1% because they say it will hurt their business but then they go ahead and raise their prices 20%.

Dear moderate,

I wrote the original post about the 66.7%, and I would like to second the motion of 3:42 p.m. I know MY issues while you spout off incorrectly about YOURS.

Disney has constantly raised prices.

the public will be happy to learn that hogan, kyle and other local elected officials care more about Disney, CSX and the lot of special interests more than they care about lowering our property taxes.

if disney opposes this, florida families should boycott their parks and hotels.

Don't mean to interupt this debate about the Constitutional requirements but I don't see how increasing the sales tax (a tax that already exists) would be considered a new tax. Now an income tax, that would be considered a new tax!

7:01- You are obviously confused.

It is simple: It is a new tax when the Republicans want to call it a tax increase, ie: someone else proposes it, or when it is levied against their donor base. However, when they raise fees or the state imposed property tax on middle class families, it is not really a tax increase.

the public will also be happy to learn that the taxwatch orgs are run by ANOTHER group of big business execs, and also don't have your best interests at heart. They want to use tax cuts as a weapon against your schools and services and gut local government's ability to regulate growth and pollution.

To give them credit, the TBRC read the writing on the wall. The people have gotten wind of the truth, and Problem Solved! will have a tough time expalining to his masters how all their money failed to achieve a victory over We The People.

Oh so big business wins and the People get screwed, what else is new!

TBRC showed guts but I guess when it comes to morals it's the campaign donations that count.

Richard Corcoran is an idiot. It took him forever to pass the bar so who cares what he thinks.

A higher sales tax is so un- Republican.

[John Donson]

How about if we simply reduce the size & scope of Govt? Then, we won't need a tax swap, tax reform, equitable tax, whatever you want to call it. Just don't call what they are bantering about a tax reduction. If you want your taxes reduced, vote Libertarian!

Yea TBRC, who do you think you are? Those hard working businesses worked for years to get their sales tax exemptions.