I am shocked and saddened by the recent statements made by two members of the Republican Caucus of the Utah Senate. By now, you may have seen the Senate Majority Leader, Scot Jenkins, outburst on the outlandish thought of exempting military personnel from having to pay property taxes while serving on active duty (click here for [...]
Archive for the ‘Taxation and Government Spending’ Category
Bills to Watch: SB 116, Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption, Sen. Luz Robles
We as a society love to say how much we support our troops, but it is rare that policy makers actually step up to the plate and say “thank you, we are going to make your life a little bit easier because you have decided to protect our nation.” That is why I applaud Senator [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 263 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouse, Rep. Lynn Hemingway
After reading up on HB 263, Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouse as proposed by Representative Lynn Hemingway (D – Salt Lake City, District 40), I was shocked to find out we needed a bill like this in the first place. Being the spouse of a serviceman or woman is a difficult one, often times meaning that you [...]
Bills to Watch: SJR 6, Joint Resolution Amending State Taxing Authority, Sen. Casey Anderson
Freshman Senator Casey Anderson (R-Cedar City, District 28), who has not even been in office long enough to make a baby, feels that he is ready to fundamentally change our taxation system by making it more difficult to increase taxes. Yes, SJR 6, Joint Resolution Amending State Taxing Authority, is some good ol’ fashion red [...]
If the State Wasted the Public’s Time, Why can’t I Waste Its?
This month I have the to suffer the joy that is renewing my car registration. The fee is a stone cold $170 to legally drive on Utah’s roads for another year. I will, of course, pay this fee, along with any sort of costs to test my cars safety and emission standards because I rather [...]
The Republican Myth About Deficit Reduction
With Congress planning on staying in session during the holiday to discuss changing the debt ceiling, I have to continually pound my head against a wall when I hear that Republicans absolutely refuse to move on raising taxes. Now, I get it; Republicans don’t want to look weak against a president they can not stand, [...]
When Does it Stop Being “Fiscally Conservative” and Start Being Cruel and Mean?
It should come as no surprise that debates are raging here and across the nation about government spending. Often, conservative law makers point to social programs as the greatest sin against the taxpayer, but we have started to reach a point where reasonable cuts can no longer be made. With Republicans refusing to budge on [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 270 – Modifications to Sales and Use Tax, S. Adams
I find it funny that, during these tough economic times and severe budget cuts, that Republicans still refuse to raise taxes. Thank goodness Senator Stuart Adams (R – Layton, District 22) is willing to make the hard decisions, and tax the lower and middle class. By proposing SB 270 – Modifications to Sales and Use [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 69 – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Textbooks for Higher Education, K. Mayne
We all know the price of college is not getting any lower, and the burden for these costs are often placed on students who’s caloric intake on any given week consists of ramen noodles and whatever was left over from when they crashed the underwater basket-weaving clubs meeting in hopes of getting a sweet, sweet slice of free pizza [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 226 – Local Government Fee Authority, W. Harper
You know what I love most in my lawmaking? Bald faced hypocrisy. That is why I am so glad Representative Wayne Harper (R – West Jordan, District 43) is proposing HB 226 – Local Government Fee Authority. I mean, it just smacks of double standards, and it makes no attempt to pretend it doesn’t. Remember [...]