Nathan Deal recently spoke to the Savannah Morning News, and Jason put up a post about it on PeachPundit.
Nevermind that Florida has seen a drop in demand because of a $1 per pack tax increase (once again showing that sin taxes aren’t really going to help revenue problems) and nevermind that it’s bad public policy, I want to know why Republicans in this state have such an amazing obsession with government, so much that six tax increases were put on the table last year.
Yes, revenues are falling. However, Georgia’s problems are not from a lack of revenue. Our legislators have a spending problem. As the Georgia Public Policy Foundation has pointed out, the the budget has grown far beyond the population growth plus inflation benchmark, because Republicans choose to preserve the status-quo when they took control of both chambers of the General Assembly in January 2005.
If legislators and prospective candidates for Governor are so concerned about the budget, they need to get behind the zero-based budget proposal (the Senate and House each passed a version of this last year, but it has been bogged down in committee in the other chamber ever since). Let’s start justifying every dollar we spend. Let’s see how much waste is really in the budget and how many programs aren’t deserving of taxpayer funding.
Largely, I agree with Jason’s feelings on the matter – the tax increase is absolutely ludicrous, particularly in the current climate. I oppose ALL “sin taxes”, no matter the reason. I also call for the General Assembly to pass – and Governor Perdue to sign – either of the Zero Based Budgeting bills currently in the General Assembly. The Senate has already passed David Shafer’s SB 1, which I prefer, and the House has already passed Tom Graves’ HB 44, both of which largely do the same thing.
That said, I do differ from Jason a bit. You see, both State Rep Ed Rynders and Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson said Monday night that Georgia lawmakers face one of two choices: cut spending or raise taxes. They both emphatically said that tax increases would NOT be on the table so far as they are concerned. Deal clearly sees them as being on the table, and evidently prefers to either not cut spending or maybe even increase it. Deal’s position is one that I find utterly vile, but even I can acknowledge that at least he is making a good faith effort to find ways to fund the various things he is promising to do as Governor, unlike John Oxendine.
So Nathan Deal is revealing his true intentions that he intends to raise taxes. I’d much rather know that now, when we can make sure he never has the opportunity, than say this time next year, when he could potentially be the new Governor.
Remember: A vote for Nathan Deal is a vote for tax increases.
I firmly believe that passing a zero-based budgeting amendment is going to be the most crucial piece of legislation that is voted on in Georgia this year. IF they do not pass it, they can look for the same turnover that is going to occur in DC if this current health care legislation passes. Americans are united in the fact that they are tired of politicians spending our money in an unaccountable fashion.
Mr. Deal will be entering this race with over 1.3 million dollars in his campaign war chest alone. Thats not to mention the millions he made off his exclusive, lucrative, ” no bid ” contract with the state of Georgia to inspect wrecked cars for more than a decade. And lets not forget his salary for serving in the Congress, where hes done very little. Its no wonder he was recently voted one of the top 15 worst Congressmen in America by a washington congressional watch dog group.
Deal has fed at the public trough long enough. To think he would have the best interests of Georgias taxpaying citizens at heart would be laughable. Hes not an anwer to our problems, hes part of the problem. Lets make sure DEALS DAYS ARE DONE! DEAL.REAL LOSER.TAX LOVER.