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2008 House Bill 262 (Increase multiple Kentucky taxes)

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  • Introduced by Rep. Jim Wayne on January 10, 2008, to increase taxes on tobacco products, motor fuels, and increase the sales tax on various services.
    • Referred to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on January 15, 2008.
    • Referred in the House on March 4, 2008, favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar .
    • Substitute offered in the House on March 4, 2008, to replace all existing language with a sales tax exemption for lemurs.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Farmer on March 11, 2008, to sunset the 25 cent surtax cigarettes and the 6.25% increase on other tobacco products on June 30, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. David Floyd on March 11, 2008, to sunset the cigarette tax increase on June 30, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Harry Moberly, Jr on March 11, 2008, to allow one-tenth of one cent ($0.001) of the July 1, 2008 increase in motor fuels taxes to be shared with local governments.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian on March 11, 2008, to increase the cigarette tax by thirty five cents per pack and require that ten cents of that increase be used to fund mental health and substance abuse services provided by regional mental health and mental retardation boards.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. David Watkins on March 11, 2008, to remove the provisions in the bill imposing sales tax on certain services and increase the cigarette tax by thirty cents per pack.
    • Substitute offered in the House on March 11, 2008, to increase the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack, raise tobacco taxes, motor fuels taxes, and sales tax on various services.
    • The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on March 12, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Jeffrey Hoover on March 11, 2008, to suspend the application of the prevailing wage law for fiscal years 2009 and 2010, for all public works projects.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Harry Moberly, Jr on March 12, 2008, to remove requirement for earmark of cancer research penny and remove quarterly limit of average wholesale price increase for motor fuels tax. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 12, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Farmer on March 12, 2008, to provide a sunset provision on certain tax increases dated June 30, 2010.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Moore on March 12, 2008, to create a tax credit for individuals participating in a smoking cessation treatment program.
  • Passed in the House (50 to 45) on March 12, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Received in the Senate on March 13, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. David E. Boswell on March 13, 2008, to exempt air ambulance providers from the sales tax on air charter services.
      • Withdrawn in the Senate on March 27, 2008.
    • Referred to the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee on March 17, 2008.
    • Reported in the Senate on March 26, 2008, favorably, to Rules.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on March 26, 2008, to delete all provisions in the original bill and substitute with a rebate of income taxes paid by active duty military members and appropriate $10 million to the military service rebate fund. The substitute also creates a sales tax refund for governmental entities in counties with populations under 100,000 that own and operate a multipurpose facility available for public arts, sports, and entertainment performances. The substitute also provides individual income tax, corporation income tax, limited liability entity tax, and sales tax incentives for locating a film production facility in Kentucky or filming or producing a motion picture production in Kentucky.
    • The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 27, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Dan Kelly on March 26, 2008, to include video services regardless of the method of delivery in the definition of multichannel video programming service for the purpose of offering tax breaks for motion picture productions.
    • The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 27, 2008.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Ray S Jones, II on March 26, 2008, to allow the rebate of sales taxes collected from the sale of tangible personal property to a governmental entity operating a public facility.
    • The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 27, 2008.
  • Passed in the Senate (33 to 0) on March 27, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Received in the House on March 28, 2008.
    • Referred to the House Rules Committee on March 28, 2008.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Jim Wayne on January 10, 2008. Passed in the House (50 to 45) on March 12, 2008. New Comment

1) Always tax someone for liking something? [by Anonymous Citizen on August 16, 2008]
I think it's funny how smokers are always the backfall to a budget deficit. But yet, millions are generated in income tax revenue from farmers growing the tobacco, then smokers when they buy it. I wonder why they always choose to pick on just a small portion of the economy to make up for the budget, rather than tax something that effects everyone to make it equal. And to think that the tax will actual raise the cost of cigarettes much is a crazy thought. Do you actually think that all of the burden will be put onto smokers? Do you think that Phillip Morris really wants people to quit smoking so that they can make less money? Tobacco farmers will be taking the biggest hit. There is no longer any tobacco base, which means that there is no guarantee that Phillip Morris will give tobacco farmers a good price for their tobacco when they go to sell it to them. All Phillip Morris will do is pay the farmer less to keep the cost of cigarettes down so that they will still sell the same amount of cigs for the same price and make the same profit. The only reason Phillip Morris pays for the advertisements to quit smoking is because the government makes them pay for it. Don't think that isn't already factored into the cost of cigarettes too. Next, the state legislature will be proposing to fit our noses with smoke detectors. These will rate the amount of smoke that enters our lungs and the meter will turn like it does on your electric meter for your home. At tax time, you will have to write that # down on your tax forms to see how much money you owe for using your privilege to smoke.

Smoking Bans:

ATTENTION NON-SMOKERS --- You have the right to choose not to visit a public restaurant that allows smoking, just the same as we do for a restaurant that doesn't allow smoking. Our rights on this issue is 50/50 --- Don't understand why they don't leave this option up the business owner. They are the ones that own the building. They should be the ones that are allowed to choose whether or not the smoker feels welcome, or the non-smoker feels welcome. I would like to know what makes all of you think that you have the right to make these decisions for the people who own the public facilities. They have the business investment, you don't... SIMPLE AS THAT. If you don't like the fact that a restaurant allows smoking, then open a restaurant of your own that doesn't allow smoking. We have the right to breath air full of smoke, just like you have the right to breath fresh air. What is hilarious about all of this is that all of the non-smokers say that it is about their health concerns. If this is the case, then why are you out eating at a restaurant with greasy hamburgers, steaks, loaded baked potatoes, etc? OH NO, I shouldn't have said that, next they will try to add more taxes to that also. Also, they have said that cell phones produce radioactive waves that can cause brain tumors. Next time you go to a restaurant to eat, take a look around and see how many people left their cell phones in their cars for the health concerns of OTHER PEOPLE. You all keep allowing the government to step in and tell you what you can smoke, drink, etc., then they will just keep going a step further. Next, they will be kicking out McDonalds, Arby's, etc., because that is to unhealthy for us to eat. In Louisville they have already proposed to end all public smoking altogether, even in your own car. I think this is hilarious. You would be able to stop at McDonalds to get a Big Mac, then get on the road to eat and drive, but you can't smoke a cigarette in your own car. Let me know what you all think on that.

They claim that all of this is to help smokers quit, but they don't want you to quit, the tax revenue is too high for them to want you to quit. They just like to use it as a reason to raise taxes on other people besides themselves.

One more statistic that kills me -

The government claims that the extra taxes are all to fund the extra cost of medicare paid out for smokers that have health trouble later in life.

They never associate the next statistic along with that at the same time.

"Smokers, on average, have a life span 10 years less of a non-smoker."

If this is the case, then isn't that 10 years worth of medicare expenses less that they have to pay.

OTHER SOLUTIONS for the BUDGET CRISIS:

What happened to the KENTUCKY LOTTERY?
Wasn't this supposed to fund schools only, but yet the budget was just recently cut for schools. What we have is too many officials that are in charge of the Kentucky Lottery making a fortune of a salary for doing absolutely nothing, therefore, taking all of the profit from the lottery.

CASINOS:

Anyone who is opposed to Casinos are fools. Over 500 Million in tax revenue crossed the bridge to Indiana last year. According to the recent tally of the budget deficit, this would pretty much take care of that wouldn't it? Then we would not have to worry about taxes being raised at all. People choose to gamble, and 30 more minutes of driving to Indiana isn't going to stop them. The only reason it hasn't been approved in the state of Kentucky yet is because Churchill Downs has a hand in the say on that, and everyone knows that the state of Kentucky caters to them. Churchill Downs make enough money in 6 months worth of open racing to shut down for 6 months, but when it comes to this issue, they are always crying "POOR ME".

Every other day I see a new road being layed. Why can't they quit giving these grants on the new roads and only keep repairing the ones we already have until the deficit is gone. I mean, our country has lived over 200 years without that new particular road that is being proposed. I think we could live another few years without it.

Don't let state troopers drive their cars home. I have to pay for my gas to to drive to work and back. I have to keep up the maintenance on the vehicle I drive to work out of my own pocket. Why should they be any different. I think they should have to park state cars at the station at the end of the day and hop in their own vehicle and drive that home. Not drive home at the state's expense.

FUN FACT:

For every penny the gas price goes up, it costs the city of Louisville $30,000 extra a year to fund the county wide transportation (Police cars, city maintenance vehicles, etc). How much do you think they would save if they cut out letting police officers drive their patrol cars to and from home. Now, think of what would be saved on a statewide scale.


Jodie Smith
Lebanon, KY
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2) KENTUCKY BUDGET [by Anonymous Citizen on August 17, 2008]
Our state legislature is going to have to make very hard choices and votes even if they do not personally agree with them.We need to raise taxes on all tobacco products , all alcoholic beer and wine products.Everything needs to be look at ( even start collecting taxes on churches and church properties , they should no longer be given a tax exemption ).We are i think going be looking at serious budget shortfalls for years and years to come , maybe to 2012 to 2020.
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3) HB 262 - No new taxes [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
It is clear from my e-mails, letters and phone calls that a very high percentage of Kentuckians do not want their taxes increased. Kentuckians rank 13th in the percent of their income they pay in taxes, but we rank only 46th in average income. When we are in an economic downturn, do we really want to tax our citizens as well as business and industry even more, I think not.

House Legislator
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4) please help us kill it. [by newmark on April 17, 2008]
Mr. House Legislator,

Please help us kill this bill. We're over-taxed as it is. I know a number of small businesses that are on the brink of going under right now. With the increased cost of goods and transportations, our small businesses are the ones hurt the most, because they don't have the financial backing to ride out the more severe changes in the marketplace.

Likewise, the people are being hurt very badly by the cost of gasoline. $3.49/gal for regular yesterday. People's budgets are really getting strapped now. I have the option to work from home, so I've been using it, to save on fuel costs -- but not everyone has that option.

Frankfort is more than willing to increase minimum wage, which in the end doesn't really help anything but inflation, but is unrelenting when it comes to increasing existing and creating new taxes. Please cut us some slack.


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5) Cigarette tax increases [by aalf on April 2, 2008]
Reality Check: About 70 million people in this country are NOT going to quit smoking - because we DON'T WANT to. It is NOT about nicotine. I don't care how many more hundreds of millions of dollars the drug industry spends on propaganda, it is NOT about nicotine. It's about smoking. People have ENJOYED smoking for thousands of years. The father of our country, George Washington, was a TOBACCO farmer, and a SMOKER. Tobacco financed the American Revolution. We probably would not HAVE a country if it weren't for tobacco.

As to increasing the tax, smokers DO NOT pay the tax. EVERYONE pays it. Smokers are NOT the Federal Government, so they can't just print themselves up some more money for that. They shift ALL that extra cost from SOME OTHER PART of their budget. EVERY business in America is losing money because SMOKERS are paying EXTORTION. The previous .27 cig tax increase in KY has been sucking about 2.2 BILLION dollars/YEAR out of the general economy in KY, and it is one reason we HAVE a budget shortfall. The ONLY reason The People's Republic of California is still afloat AT ALL financially (and yes, they are in REALLY BIG trouble in that area - isn't communism wonderful - NOT) is thanks to the BOOTLEGGERS and the NATIVE AMERICANS.

Higher cig taxes are NOT forcing people to quit who don't want to. They make bootlegging profitable, and the INDIANS are getting rich. They impoverish EVERYONE else. Guess we didn't learn a thing from alcohol prohibition???

Oh, extremely high cig. prices actually correlate with INCREASES in youth smoking rates. Guess those bootleggers just don't bother much with checking IDs.

The other reason we are having budget problems in KY now is due to economic losses in our hospitality sector due to SMOKING BANS in all our biggest population centers, especially The People's Republics of Louisville and Lexington. The People's Republic of California alone has lost 100 BILLION dollars SO FAR due to their 10 year smoking ban.

There really is NO way to force smokers to pay good money for a nice restaurant meal, if they are supposed to 'enjoy' the BEST cig of the day, the one after they eat, standing outside in inclement weather like the new 'leper class'. NO, not happening. And, smokers enjoyment of MOST recreation venues is severely negatively affected by 'no smoking', so losses are BIG in ALL recreational type venues. And EVERYONE is paying for those loses, NOT just smokers.

Lynda Farley, Edmonton, KY
www.aalf.ws/smokingmad www.forces.org
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6) Re: Cigarette tax increases [by Anonymous Citizen on May 21, 2008]
Lynda Farley, of Edmonton, KY said:

The other reason we are having budget problems in KY now is due to economic losses in our hospitality sector due to SMOKING BANS in all our biggest population centers, especially The People's Republics of Louisville and Lexington. The People's Republic of California alone has lost 100 BILLION dollars SO FAR due to their 10 year smoking ban.

There really is NO way to force smokers to pay good money for a nice restaurant meal, if they are supposed to 'enjoy' the BEST cig of the day, the one after they eat, standing outside in inclement weather like the new 'leper class'. NO, not happening. And, smokers enjoyment of MOST recreation venues is severely negatively affected by 'no smoking', so losses are BIG in ALL recreational type venues. And EVERYONE is paying for those loses, NOT just smokers.

I ASSUME YOU EXPCT ALL THE NON-SMOKERS TO ENDURE THE STINK AND HEALTH RISKS OF SECOND-HAND SMOKE SO THE SMOKERS CAN ENJOY THEIR TOBACCO. GIVE THE NON-SMOKERS A BREAK. THEY CHOSE NOT TO SMOKE WHILE THE SMOKER CHOSE TO SMOKE. WHY FORCE ME TO RISK MT HEALTH, WHEN IN A PUBLIC PLACE, JUST SO THE SMOKER CAN LIGHT UP WITH NO CONCERN ABOUT ME OR THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THE MATTER?

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7) Tax me - Really [by Anonymous Citizen on April 11, 2008]
I'd really like to have decent schools, good roads, a safe community, a healthy democracy, good health care, and a social net to help if things go wrong.

These things are important to me and I don't mind paying for them.

Tax-away - particularly on goods and services most used by wealthier Kentuckians such as myself.

If you can afford chartered jet flights, limo service, and estates over $3.5 million, you can afford to pay your fair share for public education.
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8) Honest Tax Payer [by windowmasters on March 31, 2008]
This is the most ridiculous and frustrating thing I have come across in over 20 years of window cleaning. HB 262 is essentially a tobacco and fuel tax. I agree tobacco should be taxed. Anyone who uses tobacco except as an insecticide should be taxed in my humble opinion because the tax might help them quit using tobacco. But why in the world did they throw in the taxing of window cleaners in this bill? The bill reads almost like an afterthought. "Tobacco, gasoline, oh and let's tax those pesky window cleaners!"
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9) Wayne?? [by Anonymous Citizen on March 27, 2008]
Wayne is a socialist anyway. They live for more taxes and more control of the peasants.
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10) Atlas Shrugged? [by helen on March 27, 2008]
We must get rid of all legislators who vote for these tax hikes!!! This site will give you all that information - under "Search Voting Record". They tax us so they can use OUR money to be reelected to stay in power and make their fortunes.
A great book "Atlas Shrugged" by Any Rand shows what happens to a society when the government takes from the rich and gives to the poor - trying to level the playing field...making everyone equal. That's what's happening in our country now. And it's the doom of America!
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11) I concur [by JGault on March 27, 2008]
Great Book. But most of our legislators would not have the fortitude to get through the first third of the book, nor the aptitude to understand the last third of the book if they ever finished it.
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12) WHERE IS THE TAX CREDIT FOR NON-SMOKERS? [by Anonymous Citizen on March 27, 2008]
I SEE MR. MOORE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A TAX CREDIT TO PEOPLE IN A SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE TAX CREDIT FOR NON-SMOKING TAX PAYORS? IS THERE ANY POLITICIAN WHO WILL FIGHT FOR THIS OR STRIKE DOWN MR MOORE'S AMENDMENT? OH, AND IF IT IS PASSED THEN I'M SURE WE WILL NEED TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO MONITOR THE SMOKING CESSATION PARTICIPATION AND SUCCESS, SO YOU'LL NEED MORE MONEY TO FUND THAT PROGRAM JUST LIKE ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION I SAW WHERE SOMEONE WANTS TO CREATE A SORT OF "GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS". I SUPPOSE WE WILL NEED THAT WHEN ENOUGH VOTES ARE "BOUGHT" BY THE GOVERNOR TO GET HIS CASINO GAMING BILL PASSED. I NEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW LUDICROUS SOME OF THESE IDEAS ARE. I CAN BARELY FEED MY FAMILY AND PAY MY MORTGAGE AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MORTGAGE CRISIS OR A RECESSION, YOU ARE TAXING US TO DEATH! IF YOU WOULD SPEND OUR MONEY WISELY AND NOT WASTE PRECIOUS TIME & RESOURCES MAKING UP GARBAGE AMENDMENTS WE'D ALL BE A LOT BETTER OFF. STOP WITH THE NEEDLESS, ENDLESS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, NO WONDER PEOPLE DON'T TRUST POLITICIANS. YOU DON'T GIVE US ANY REASON TO! I CANNOT BELIEVE ANY OF YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO FURTHER TAX FUEL WHEN IT AFFECTS THE COST OF ALMOST EVERYTHING IN OUR DAILY LIVES. THE FINANCIAL RUIN OF THE TAX PAYER IS AT THE HANDS OF OUR POLITICIANS. BY THE WAY, UNTIL YOU START REWARDING GOOD TEACHERS INSTEAD OF THE TEACHERS UNIONS, NO AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU THROW AT THE PROBLEM WILL RAISE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Moore on March 12, 2008, to create a tax credit for individuals participating in a smoking cessation treatment program.
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13) TAXED TO DEATH STOP [by freedom gone on March 21, 2008]
THEY NEED TO STOP TAXING EVRYONE TO DEATH AND START HELPING THE PEOPLE WE ARE NOT WE ARE DROWNING HERE WITH THE NEW TAXES AND NO NEW JOB GAS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE THERE WE CAN EVEN AFFORD TO GO TO WORK SO HOW DO YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY IF YOU CANT AFFORD THE GAS TO WORK AND THEN THE COST OF LIVING GOES UP AND HEAT RATES GO UP ELECTRIC RATE GO UP WELL HOW DO WE LIVE IF EVERYTHINGS GOING UP BUT THE RATE OF PAY YES I KNOW WE HAVE A PAY RATE IS GOING UP VERY SLOWLY AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS 3 TIMES HIGH THEY NEED TO BE WORKING ON THAT NEW TAXES THATS NOT WHAT WE NEED . THEY ARE MAKING THE POOR POORER , I DONT LOOK AT WHAT CLASS WE ARE IN RICH OR POOR STOP TAXING US TO DEATH. START SPENDING MONEY IN THE US HELP OUR PEOPLOE IN THE US WE ARE GOING UNDER AND FAST. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING , BUT I COULD GUESS AND SO COULD YOU . WE NEED TO WORK ON THE US PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START LIVING ON THE STREET , NO JOB THE ARE BEING SENT OVER SEAS AND THE BAD THING THERE IS THE WE ARE BE SENT BACK WITH POISON IN ARE FOOD AND ARE PETS FOOD SO WHERE DOES IT STOP , NOTHING IS MADE IN AMERICA ANYMORE WE ARE SINKING FAST . I COULD GO ON , BUT I THINK I SAID PLENTY.
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14) wizzard [by Anonymous Citizen on March 20, 2008]
I have watched without confidence, our leaders are destroying our nation. They are now taxing us to death with issues. The very issues that does not effect them. A lot of educated people in goverment, are lacking common sense. They lack the common sense rule when it come to them to make a decision. We know this, by bad laws made and decision based on how much money it puts in their pockets. And it will continue, until we take back this nation.

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15) S.O.S. Only Different [by Anonymous Citizen on March 14, 2008]
Governor Steve Beshear sternly warned that the state faces an unprecedented crisis, a $434-million deficit. Since the Fletcher administration left a $145-million surplus, the immediate deficit stands at $289 million.

Governor Steve Beshear knows that spending restraint in Frankfort will permanently solve the deficit problem now and forever. (Governor Brown, run state government more like a business)

A realistic glance at that $434-million shortfall:

• $166 million is a result of state agencies spending more than their budgets allowed.

• $138 million goes to projects approved by the General Assembly, which neglected to figure out where the money would come from to pay for the projects, including a payoff to the Ford Motor Co. to stay in Louisville. (Zero Cost Benefit Analysis)

• $130 million of the deficit gets attributed to less-than-expected revenue. (Weak Economy)

If agencies spent within their budgets and politicians stopped using the taxpayers to ensure their re-election through pork-barrel projects, leftover cash from the Fletcher administration could have covered, and still can cover any revenue shortages. The gambling / casino issue is but Governor Beshear’s promised bag of goods.


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16) TAX HIKES [by Anonymous Citizen on March 18, 2008]
WHEN YOU WANT US TO PAY MORE TAXES DOESN'T THAT MEAN FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST A SELECTED FEW. YOU TAX GAS ANOTHER 70CENTS A GALLON AND THEN YOU WILL EVERYBODY IN KY. COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THINK ABOUT IT KY. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SPEAK THERE PIECE ABOUT THE CIG. TAX AND VOTE AGAINST IT. BECAUSE THE NEXT TAX THEY VOTE ON WILL BE THE ONE AFFECTS YOU AND THEN YOU WILL SAY NOT ME TOO. I DON'T DESERVE THIS TAX TOO.
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17) Tax Hikes [by iasoon2b on March 12, 2008]
Give me a break! Our legislators need to learn to live within a budget! We have to, why shouldn't they live within one too! When times get tough, as we all know they are now, we have to get tough too! We have to buckle down and cut our spending. Our legislators need to cut the spending also! It is so easy to 'raise" taxes....Listen up people, any, and I mean any, tax increase will be felt by ALL TAXPAYERS, yes ALL TAXPAYERS...it will trickle down to us to foot the bill. These legislators are our voice! We must contact them and let them know how we feel! We voted these legislators in and we must vote them out! Watch how they vote! Make a difference!!!
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18) Does anyone care? [by CTyra on March 11, 2008]
Does anyone care that these officials are elected and within the blink of an eye they are doing exactly what they vowed not to do? Corruption? Ethics? a lie is a lie anyway you slice it.. no raising taxes, yea, right!
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19) Socialist Morons [by Anonymous Citizen on March 7, 2008]
If we don't start screaming now, Beshear and his gang will literally own the state.
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20) pooped!!!!!!!!11 [by Mary R. Birge on March 6, 2008]
What to tax that too! Get Real
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21) pooped!!!!!!!! [by Anonymous Citizen on March 6, 2008]
What I put in the toilet this morning, I guess you want to tax that too!
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22) Lemurs [by Anonymous Citizen on March 6, 2008]
Well at least they got that exemption in for Lemur sales. LOL
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23) What? [by Anonymous Citizen on March 5, 2008]
Based on the comments of everyone on here, how did our "representatives" vote favorably on this?

The only people who are for this, think that somehow by increasing some taxes, their tax bill will go down. That is almost laughable. The government is not going to decrease any taxes. Haven't you heard, they are having a hard time making ends meet in Frankfort.

Lower the taxes and let us determine what we need to spend OUR money on. Trust me, if people think it is important and PROFITABLE they will find a way to carve our some of THEIR personal money for it.
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24) dash [by Anonymous Citizen on March 5, 2008]
In 1994 Long Term Policy Research Center in book entitled $5.8 Billion and Change stated Kentucky's elected stewards' spending growth rate was 6% while their growth rate of money coming in was 5.3%---if left alone through 2004 legislators'difference in growth rates would be 12%!

Legislators did nothing to decrease growth rate of spending from 1994 through 2004.

Its now 2008 and Legislators continue to spend 12% plus more than state takes in.

Since 1990 (for past 18 years)Kentucky legislators did nothing to rein in their over spending habits! Yet, they have continued to allow Kentucky's obsolete tax base to become more obsolete by not including "services industry"--have not found courage to drastically cut spending while deficits continues to rise!

In 2008 Fed government's trade and federal deficits have been accompanied by a financial breakdown bringing down the value of American dollar in international money circles while contributing to world markets melt down bringing about American homeowners losing their homes---destroying the American dream---all because our federal elected stewards do not have the courage to make draconian cuts needed to protect America's credit! Now, feds are dumping lot's of federal debt onto states to pay and calling it federal downsizing....and our state legislators continue on in denial!

dash

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25) Ralph King [by Anonymous Citizen on February 26, 2008]
KY is losing our best producers to states that have a lesser tax burden.
If you look, other states are trying to recruit our working class.
PS they are allowing us to keep the people who are
not producing by not offering any reason for them to relocate.
I got a Email at work, listing the top ten states people are moving to, to reduce their tax burden, including retirees.
KY is not on the list.
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26) taxes [by Anonymous Citizen on February 23, 2008]
When are we going to quit cutting taxes and spending more than we take in? Be glad that we pay taxes. just go out and try to buy some of the services we us every day. Just think about it.
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27) Don't worry [by Anonymous Citizen on February 22, 2008]
Don't worry. Governor Beshear has said many times during his campaign that he wouldn't raise taxes! Kentuckians are already taxed too much he said! I surely trust him to be a true man of his word. Don't you all?
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28) Collectivism Bites [by rossh on February 17, 2008]
Here we go again, taking from the "rich" and giving it to the government where the majority goes towards waste. Taxation is not the act of "taking from those who benefit most from our system." Instead it is the act of taking from those who put the most into making it work to begin with. I make over 75,000 a year. I don't have a house on ten acres; I don't have three sparkling new German cars in the garage; I don't spend two weeks a year snorkeling in the Caymans. I work hard, though. I am so tired of being a tax slave to the state. Just so tired.
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29) Really? [by Anonymous Citizen on February 19, 2008]
Do you really think that someone who makes $750,000 a year works 10 times harder than you? Or that someone making $37,500 works half as hard as you?

Did you pull yourself up by the bootstraps? Or were you helped your whole life by a society that helped educate you, kept the roads clear, the streets safe, and the food safe to eat?

Sure you worked hard - but you're fooling yourself if you think that there aren't others out there who work harder just to feed their families.

HB 262 levels the playing field just a tiny bit, lowering taxes on those least able to pay and getting a little more from those who can pay.

It's unbelievable to me that the super-rich call foul when they're asked to pay half the percentage of what low-income families pay in taxes.
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30) really? [by Anonymous Citizen on April 18, 2008]
I'm pretty sure the majority of smokers are the poor. And this bill increases their taxes.

Meanwhile, I did do it without public assistance. My county police force was almost non-existent, my parents sent me to private school at a great financial burden to them, as they were middle class. Today, I'm considered "rich". Hardly. With a wife and 2 kids in school, paying for a modest home for us to live in, and a nice vehicle for my wife to drive to keep her and the kids safe. There's no extra money at the end of the day.

And yes, I smoke. So now the state is hurting my budget even more.

Oh well. These nasty fire-safe cigarettes don't taste very good anyway. (Fire safe cigarettes? What a bunch of morons.)
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31) Socialist Kool-Aid Drinkers [by Raffica on February 19, 2008]
Of course, the Kool-aid drinking socialistic nitwits actually think that making over 75,000 is "super rich".

If you people who are suffering from chronic poverty-mentality and learned helplessness would spend more time working and less time trying to figure out ways to steal other peoples' incomes, then I am sure you could join the "super rich" in the $75,000 and over pay scale.
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32) HB 262 is Needed! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 13, 2008]
This would make the tax system more fair.

It would ask slightly more of those people who benefit most from government prosperity - and invest that money in better schools, better healthcare, and services that help us ALL.

http://keja.org/
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33) hardway909 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 29, 2008]
Yes, exactly what we need, more public education!
The surveys show that the more the government spends on education the more dumbed down the populace becomes! I move that we shut the education system down, reduce taxes, keep Mom at home and let her educate the children. Home schooled students make better citizens as they can read, write, give change back with out a computer terminal, politically aware, self starters and motivated.
Been to a public school lately?
(Ask the students where is Kansas or Taiwan)
We had/have a war on poverty and we got more poverty!
We had/have a war on drugs and we see more drugs use!
We had/have a war on Terrorism and we get huge increases in government and terrorism ( and have the very liberties curtailed that the government is allegedly fighting to preserve)!
(( in case u have not figured it out yet, You can not be a free society by destroying the Freedom within that Society))
We had/have more tax increases ( already the highest this society has ever known) and the government gets to piss away 50 percent in the collection and redistribution then piss away another 25 percent on projects that mostly are not necessary.................yes we need more taxes!

Please Mister Government, dont help/save me anymore. I cant stand it!
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34) LESS TAXES - NOT MORE [by helen on February 9, 2008]
Those who run our Ky. government need to take some basic economic courses! Cut spending and tax less! Watch the economy grow! It's been proven over and over again. This is a capitalistic society. We don't need government taking from us to satisfy our needs! If we could keep our own money, we can make our economy work!!! Less government, less taxes, less spending!!! What part of LESS do you not understand?
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35) Is he serious? [by KyMD on February 6, 2008]
Wow, I can see how all these new taxes will create a lot of new jobs here in Kentucky. YOU CANNOT TAX YOUR WAY TO PROSPERITY!
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36) Don't bring back the death tax! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 3, 2008]
Our family has 2 kids and we make a lot less than 75,000 a year, but I totally disagree with Mr. Wayne's House Bill 262. My parents own a farm that has been in the family for generations. Will I have to sell it just to pay the taxes when they die??!?!!! Death taxes are wrong! If the estate tax is passed the exemption should be much higher, like 5 million dollars so that farms and small businesses are not hurt. I'd much rather see cigarette taxes raised.
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37) cigarrtte tax? [by Anonymous Citizen on March 6, 2008]
yeah thats right tax the cig's again!! thats what i would do what about alcohol? for a change i think the tobacco industry has been trying to help the farmers in ky. but alcohol never gets the tax like cig's do! whats up with this? do all our congressmen and senators and gov.get their big kick backs from the distillery's? i wonder!!
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38) Become Common Folk Again [by Anonymous Citizen on January 30, 2008]
It is time for the legislators to give up the state benefits and struggle like the rest of us to make ends meet after providing minimum health coverage and minimum pension funding. Maybe their perspective would change if they had more going out of their discretionary spending pool to just cover basics.
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39) I AGREE 100% WITH ALL OF YOU [by mistylion on January 28, 2008]
LIKE I STATED IN PREVIOUS REPLIES "WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR LEGISLATORS?" NEXT THEY'LL COME UP WITH A TAX ON HOW MUCH AIR WE BREATHE.
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40) NEW TAXES [by smokie4711 on January 25, 2008]
WHY DOINT YOU GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES,OR DO YOU WANT TO OVER BURDEN THE WORKING MAN SO HE CAINT AFFORD TO FEED HIS CHILDREN,HELL I THOUGHT YOU WERE EDUCATED??I GUESS ITS BUSSNESS AS NORMAL SCREW THE LOWER CLASS HUGH!!!!!
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41) missed fourtune [by 3cotton3 on January 19, 2008]
no new taxes until you can tell me what you spend my tax dollars on now.lets do some cutting of what you collect now and then see if you need to raise taxes
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42) NO NEW TAXES [by sjacobs on January 16, 2008]
Show us that you know what to do with the taxes you have already collected before you raise the taxes again. Last years budget was a joke. And somehow we ended up with a "surplus" that was spent on special little projects which most of us will never benfit from. Don't waste our tax money and then demand more.

I say cut the taxes in half and then prioritize what you need the money for. Don't spend it like it comes at no cost. Every time the tax goes up, the standard of living goes down.

My vote is for lower taxes!
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43) how about this for a new tax [by newmark on January 12, 2008]
How's this for a plan: Tax political contributions at 5 times the state income tax, tax property of campaigns at 5 times the rate of normal state property tax.

Let's see how quick politicians are to raise taxes then!


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44) No New Income Taxes!! [by Raffica on January 12, 2008]
The title says it all Mr. Wayne. NO NEW INCOME TAXES!
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45) NO NEW TAXES [by helen on January 11, 2008]
We want no new taxes!!!!!
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