April 14, 2011

RE: Fox's Statement on Chafee Tax Plan - Room to Wiggle?

Marc Comtois

As Monique noted last night, Speaker of the House Gordon Fox came out against Governor Chafee's sales tax plan. This morning I heard Helen Glover wondering if there was room for Fox to wiggle by keeping the 6% "flatten and broaden". After all, Fox only specifically cited the 1% tax on new items, not the other part of Chafee's plan. Ted Nesi also wonders if the whole plan is dead?

Fox’s statement doesn’t say anything about whether he could support broadening the number of goods and services taxed at 7% (or at 6%, if Chafee’s proposal to lower the rate passes). And the revenue that would be brought in by taxing more items at 6% far outweighs the amount generated by the 1% tax.

“The House will not pass the budget in its current form,” Fox said. “We will instead develop alternatives to this proposal and will continue to work with the governor to amend his budget submission.”

I don’t know what’s going to happen next – all I know is, somehow or other, the General Assembly is all but certain to find a way to eliminate the $331 million deficit and pass a balanced budget for 2011-12.

Tune in at 11:30 PM on June 30th to find out.

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"The House will not pass the budget in its current form"

Couldn't he just eliminate little things like tax on heating oil and then say "we fixed it!"?

Posted by: Patrick at April 14, 2011 11:09 AM

"Tune in at 11:30 PM on June 30th to find out."

Great line. Wish I'd thought of it first!

Posted by: Ted at April 14, 2011 11:19 AM

Let it happen...

When the State is finally bankrupt because there is nothing left, perhaps then will the "Fools on the Hill" get what they so richly deserve.

When people have lost their homes, pensions and jobs because they trusted the GA to do the right thing, perhaps then will they take action.

Thomas Wilson Dorr, where are you when we need you?

Posted by: Aldo at April 14, 2011 8:50 PM
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