- Feb 23, 2005
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...here's your chance to make things right! Its a proposal here in AZ to pay additional voluntary taxes! Yes! Im not sure what to think of this legislation, as many people already contribute to private charity. But, my question is, who here would be willing to send extra tax money if you had the chance? (Yes, its a trick question) I think its interesting the comments from one Democrat calling the legislation "frivolous and ineffective". ORLY? Isnt it the left who say the wealthy dont pay enough? Or could it be they will be expected to lead by example, and know they really dont want to? Oh, black is making this political. Yes! I am! Its a political issue as of late. I also like how the Republicans are asking the Dems to put their money where their mouth is! From the article: "Burges (R) acknowledged that at least some of the purpose of the legislation is strictly political: She wants to address the insistence by some -- mostly Democrats -- that Arizonans are willing to pony up more money to protect vital services.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/147790
Voluntary tax proposal floated
PHOENIX So how much are you willing to give, voluntarily, to help the state out of its financial hole?
You may get a chance: Legislation introduced for the upcoming session seeks to create an "I Didn't Pay Enough'' fund where Arizonans, on their income tax forms, would be able to make a donation to the state above and beyond what they owe.
The chances of the measure getting a hearing -- and getting approved -- are very good: Rep. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley, convinced 33 of her Republican colleagues to sign on as sponsors. That leaves her three more votes than necessary for passage.
And 12 of 30 senators also have signed on in support.
House Minority Leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix, dismissed the proposal as both frivolous and ineffective.
Burges acknowledged that at least some of the purpose of the legislation is strictly political: She wants to address the insistence by some -- mostly Democrats -- that Arizonans are willing to pony up more money to protect vital services.
That being said, Burges said the measure has the potential to help bridge the gap between revenues and expenses, even if just a little bit: If every one of the 3.4 million households that files a state income tax return kicked in an extra $5, that would generate $12 million.
That's a far cry from the estimated $3 billion that will be needed to balance next year's budget. But Burges, in her second two-year term as a legislator, said she views this as far preferable to mandated higher taxes on everyone.
"We have people out there who are losing their homes, we have people on the verge of losing their homes,'' she said.
She doesn't like the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer for a temporary one-cent hike in the state sales tax, to 6.6 cents on the dollar. Burges cited a report by the Goldwater Institute that such a levy would result in the loss of 14,400 jobs.
"When you're at 10 percent (unemployment), you really don't want to lose any more,'' she said.
"But there are people out there who have told me, 'I would be willing to give a little bit extra money,' '' Burgess continued. "This is their opportunity to do that.
That claim that Arizonans are willing to do more to prevent deeper cuts to education and other programs has been advanced not only by Brewer through her request to send the sales tax hike to the ballot but but also by legislative Democrats. They have crafted proposals to increase state revenues by revamping the sales tax system to start imposing the levy on services which are now exempt.
"Our friends across the aisle -- and I'm not going to belittle them because I happen to like them and they stand by their beliefs -- have stood up and said that they would be willing to come and meet us half-way if we would be willing to address revenues,'' Burges said.
With this legislation, she continued, "they have an opportunity to come to the middle and to step up and to help us try to resolve problems.''
Lujan said the plan, crafted as HB 2001, hardly amounts to any sort of meaningful compromise.
"Rather than making light of the situation with her bill, I think we need to look at what is the overall plan for next year, what's the revenue we need, and come up with a comprehensive budget, not just a bill like this that doesn't resolve the situation,'' he said.
Lujan said his objections go beyond the fact that the what Burgess is proposing would make only a tiny dent in the anticipated deficit for the coming fiscal year.
"I don't think it should be just who voluntarily wants to pay,'' he said. "It's all of our responsibility to support education and to support the infrastructure we need for our state for the future.''
Most Arizonans now get a refund when they file their income tax forms because the state generally withholds more from paychecks during the year than the actual liability. And the record has shown that taxpayers are willing to give up some of that, at least for causes they like.
Last fiscal year, Arizonans agreed to donate nearly $7.6 million to various causes through check-off boxes on their tax returns.
While some of that went to programs ranging from protecting endangered species and Special Olympics to domestic violence shelters and helping veterans, the lion's share -- nearly $6.3 million -- was earmarked for the Clean Elections fund.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/147790
Voluntary tax proposal floated
PHOENIX So how much are you willing to give, voluntarily, to help the state out of its financial hole?
You may get a chance: Legislation introduced for the upcoming session seeks to create an "I Didn't Pay Enough'' fund where Arizonans, on their income tax forms, would be able to make a donation to the state above and beyond what they owe.
The chances of the measure getting a hearing -- and getting approved -- are very good: Rep. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley, convinced 33 of her Republican colleagues to sign on as sponsors. That leaves her three more votes than necessary for passage.
And 12 of 30 senators also have signed on in support.
House Minority Leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix, dismissed the proposal as both frivolous and ineffective.
Burges acknowledged that at least some of the purpose of the legislation is strictly political: She wants to address the insistence by some -- mostly Democrats -- that Arizonans are willing to pony up more money to protect vital services.
That being said, Burges said the measure has the potential to help bridge the gap between revenues and expenses, even if just a little bit: If every one of the 3.4 million households that files a state income tax return kicked in an extra $5, that would generate $12 million.
That's a far cry from the estimated $3 billion that will be needed to balance next year's budget. But Burges, in her second two-year term as a legislator, said she views this as far preferable to mandated higher taxes on everyone.
"We have people out there who are losing their homes, we have people on the verge of losing their homes,'' she said.
She doesn't like the proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer for a temporary one-cent hike in the state sales tax, to 6.6 cents on the dollar. Burges cited a report by the Goldwater Institute that such a levy would result in the loss of 14,400 jobs.
"When you're at 10 percent (unemployment), you really don't want to lose any more,'' she said.
"But there are people out there who have told me, 'I would be willing to give a little bit extra money,' '' Burgess continued. "This is their opportunity to do that.
That claim that Arizonans are willing to do more to prevent deeper cuts to education and other programs has been advanced not only by Brewer through her request to send the sales tax hike to the ballot but but also by legislative Democrats. They have crafted proposals to increase state revenues by revamping the sales tax system to start imposing the levy on services which are now exempt.
"Our friends across the aisle -- and I'm not going to belittle them because I happen to like them and they stand by their beliefs -- have stood up and said that they would be willing to come and meet us half-way if we would be willing to address revenues,'' Burges said.
With this legislation, she continued, "they have an opportunity to come to the middle and to step up and to help us try to resolve problems.''
Lujan said the plan, crafted as HB 2001, hardly amounts to any sort of meaningful compromise.
"Rather than making light of the situation with her bill, I think we need to look at what is the overall plan for next year, what's the revenue we need, and come up with a comprehensive budget, not just a bill like this that doesn't resolve the situation,'' he said.
Lujan said his objections go beyond the fact that the what Burgess is proposing would make only a tiny dent in the anticipated deficit for the coming fiscal year.
"I don't think it should be just who voluntarily wants to pay,'' he said. "It's all of our responsibility to support education and to support the infrastructure we need for our state for the future.''
Most Arizonans now get a refund when they file their income tax forms because the state generally withholds more from paychecks during the year than the actual liability. And the record has shown that taxpayers are willing to give up some of that, at least for causes they like.
Last fiscal year, Arizonans agreed to donate nearly $7.6 million to various causes through check-off boxes on their tax returns.
While some of that went to programs ranging from protecting endangered species and Special Olympics to domestic violence shelters and helping veterans, the lion's share -- nearly $6.3 million -- was earmarked for the Clean Elections fund.
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