by David Safier
When Republicans oppose tax hikes, never, never let them hide behind their supposed concern for the middle class. Their No Tax Pledge exists to help businesses and the rich, period. If necessary, they'll throw a bone to the middle class with a few stray scraps of meat left on it.
Case in point: a tax cut for businesses that will result in a property tax hike for private homeowners.
Calling it the ultimate solution to the state's economic woes, members of a House panel approved an extensive package of tax breaks for businesses on Monday.
The move came over objections from two Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee who questioned cutting state revenues with the budget now in a deficit. Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff, pointed out that one element of the plan would result in a shift of property taxes from businesses to homeowners.
House Speaker Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, chief sponsor of the plan, conceded that point.
Will the tax hike for homeowners buy another teacher? Will it mean fewer cuts in social services? No and no. Every penny will go to cutting business taxes.
Tax (people) and Cut (services) Conservatives.
The only surprise to me is that the property tax hike includes million dollar homes. I suppose they couldn't figure out a way to avoid the collateral wealth-damage.
NOTE: This is a very important piece of news, since it's a proposed property tax hike. If it came from our City Council, O'Dell would make it screaming front page news. Instead, the Star put it on the Business pages.
Look, it's a proposed Republican tax hike. That's a man-bites-dog story worthy of the front page and a headline like "Republicans propose property tax hike."
The Star headline? "Businesses targeted for tax breaks in bill."
You can't make this stuff up. Does the Chamber of Commerce write the headlines?
FURTHER NOTE: Headlines on similar articles in other AZ papers are just as bad. Shouldn't No New Taxes Republicans be exposed when they propose increased taxes? I'm just sayin'.