Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Kentucky's Unbridled Tax Increases

As the General Assembly session draws to a close, it looks like our major legislative accomplishment is going to be raising the minimum wage.

This is, of course, nothing more than a tax increase. Labor costs get passed to consumers in the price of all goods and services. So lawmakers are busily congratulating themselves on taking more money out of your pocket. Great.

Meanwhile, politicians in both parties hope you don't remember how adamant they all were last year that we repeal the "un-American" Alternative Minimum Calculation tax on businesses. A bill that would do just that now languishes in Jody Richards' House.

This General Assembly has squandered multiple opportunities for improving the lives of Kentuckians in this short session. There is still time to pass HB 88. Governor Fletcher will sign the minimum wage tax increase. Surely, he would want to neutralize that tax increase by signing a repeal of the tax on unprofitable companies.