From Deseret News archives:
Huntsman backs Guard relief
He says soldiers at war shouldn't pay state taxes
Huntsman endorsed the tax break expected to be on the agenda when lawmakers meet in special session later this month and called for local governments and utilities to extend discounts on services to members of the National Guard and the Reserves on active duty.
Also, the GOP candidate said, the spouses and dependents of any Utahn killed in action should receive free college tuition, a program he proposed be funded by private donors rather than taxpayers.
"I believe we owe it to these men and women who are serving overseas," Huntsman said while announcing his "Military Relief" package in front of the Utah Air National Guard headquarters. "This is the least we can do."
Huntsman was joined by a longtime member of the National Guard, former Utah Sen. Jake Garn. Garn, for whom the military aviation complex near Salt Lake City Airport No. 2 is named, said the Utah National Guard sent more of its forces to Iraq than any other state.
"We should be proud of what our young men and young women have done for us serving in the National Guard and protecting all of the values that we are so proud of in this country," Garn said.
Their service, he said, "is taking an often unseen emotional and economic toll on our friends and neighbors that we often don't know about because of the intense pride that these soldiers and warriors have."
No price tag was placed on the entire relief package, but Huntsman estimated it could cost as much as $5.5 million to cover the cost of exempting active duty military personnel from paying state income tax on their 2004 earnings.
Funding for the exemption would likely come from this year's state budget surplus, which is anticipated to be about $110 million. Huntsman said he would like the exemption to be made permanent, meaning another source of revenue would need to be found in the future.
GOP leaders met recently with Gov. Olene Walker about the upcoming special session and agreed the exemption should be one of the items considered. "I think that we all have great support and concern about our soldiers in Iraq," Walker said recently.
Comments
- Haws playing like a veteran 12:36 a.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers 12:35 a.m.
- Jazz go up against 'the best' 12:33 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:26 a.m.
- Bobcats stun high-flying Nuggets 12:23 a.m.
- Utes finally get to host Michigan 12:18 a.m.
- Flash apologize, offer refund 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: Leave the economy alone 12:12 a.m.
- Dishonest global warming scientists 12:12 a.m.
- Tensions in Ceuta 12:12 a.m.
- BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
- Snow brings big chill
- Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
- Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
- Cougars in better mood about bowl
- Ranking the bowl games
- Williams' late jumper tops Spurs
- Expert calls Mitchell delusional
- $2M error could mean layoffs
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
278 - Letters: Global warming a lie
214 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
205 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
165 - Cougars going back to Vegas
148 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
143 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
110 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
99 - Revive full food tax?
94
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Joyce Gannon offers the following advice...
It will be good to hear "real play by play or even as analyst with Joel...
i hope hot rod gets confused while doing the play by play and thinks he's...
The BCS bowl team match-ups aren't what you think. First, yes the top two...
Even Ed Gein was found competant to stand trial.
So Bronco's okay with the churches "standard bearers" spewing hatred. Wierd....
By putting TCU & Boise together that means that the other 3 BCS games will...
Ticky... Tacky...
The DNews requests the lists from the region coaches. Ask your coaches why...
This story brings back memories of an Ogden base ball team, who promiced if a...
GO UTES!!!


You can be the first to comment on this story.