From Deseret News archives:

Legislature has closed window on voice of reason

Published: Friday, June 3, 2005 7:03 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
A secret operative — whose name shall remain nameless — planted a bug at a meeting of the Utah Tax Reform Task Force . . . a fly on the wall, literally.

(Most observers agree that Utah's tax system is broken. The Task Force is supposed to recommend changes by November.)

Here's what the wired fly recorded:

Legislator No. 1: "The meeting will come to order. You'll find soft drinks and doughnuts on the goodies table. Thanks to the soft drink lobbyists who supplied them."

Legislator No. 2: "We all know Utah taxes are too high. Especially business taxes."

Legislator No. 3: "Right. I'm a businessman. I can't afford more taxes. Now, let's hurry along. I have a golf date in Palm Springs this weekend."

Legislator No. 4: "Taxes bad."

Token woman legislator: "But we should look at all taxes. We need broad-based tax policies to provide for our schools and our highways and other government services."

Legislator No. 3 (to token woman): "My, that's a nice pin you're wearing. I'd like to get one for my wife. Where did you find it?"

Story continues below
Professor of tax statistics: "She's right. Taxes in Utah are not well balanced. We put a heavy burden on wage earners. Sales taxes are not uniform. Property taxes are not well administered. City and county revenues are not keeping up with service needs."

Legislator No. 1: "Hold on, there. Don't mess with my county. My people will take care of themselves."

Legislator No. 5: "But we gave half a billion to highways to move people through the counties. We should help cities and counties maintain roads and support local business."

Learned economist: "Right. The key is business development. If we lower business taxes, we'll attract new businesses."

Voice of reason (through an open window): "No well-managed business ever made a location decision based on taxes."

Legislator No. 2: "Close the window. There's a draft in here."

Legislator No. 4: "Taxes bad."

Governor's spokesman: "We want to concentrate on business-friendly tax policies. We know most business growth will occur along the Wasatch Front, but it'll help everyone. It's the old trickle down effect."

Legislator No. 1 (under his breath): "Trickle is fickle."

Token Demo: "If you ask me . . . "

Chorus: "We didn't."

Utah's taxpaying citizens: Knock, knock.

Legislator No. 1 (quietly): "Who's at the door?"

Legislator No. 2: "Them."

Legislator No. 1: "Ignore them. We know what's best for Utah."

Voice of reason: "What's best for everyone is a strong state commitment to education."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

I am a life long BYU fan and I must say ya it's hurt pretty bad this season,...

Upset of the Year! Wasps 42 JD 35

Some of you are crazy - what's this crush with the Mountain West Conference?...

I have been anticipating this game for weeks. This is as good as it...

I have enjoyed these stars in other films and was looking forward to an...

The pressure isn't on Utah, it's on TCU. Tcu has nothing to gain by beating...

5A teams best of decade

Where are you getting your information about the 23 players that played...

Cougars practice with urgency

TCU is something to watch, but if I wanted the Cougars to model their game...

Another situation that exposes the flaws, albeit too late, of the problems...

pound it!! pound it!!! pound it! | 10:34 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009 I'm looking...

Advertisements
Advertisement