From Deseret News archives:
R.I.P. for Utah flat-tax proposal?
Proponent says reform lacks task-force support
"This tax reform can't make it without the support of the task force leadership and it doesn't have it," said a disappointed Rep. Greg Hughes, who sits on the Tax Reform Task Force.
The Draper Republican expected the group to advance a 4 percent flat rate income tax when it met this week. But instead the task force put off discussions on the tax for at least a week.
Other flat-rate proponents may not be as pessimistic, conceded Hughes, who predicted the true flat-rate tax will linger for a few months before expiring.
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, says the flat-tax idea is not dead. He has arranged for many of the "stakeholders" charities, mortgage interest advocates, senior citizens and others to testify at a Thursday hearing of the Tax Reform Task Force.
A true flat tax has no deductions for historically cherished expenses like charitable giving, home mortgage interest and children.
The LDS Church last spring came out against repealing the current state income tax deduction for charitable giving.
But, Hughes and other flat-rate advocates say if the 2006 Legislature keeps the traditional personal income tax deductions and just adopts a one-rate-for-all system, the current top bracket of a 7 percent tax rate (in which nearly all Utahns fall) could be lowered only to 6.35 percent or 6.5 percent.
"It wouldn't be worthwhile to bother with it," Hughes has said.
Hughes does not lay the death of a true flat-rate tax at the feet of LDS Church leaders. A number of "stakeholders," including other charitable groups, have been lobbying legislators recently over keeping their deductions, he said.
"We want a full discussion, especially by some groups that have an interest in these deductions but who have not been heard before," said Bramble. It will be their chance, he said, to show their concerns, and tax force members chance to show them that even if they lose their specific deduction, income-tax payers who take their deductions will still be better off because of an overall lower tax rate.
Comments
- Tigers vs. Miners by the numbers 2:32 a.m.
- Springville vs. Dixie by the numbers 2:25 a.m.
- Wasatch vs. Juan Diego numbers 2:22 a.m.
- Mustangs vs. Tbirds by the numbers 2:02 a.m.
- Nuggets win after clock review 1:41 a.m.
- Robbery ends poorly for one suspect 1:20 a.m.
- Wednesday on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Integration is possible on TV 12:59 a.m.
- Herbert talks land issues in D.C. 12:59 a.m.
- Developer looking to buy RSL share 12:58 a.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on
- Utes get extra motivation
- Senators want food tax restored
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- Lobo land like home for BYU lineman
- BYU soccer incident still popular
- U. hopes to keep clicking
- House passes health care bill
265 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Senators want food tax restored
152 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
105 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
104 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants nationwide will honor...
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Glad that he's finally going to be scouting how to beat TCU. Seems to...
Too anyone who whines about people who EARN high salaries; when was the last...
Don't know bout all that "Texas" stuff, but I'm here to tell you people, that...
Gorbachev was a brilliant leader and single most important individual in...
It buys votes from every irresponsible, lazy American in order to keep the...
My fear is the damage to the economy adding trillions of dollars to the...
I don't know, Ak can be horrible too, there are those times when he only...
Utah 24, TCU 21
You are so right about the BS of these 3 radio clowns!
And some of you out there could care less if we give up our freedoms as long...



You can be the first to comment on this story.