Comments about ‘Reinstating the food tax is a must to fill in Utah's budget gap’

When the sales tax was partially removed from food, a number of taxing entities moved rapidly to institute a RAP sales tax or a transportation corridor preservation sales tax.

They told their citizens that even with these sales tax increases that they would still be paying less because the sales tax on food had been eliminated.

Will these taxing entities abolish their RAP and transportation corridor sales taxes if the sales tax on food is reinstated?

Will Representative McIff require that sales taxes imposed after the sales tax on food was removed be rescinded?

Of course not.

Please please please bring back the food tax. At least all those with full quivers of tax deductions will begin to pay their fair share.

It doesn't matter what you tax or how much you tax it. Government has a penchant for spending more than tax revenues can support.

I wonder how the author voted last year in regard to the tax on tobacco products? I feel the legislature was effectively "waltzed" on that issue.

Talk is cheap.

Rather than a blanket tax on all food why not a selective tax on certain items. How about things that are unhealthy example soda pop and candy?

Any one else have any additions?

At the same time the legislature couldn't afford to cut the sales tax on food they were able to give the telecommunications industry an enormous exemption from sales tax on equipment. We have since given the mining industry a huge sales tax break.

I know this will fall on deaf ears but the legislature need to reconsider ALL of the sakes tax breaks given, not just the one allowed on food.

Its time that Utah took the big step now. Eliminate the food tax; and increase property tax to make up the short fall. Our property taxes, the "fairest" tax of all, are extremely low.

Reinstating the food tax is a reasoned approach to the very severe crisis Utah faces. I commend Rep. McIff for his approach, leadership, and research.

I hope the Legislature considers other ways to broaden the base such as taxing some services. This has been discussed for a decade. Tax rates can be lowered if the base is broadened. It's time for some legislative courage because Governor Herbert is showing none whatsoever.

As long as people demand that government become their mommies and their daddies, those that sit on the thrones of government will be all too happy to tax us to meet those needs.

The role of government is not to feed us. It is not to clothe us. It is not to give us health-care. Those are personal and family responsibilities.

It is not surprising that people who have abdicated their own personal responsibility to care for themselves would also abdicate their responsibility to care for those in their families, including their extended family. They would be the ones who looked the other way when hardship befell their neighbors. They would be the ones who demand that "some rich guy" living in some house, other than their own, pay those bills.

Sales tax, especially sales tax on food, cripples the ability of the poorest among us to care for themselves. In a way, it almost makes it necessary for government to help. That is the goal and the desire of our politicians. They want us to NEED them.

They and all those who think like them need a vacation from political office.

We don't need no stinkin' taxes.

The legislature already built themselves new offices. Our children are being schooled in those luxurious trailers.

What would we need tax money for?

Any taxation on the necessities on life is simply evil. To say that a citizen must pay *% for the non luxurious ( aka non processed foods) is simply wrong. To do so is to tax their right to live. All humans have a right to the necessities of life without having the artificial burden of having a tax tacked onto them.

What right do we have to say to any human....no sir you can not buy that loaf of bread unless you pay the Government a percentage?

All responsible citizens should should say NO TO TAXATION ON FOOD, WATER AND REASONABLE HOUSING.

YES TO TAXING LUXURY GOODS AND HOMES!

Whenever I read a headline that says we should have more taxes or "reinstate some tax" I get a queezy feeling in my gut. I wish the govt. would start to think more in terms of budgeting and not-wasting so much of are allready over-taxed income.

There is nothing I know that is stopping the letter writer from paying more taxes if they wish,

IN fact I believe it should be required by law that anyone who wants more taxes should first be required to pay more.

Mike Richards I wonder how much conservatives with kids save because single people have their wages redistributed by government to pay for families that, in your words, "have abdicated their own personal responsibility to care for themselves?"

Working as a liberal and getting paid well enough that I could buy any toy I wanted and shop for food based on likes, not on costs, I foolishly felt I was helping my nation and community by paying higher taxes.

Incessant whining by conservatives about their victimization as made me realize you have one hand getting your handout whine to whine about doing your share.

By the way Michael, I bey you never served in our military. You are so narcissistic and self focused.

Mike, you you think its right to cut you taxes and pas your costs to sigmle people in a nation foubder to have a government that doesn't favor one citizens choices over another citizens choices.

Mike, please justify how you cut you share using you marital status and lack of reproductive responsibility.

If you whine, now, think of your tears if liberals didn't pony up to pay for your choices without whining about it.

Don't diss Mike Richards for having children. In your govt. utopian world view he is producing more taxpayers to pay for all the govt. largess you love so much.

True, we all pay for food so it would be the only fair tax applied. Those that eat steak and lobster will pay more than those that eat hamburger and tuna fish, but they can afford it. So let's do it, but at the same time let's eliminate all other taxes. Every one. Then when your grocery bill is totaled up you will see exactly how much government is demanding from you when they add their tax totals. If that doesn't give you a wake-up call, nothing will.

If there's ONE thing I don't approve taxing it's food. That's one thing no family can do without. No matter if they can afford it or not.

I love working and visiting in Oregon. It just blows my mind that when you go to McDonalds and order a 99 cent double-cheese burger, I just instinctively give them 2 dollar bills... and they look at me like... What is he thinking? And they give me back the dollar bill AND a penny.

It just makes me smile the rest of the day!

In keeping with a longstanding Deseret News policy of not publishing stories the day before or the day of the election, no comments will be posted on election stories Monday or Tuesday. The rationale for this policy being applied to comments is to prevent the last-minute dissemination of untrue allegations against a candidate that could influence voters.

Family Taxer McIff deserves a good opponent NEXT YEAR when the members of the House are held accountable to the public. I guess the DesNews has outsourced their comment moderation to India, Certainly their staff in Utah know that legislators are not up for reelection this year.