The endorsements are rollin’ in…

There hasn’t been much room in my mailbox lately with all the endorsement letters gushing in.  (“Puffery” is an acceptable literary technique when the writer is trying to emphasize a point to his readers.  There has been a little room left)

If you’ve missed out on what’s going on lately, it sounds like the governor’s going to call a Special Session.  No Really! I know it’s just a rumor…but…this one may have some teeth.

So convinced Personal Income Tax Reform [J2] (and maybe something else) will be the topic of a late-middle September Special Session, legislative leaders are rallying the troops for a special caucus meeting tomorrow late morning (Tuesday) following an even earlier special meeting of the Revenue and Taxation Interim committee at 8 am.

So, who’s been positively vocal about Governor Huntsman’s Dual Personal Income Tax Reform Plan (J2)?

Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes, of the Forbes Magazine and Financial Empire, and former U.S. Presidential candidate, visiting Salt Lake City last week, suggests that little ol’ Utah is in a position to be one of the supreme leaders in state and national flat tax reform by adopting Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr’s Dual-Tax plan (J2).

The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce

The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce came out last Friday in support of Gov. Jon Hunstman, Jr’s Dual-Tax plan (J2).  In an article last Saturday in the Deseret News, Warburton and Roche report that Chamber president, Lane Beattie, said the dual tax system …”would help stimulate Utah’s economy.”

Utah Technology Council

Impressive to me is the UTC, whose trustees include a big chunk of the who’s who of the Utah Public and Higher Education** world, sent a letter of endorsement to me and 103 other Utah State Legislators (dated August 31, 2006) endorsing the passage of Governor Huntsman’s Dual-Tax plan (J2).  These are the leaders who represent administrators and students many believe are the persons most likely to be negatively affected in the short-term by adoption of such a personal income tax reform plan.  Among those community leaders prominently listed down the left-hand side of the page are:

Cynthia Bioteau, Salt Lake Community College

Richard Brown, University of Utah

Patti Herrington, [Superintendent] State Office of Education

Scott Hinton, Utah State University

Rich Kendall, Commissioner of Higher Education

Brent Miller, Utah State University

William Sederburg, Utah Valley State College

Michael Young, University of Utah

In my opinion, these educators and administrators should be commended for having a backbone long-term vision for the overall, well-being of our state.

Economic Development Corporation of Utah

A letter I received dated August 31, 2006, from the Economic Development Corporation of Utah asserts, that although the Legislature made significant progress this year “passing targeted tax cuts that will strengthen our business environment…we recognize that your work is not yet finished.”  The message goes on to explain the Legislature should move forward to adopt the Governor’s Dual-Income Tax Plan (J2).

Further, the endorsement points out that Tax Reform “[w]ill send a strong message regarding economic competitiveness by taking Utah from one of the highest income tax rates in the country to one of the lowest.”  The correspondence is signed by Scott Anderson, Chair of EDCUTAH (and President of Zion’s Bank).

Also, noted prominently on the letterhead from the Public Sector**:

Mayor Ross “Rocky” Anderson, Salt Lake City Corporation

Lorris Betz, University of Utah

Nolan Karras, Utah State Board of Regents

The State Board of Education

Although the State Board of Education has not endorsed Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr’s Dual-Tax plan (J2), it has been reported the Board may be warming up to the idea that meaningful Personal Income Tax reform now will mean greater revenues in the not too distant future.  (You can have a handful now or you can have the whole bowl later!  Sorry…just a flashback from my childhood.)

JUST DO IT!

It’s no secret, I believe the $70 million still sitting on the table from the 2006 General Session, earmarked for Personal Income Tax Reform/Cuts by the legislature and the governor, should go back to the taxpayers.  Let’s spend a productive day tomorrow discussing the merits of good tax reform (J2)—and then—let’s JUST DO IT!

** I’m not implying that having their names prominently displayed on the UTC or EDCUTAH letterheads constitutes a personal endorsement of the contents of the letters.

(Photo taken by Sen. Curt Bramble…with my camera…he was on the front row…imagine that!)

OK…call me a hypocrite; but, after I heard LaVar was going to visit with the President, an endorsement of sorts (was it something I said?), I just couldn’t get to the Grand America fast enough (65 mph max.) for the President’s speech and luncheon with 999 of my closest friends (oh, and W’s, too).  The President was articulate, relaxed, and straight forward–he really shined–this is Bush Country.  Was it just me, or did he seem to really pour on the Texas accent?!  Thanks to Energy Solutions for an outstanding, memorable event (oh, and Orrin , too).  You’re the man, George!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN! 

There are few citizen legislators as engaged in Utah politics as Rep Greg Hughes.  As one of Utah’s policy “thinkers,” Greg can contribute intelligently to any policy discussion–on any topic.  He Chairs the Utah State House Conservative Caucus, which he co-founded in 2004.  We sat down in the dining room of the Governor’s Mansion in Salt Lake City to have a little chat about…you guessed it…tax policy.  This Podcast includes discussions on the Conservative Caucus, Tax Reform Policy, Spending/Sustainability, Property Tax for Transportation/Transit, County Sales Tax Option, and the new $350M surplus.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

On August 30, 2006, Robert Spendlove, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr’s Chief Economist, and I spent a few minutes discussing the Governors Dual-Tax proposal. The Dual-Tax proposal will, no doubt, be the major focus of a late September Special Session of the Utah State Legislature.  The proposal constitutes a potentially historical, and certainly significant, shift in Personal Income Tax policy.

Next Podcast:  Rep. Greg Hughes, Chairman of the Utah State House Conservative Caucus (and Co-Founder), speaking on Transit and Taxes.