this clown wants all of us to pay a sales taxes now.
stop this bill HB 596 in it's track call his office at
Office: (406)444-4800 or email him at [email protected]
AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE DON'T WANT IT!!!

For the record, I am a republican, but do not necessarily vote strictly republican. This bill is one that I would vote against. We in Montana already pay a slightly higher property tax than most other states. This would be a new tax, and, as new taxes go could be raised in the future by a simple legislature vote with no input from the citizens of Montana. The phone call has been made. Thanks for the heads up.

The irony is a survey was just done which showed huge opposition to a sales tax. The Lege this year seems to determined to prove that it ignores the will of the people on every issue.

I happen to be a big fan of sales tax, as long as we get a corresponding decrease in property tax. Best way to sock it to the tourists.

Sometimes, politics is about making the hard and best choices....not about opinion polls.

Good job, Representative McGillvray!

I'm with Gunnar

You mouthbreathers Freeman wannabees rubes bumpkins fine citizens of Montana should realize that the gov't is gonna get theirs regardless. You might as well have the tourists pay part of the freight via a sales tax.

Most other states do!

Just sayin'

It would be great to have input from someone who has lived here and now lives in a State where they pay sales tax. We have been going to Colorado for a couple of years to visit kids and it seems to be not only State Sales Tax, County Sales Tax, City Sales Tax but Real Estate Property Tax as well. Think of buying a vehicle or an appliance. Would really like to know how EXACTLY it would work and what SPECIFICALLY it will affect. I would also like to know how it would work when people are able to buy from each other at wholesale price thus avoiding taxes. Kind of a buddy system that happens. Lots of questions. Look forward to more opinions. Thanks.

This legislation eliminates Montana income tax and puts a sales tax in its place.

What I liked about South Carolina's sales tax was that much of what I paid was refunded to me every year. Perhaps because I didn't earn a lot as a sailor, then as a boatyard worker. As I recall, the reasoning was that a person at that wage level spent every cent he made, and paid a sales tax on a lot of what he spent it on, and should get a little back.
This was in the early 80's. I remember South Carolinians as being pretty content with their "system" there.
edit
Whereas in Montana it seems the topic of either taxes or a sales tax can start a fight anywhere...

[This message has been edited by Jeff Denton (3/24/2011)]

Jeff...My question is did you have to keep track of every cent of sales tax you paid on whatever you purchased in order to show it as an income tax deduction? It seems like businesses would have a ton of work as they will be the collectors. Just looking at all aspects.
Interesting.

Hmmm.... eliminate the income tax, institute a sales tax. Who would that benefit? Usually the swells are a little more subtle when they go about fleecing the rubes.

Of course, when the rubes demand (loudly and repeatedly) that they be fleeced, well, I suppose sometimes the temptation is just to much.

In comparison, Mt. has only a property tax and income tax. Colorado has a property tax (4.63% of value), a state income tax (also 4.63% regardless of income), a state sales tax (2.9%), except for food which is 4%. They also have a 7.25% tax on auto rentals. On top of all this the individual counties and cities have a sales tax. This is why I am not in favor of a Mt sales tax because it opens the door for all these other taxes, and the pot just keeps getting larger.

Gotter' done and thanks ALL. The phones are very busy in Helena:-)

No, Jeri. I have to guess that the state just refunded a percentage of what sales tax they assumed I would have paid, knowing I didn't make much and was struggling to survive at that level... basically boils down to a tax relief for the poor, huh?

Every time the topic of sales tax pops up in Montana "they" promise to REDUCE other taxes and NOT invent new ones. It's this promise that we always have a hard time with, isn't it?

Jeff. ...You must have been entitled to a Military exemption which you definitely should have received. Whatever...glad you got it. I did have to end up voting "No" to a Sales Tax as I can see where it could continue to grow and grow. Nice to have input.

It is nothing more than tax reallocation. They are stealing my money to give to the rich.

Also each city in Colorado has the right to add their own sales tax on. Denver city tax is 3.62% plus there are special sales taxes for RTD, SCDF etc. Total sales tax is about 8% in Denver

Doesn't it kind of give you a good feeling to know that you are needed, Stone? From what I read it appears that there is a specific region of your brain's cortex that is more sensitive. That is not all bad:-) If you are interested...the article is "Study says brains wired to political ideology", conservative, liberals cortexes may work differently. I will email a copy to anyone interested if you request it at [email protected].

I now live in Utah which has sales tax, property tax and an income tax. All I know is that when we bought a house here the property tax on it was 2/3 of what we were paying on a house in Montana that was worth 1/3 less than our Utah house.

Jeri, that is funny since I used to be a republican until I was 25 and then switched to become a progressive populist. Why? I read Noam Chompsky.

Hmmm.... eliminate the income tax, institute a sales tax. Who would that benefit?

Could be worse.. we could just go the full Idaho and eliminate the state property tax instead, so only the Planta.... er I mean property owners see any benefit.

I think I'm really seeing an opportunity here for a business relationship to blossom though. All of those Progressives in Idaho who must be burning up with the guilt they feel for having their property go untaxed by the state. All of us Montana Conservatives who obviously feel we pay plenty of property tax.

I think for a modest fee we could work out some kind of progressive tax-guilt offset program. You pay 25% of my property tax, and you receive (the same day the check clears) a full color certificate (via pdf) that you can show to your Idaho friends that you helped pay taxes Progressively, just like Montanans do.

It is nothing more than tax reallocation. They are stealing my money to give to the rich.

Yeah, and since McDonald's doesn't means test those Happy Meal prices, they're stealing your money too! Or wait though. I guess if you make more than the fry cook, you should pay more, or you're actually stealing from them!

Progressivism is hard!

Rick, anyone that knows me- Taco Johns all the way.