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S.E. Wood Dear Honorable ... Open Letter to Speaker Naifeh Dear Honorable: (I always use his first name.
He likes that!) Several weeks ago you challenged your friends
in the General Assembly to suggest alternatives to your proposed
state income tax. Since none of your colleagues rose to the occasion,
I would like to offer an alternative proposal, the Tennessee
"junker" tax. Depending upon the options chosen, my proposal
would increase tax revenues, put more money in the pockets of
taxpayers, create exemptions from federal income taxes and, at
the same time, beautify the Tennessee countryside. It would work like this: Impose a $100 annual
fee on all privately owned "junker" cars and trucks.
You know what they are. You see 'em everywhere. This is an immense and growing tax base and
is easily quantified by comparing the state auto registration
lists with vehicles having current license plates. A car registration
without plates would be considered a taxable "junker."
Whammo - $100! Easy, huh? (On second thought, it may not be easy for
you guys, since you haven't done too good a job telling if TennCare
participants are dead or alive!) Under my plan, a taxpayer could easily exempt
himself/herself from this annual tax, and here's where the environmental
beautification comes in. A potential taxpayer in a low-income
bracket would be encouraged to sell the heap to a local junkyard
or scrap dealer and just keep the money. No "junker,"
no tax! A taxpayer in a higher income bracket could call the
Kidney Foundation, the American Cancer Society or some other
charitable organization, donate the thing, get a receipt at some
inflated value and deduct the amount on his/her federal income
tax as a charitable contribution. So you see, Honorable, with my plan, you get
some new tax money, low-end taxpayers pick up a little dough,
high-end taxpayers get a deduction and the rest of us don't have
to look at all those old "rust-buckets" any more. Everybody
gets a little something. And if you don't mind my saying so,
that's more than we can say for the unconstitutional state income
tax scheme you are promoting! I look forward to hearing from
you. Respectfully yours, · · · |