The Texas Approach

Texas is lowering taxes to attract business and stimulate growth.  Insert "gasp!" sound here.

“Our research indicates that low taxes are vital to a vibrant private sector,” Heflin said. “Texas’ economy is the envy of the nation because our state leaders have kept taxes and spending low, which has enabled businesses to use more of their resources for job creation.”

As The Tiger has been saying for some time now, this public policy approach shouldn't be new news to anyone, but perhaps we can use another state's proven model to change the way VT approaches its tax policy.  Here's more incentive to start talking about it in Montpelier:

During the last several years, Texas has led the nation in job creation, exports, and business climate. Recent analyses indicate that Texas was one of the last states in the country to enter the national recession and will be one of the first states to emerge from it.

We didn't hear a lot of talk about tax cuts during the last session, did we?  Certainly not in the way that would create substantive change to policy that would attract and retain businesses in the state, and give Vermonters something they want to wake up to every day: a job.  The looming disasters that are our projected budgets in the coming fiscal years demand that action and change occur now, so we will have enough time to stave off the red ink.

Comments

[RFC]

Arrogance, thy name is Shumlin-Smith.

The folks who lead the General Assembly wear blinders. Frankly, Geoff, they just don't give a damn. After all, the quality of life in Vermont is not surpassed by any other state or, for that matter, by anywhere else in the world and since nobody who has ever settled in Vermont ever, ever leaves, not even anecdotally, why should they (the leadership) want to even consider changing their tax and spend routine? After all, it works!

Economic development may be OK for the hillbillies who live in Texas, but what do they know? New England was settled long before the southwest and here we still are. We don't need any confounded, new-fangled stuff like industry or business which just complicates life and spoils the landscape. Besides, the folks who live in Vermont must really enjoy paying more and more taxes otherwise they wouldn't keep re-electing those of us who make it possible for them to do it.

So please don't tell us what the guys who wear the wide-brimmed hats in the wild west do. We like our ways and we're not about to change. God wanted us to do things our way and who are we to challenge Her?

[DJB]

I consider Minnesota second only to VT in "political thought" Paul Silverstone and Bernie were buddies in the Senate in political thought only.If we want to use another state as an example it might be interesting to note that ST.Paul let go 144 teachers some tenured to balance the budget. Now that is an original thought contrary to an equally tough union. Twincities.com is intereting to read.