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GEORGIA CRONYISM BOOKLET
The Politically-Connected
Wealthy Businesspeople
Yacht Owners
Music Producers
Musicians
10 Legislative Scorecard
17 Citations
Your hard-earned tax dollars should be treated with the same respect by
government as you do when making a family budget. Our government
should always be looking for ways to operate more efficiently and
effectively. It should always look to end wasteful programs, so that
Georgians can keep more of their hard-earned money.
During the 2017 legislative session, both the House and the Senate
passed versions of HB 329, which would have reduced the top rate from
the current 6 percent. But leaders in both chambers could not find a
compromise to send to the governors desk.
While this effort at lowering taxes on all Georgians failed, several egregious
examples of corporate handouts of taxpayer dollars passed either one or
both chambers. While there have been several other bills introduced or
passed this year and in the last few years, these four highlight the absurdity
of the cronyist approach to tax policy and economic growth. Some
Georgia lawmakers voted to give tax carve-outs to certain individuals and
industries in the state, to the tune of more than $480 million3 over the
next five years. These funds should have been used to cut the taxes of all
Georgians, not just those with political connections.
People working just to make ends meet cant afford to own a yacht, or
a music studio, or a video game production company. These bills give
special treatment to those who can afford them. When special interests
get tax breaks, the average Georgian is stuck footing the bill for the cost of
government. With each step towards cronyism, Georgia takes a step away
from true tax reform that would lead to greater prosperity in our state.
If you agree that all Georgians deserve a tax cut, not just those who can
afford a lobbyist, please let your Senator and Representative know.
YACHT
SALES TAX
EXEMPTION
Favors for the well-connected
If the average Georgian has to pay sales tax on a purchase, then a yacht
owner should have to as well. This bill, which became law July 1, 2017,
gives a sales tax exemption for yacht repairs by capping taxes paid at
$35,000.. This favor for the yacht industry will cost the state over a
million dollars5 each year in lost revenue.
WE OPPOSED
We oppose tax carve outs for special interests.
This bill would give a sales tax exemption for yacht
repairs over $500,000.
TAX CREDIT
FOR MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Taxpayer-funded handouts
Businesses should succeed or fail based on their meritsnot on the
preferences of politicians. With this bill, our state government will
reward certain businesses in the music industry with taxpayer-funded
handoutsto the tune of $50.3 million7 over five years.
WE OPPOSED
Government shouldnt pick winners and losers.
Businesses and industries should succeed or fail based
on their meritnot on the preferences of politicians.
*Average Elementary School: $12 million; Average Middle School: $22 million; Average High School:
SPECIAL
TREATMENT
FOR MUSICIANS
Favoritism
We dont exempt plumbers, nurses, teachers or firefighters from paying
income taxes. So why should musicians be shown favoritism? This bill*
would exempt musicians royalties from state income taxes, with an
estimated cost of more than $4 million per year9.
*
H.B. 196 passed and was signed into law, but the Senate rightfully removed this special-interest provision
WE OPPOSED
You have to pay your income taxes, so why shouldnt
musicians have to pay tax on their income, as well? We
oppose legislation that gives preferential treatment to
one group of people at the expense of another.
WE OPPOSED
This bill gives tax credits to video game creators.
We oppose special interest carve outs in the tax code.
Average maintenance and upkeep cost per mile of road: $15,361 (Could renovate 1,301.9 miles)
http://reason.org/files/22nd_annual_highway_report.pdf
STOPTHEHANDOUTS.COM
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