Jackson Jambalaya

It is clear what the long term plan is. Eliminate the income tax while raising virtually all other taxes. wait about 5 years and come back and say “We don’t have a state income tax, let’s start one like other states.” Pretty soon we will be like Maine, where people can no longer afford to live. By the way, please don’t remind these idiots that Fordyce eliminated the state income tax on already taxed social security benefits.

A consumption tax is utterly regressive and unfair. Except for years when there were costly medical expense I haven't spent more than half my annual income since 1990. I have actually never spent more than my Social Security in the past 11 years. For the most part I give away to individuals and charities an amount greater than the average individual income in the state each year. All in all the sales tax on my purchases equals less than 2.5% of my net income and it's quite obvious to me that although I'm not wealthy by any means I am financially comfortable and have better health insurance than any time in my past. So it's obvious that someone who is wealthy pays an even lower percentage of their income in sales tax. But possibly putting a sales tax of even as little as 0.1% on Wall St transactions would greatly improve the lack of fairness in our taxes.

For retirees who currently don't pay income tax, this will be a net tax increase.

Do we really want to copy Texas on this? To me it looks like a redistribution of the tax burden from the largest earners to the entire population, which is the poorest in the nation.

But, But...The Speaker has been Social Media, TV and everything, explaining to us how this will benefit everybody. And surely he wouldn't spend hours on end explaining something that would NOT be to our benefit.

If you've not spent more than your social security in the past 11 years, how the hell did you live on less than $24,000 dollars? Oh, wait...don't tell me...you frequent Stewpot at noon, drive a beater, don't consume alcohol and eat only boogers and Fritos with no cable service and an A.M. transistor radio. Must be a bitch bathing once every two weeks in cold water.

Anyone notice that states without an income tax Washington, Florida, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Florida, attract more industry and jobs than Mississippi?

i'd like to have nearly 10 percent sales tax....

better idea-raise state university tuition and eliminate scholarships at community colleges..

God help Mississippi if Phillup Gunn is the brain-child behind this bill. Let’s just say the IQ level of the Speaker is somewhat lacking.

Attn 2:05 I make stock investments quite frequently. I would say my average trade is about $85,000.00. You want to punish me by giving an average $85.00 punishment for something that has nothing to do with Mississippi every time I trade. Get your head out off your a**.

I love 2:05 and his blather about "regressive" taxes. Then he advocates a tax on investment transactions. We tax spending on earned income and sales tax. We tax savings and investments as follows, earn money (pay income tax), invest some and it will get taxed on dividends, capital gains, then when you spend the investment results you pay sales tax.

Therefore, be irresponsible and never save and money gets taxed twice. Delay gratification, save and invest in America and you get taxed four times. Yet this isn't enough taxes on responsible behavior for 2:05. I bet 2:05 loves AOC.

The fact that the legislature of the poorest state in the union that is losing population would consider this kind of pander at this time reveals just how far we haven't come.

Attn 2:09 Why not be like Texas? Do we really want to increase the non productive citizenship in the state? Economically speaking, we would be much, much better off with the have nots.

Kfish, did I miss the "analysis" you said in your post?

This looks like nothing but the House leadership;s (oxymoron??) talking points.

If you want to ditto them, just say so, but don't suggest that there is any analysis here other than Speaker Lamar's -- ooops, Gunn's.

Keep in mind that it was so cold last week that Mississippi's politicians had their hands in their own pockets for once.

2:08: how so?

2:46, MANY of us live entirely on SS.

I don't have a house note, it is paid off. I don't have (never did have) student loan debts except now I expect to have those of individuals I don't know thanks to the national Democratic leadership. I eat comfortably, and drink regularly.

No, I don't drive a fancy new vehicle, but the two I own get me there and back comfortably.

And - I don't pay any income tax in MS because retirement benefits are not taxed here. But this tax "reduction" that is claimed will "put money in everybody's pocket" doesn't do that for retirees. Empower and their paid staff and contributors all use the calculations starting with individuals making $50,000 a year. Guess they don't know or recognize anyone that doesn't fit in that category who they enjoy nice wine with a Caets.

As to copying Texas, we won't be. Texas has a sales tax rate of 6.25% - Mississippi under this plan will be two points higher than the next closest state, California. But - we will at least be lower than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Guess we can't even be first in anything, not even having the highest sales tax rates!)

KINGFISH at 4:06. This is not 2:08 but I will answer. Retiree benefits are not subject to income tax in Mississippi. So this bill will not provide any income tax reduction, but it will increase the taxes paid via sales tax.

Wallah!! A net tax increase. Fairly simple math. Zero income tax, 7% sales tax. This bill would result in: Zero income tax, 9.25% sales tax.

Comprendo?

QUESTION? Have not seen this addressed anywhere, including here.

In raising the 'sales tax' from 7$ to 9.25% -- did they raise the use tax as well (i.e. tax on internet sales)?

@2:08 here - because retirees don't currently pay income tax so there would be no advantage to them if the income tax were phased out. However, retirees pay sales tax and any increase would yield an increase in taxes for them.

@3:14 - did you ever notice that a lot of states with an income tax do as well? Your point?

I only do what Nancy Loon, er, Loome suggests.

@3:14 - do you think that maybe the climate, the schools, job opportunities, and maybe the OVERALL tax structure of those states you point to might have something to do with it; moreso than just the fact that they have zero income tax?

I realize that is the talking point many of those pushing this measure use, but you can't really think that people are moving to Florida because of their zero income tax rather than moving to MS because of our 4 or 5% income tax.

Weak thinking, but evidently the great think tanks have gotten through to you, unless of course you are one of their spokespeople chiming in here.

How is this going to attract jobs when the tax on manufacturing parts is quadrupled?

4:45 My point is that no states with high income taxes are doing well and all states without income are doing well.

Please feel free to site instances where greater taxes lead to greater economic growth.

Texas probably has a ton of oil tax revenue as well.

I can see the argument that individuals would be more likely to move here if there was no income tax, although I agree with many on here that that is exaggerated.

What makes absolutely no sense is that this will somehow bring jobs. Individuals don’t bring jobs. Business owners bring jobs. Everything besides income would be more expensive under this bill. Business owners do not care about income tax as much as they do business taxes and capital gains taxes.

What business owner would think it better to open a branch in Mississippi now that everything is more expensive except income tax? The only way I see this making sense is if employers think they can now pay their employees less to offset the decrease in income tax, in which case this accomplishes none of what its proponents say it will.

4% income tax in MS? Only if your taxable income is between $5,000 and $10,000.

Of course, if you have no facts to back yourself up, just make up lies.

Google “The Kansas Experiment”

That will be us after a few years of no income tax. Shittier infrastructure and shittier schools (than we already currently have, if that’s possible). They’ll have to roll everything back once it fails in a few years. Then we’ll have our very own Wikipedia page called “The Mississippi Experiment”

Kingfish say: Texas probably has a ton of oil tax revenue as well.

You indicated early on that your 'staff' was on this one. Please leave it to them and sit this one out. Parenthetical jabbering adds nothing.

I’ve always thought that a “consumption “ tax was fair. But after living in Texas for 8 years and paying huge property taxes I’m not sure I still feel that way. Do I trust the legislature to not go crazy on other revune streams? Nope. Guess we will find out

I see that our spoiled retirees are back. Same folks who voted for Thad Cochran over and over again for decades while he helped drive this country into a massive national debt hole with budget busting deficit pork barrel spending. The retirees could give a shit about anyone but themselves. The PERS retirees who chirp here like trained parrots are the same way.

@4:13
What the hell is Wallah?
I have heard of the French Voilà

I hope Tate has the stones to veto this terrible idea. (See "Kansas Experiment" above).

I suspect those who would benefit from this the most are those employed by the state (who also get health insurance and PERS).

" God help Mississippi if Phillup Gunn is the brain-child behind this bill. Let’s just say the IQ level of the Speaker is somewhat lacking. "


That sport model . . . (Gunn) . . . has been pissed at the Tater for years.
Gunn is obsessed with Tate,

Contrary to what Gunn says on Super-talk, he seems more concerned about getting (even) with Tate than what's in the best interest of Mississippi.

Both of these guys act like 12 year old little girls fighting each other over a spot on a cheerleading squad.

The increased sales tax on automobiles will really be a good thing....along with the high cost of tags. That new F-150 will really be a luxury.

I see a lot of Florida tags, a la "we own a condo in Destin" Florida no income tax and cheap car tags....tell us how that works Phillip!

@7:40 I have been screaming this every since this was announced. They have no idea what awaits. Honestly Mississippians, across the board can't afford the property taxes that the no state income states charge. It works in Texas and Florida because of the Tech Start Ups and Fortune 500 companies, but honestly Mississippi doesn't have the educational infrastructure to attract quality employers. The best private schools here are just quality public schools in other states...... Sad

I remember when the sales tax was raised "temporarily" from 6 to 7%. I knew that was a lie.

I'm going back to Florida not because they don't have an income tax but because I made so much more in Florida doing the same job. I'd go even if they did have an income tax. Who would come here if they didn't have to?

Bennie will save the Delta area PERS retirees .

7:56 has never been to a DHS office in Tunica.

“But this plan will hurt some people!“ No duh. It’s a Hail Mary attempt to save this state. The most recent data shows that 22% of our state’s population is on food stamps. Among the African-American community it’s over a third. Meanwhile, Mississippi has the lowest labor participation rate in the country.

This plan is simply an attempt to mimic what other states have done to significantly increase economic prosperity. And how does it work? Very simple. It increases the reward for productive labor while at the same time increasing the cost of consumption. That’s it. That’s the plan. Over time this plan is designed to draw more productive people to Mississippi while making it less hospitable for those who are burdens on taxpayers.

There is no free lunch, and the money to run government services has to come from somewhere. I'm fine with this if they will in parallel demand we get what we're paying for, such as quality education.

No state, no country, has ever been taxed into prosperity, but taxes are the mother's milk of politics.

Don't forget to add the "hospitality taxes" that every fork in the road has adopted to fund parks and ball fields and adds 2% to our bill for a Burger King whopper. That will now cost you 11.5 or 12%.

I also lived in Texas and my property tax bill was astronomical. But I didn't pay income tax and paid a smaller sales tax than Mississippi. Eliminating the income tax is a direct hit on retirees. And a sale tax increase will send Mississippians to Memphis, Mobile, Slidell, New Orleans, Monroe, Tuscaloosa, etc., etc., etc. This bill has so many unintended consequences and just plain stupid. Call it the Republican Death Spiral bill. Change will be coming.

Kingfish: Did you seriously ask how this screws retirees? We pay no state tax on retirement income. I'm sure there are lots of retirees who choose to move here or stay here for that very reason. We're also consumers. This crap-bill will raise taxes on every damned thing we purchase. That's a net increase.

Taxes are the mother's milk of corruption.

None of Mississippi's loser leaders has an iota of experience running governmental, non-profit entities. It's a zero sum game....you do the very best with the limited (or rapidly diminishing at times) resources called state and federal dollars. Your focus is rarely ROI - it has to be the Social ROI....look it up.

When the people start electing loser friends and family members, and look the other way at their corruption - roads and bridges fall apart before your very eyes, mental health systems cease to exist, schools fail miserable to actually educate anyone (and only exist to keep the largest portion of the state budget slush-fund flowing for further corruption), correctional systems collapse (and people die), health care systems become a monopoly stemming from a single corrupt source, etc. etc. etc.

Gunn, White, and Lamar were serving no one but themselves with this short-sighted attempt at some free press. Their constituents should remember how out of touch they are.

The comments about Texas fail to acknowledge that they pay huuuuge real property taxes. That’s where the money comes from. No idea whether it evens out or helps or hurts but it’s a factor to consider.

A 9.5% sales tax would make us the highest state in the country if I'm reading correctly. Let that sink in, the poorest state in the union will have the highest sales tax ??? Boys and girls there's something wrong with this picture.

I was leaving anyway, now this is going to make me look smarter.

Interesting comments on this subject. I do think it could be a draw to our state. Over the many years, I've had many colleagues and friends move to Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. They may not have been from Mississippi. Invariably, the first or sometimes second thing they say is "and we have no state income tax." They view it as a huge benefit. After years of living there I don't recall ever hearing one say they hated the high sales taxes or that they're killing them.

Second note, is that every swinging richard in or passing through the state will pay sales taxes. Drug dealers, criminals, gamblers, traffickers, etc. This is also why I'd favor raising the gas tax for a corresponding decrease in income taxes.

hey Mo @4:45: I never said greater taxes leads to greater economic growth. However, please site an instance where no state income tax solely leads to greater economic growth. If you think that is the reason those states do well, you're deluded. One of the great secrets about 'no income tax' states is that their property taxes are astronomical. Wonder why. Government/schools has to get the money somewhere. Pick your poison. I personally believe that sales/consumption taxes/vats are slightly more fair. They are certainly much easier and cheaper to collect.

Wouldn’t a use tax be counterproductive when trying to recover from an epidemic and the current atmosphere in this country? Inflation is rising and with this new regime in DC a recession is a given but the idiots in Jackson evidently don’t want people to spend their money. If everyone keeps their money in the bank Mississippi will quickly look like the idiots again.

I'm just glad that it seems most people (myself included) have woken up from the delusion that is libertarian economics.

Will the last one to leave turn off the lights?

If this would make Mississippi's sales taxe the highest in the nation, let's face it...Phillip Gunn is as full of shit as a Christmas Turkey. No wonder he's been sitting on the edge of his desk spreading the manure like it's salvation-oil at 50 cents per bottle.

9:33 No joke Sherlock. States have to get tax revenue somehow. Not one person has suggested otherwise. I do agree with you that consumption taxes are more fair. Rich people spend more money than the poor. At least that way everyone participates to a degree.

Rather than scheming to attract new people and businesses to the state, I think we should first focus on taking care of what we already have.

I wonder whether the motivation for this is really a cynical attempt to force those on government assistance to "pay their fair share." Some people just can't stand it if someone else gets a perceived free ride.

With Mississippi dependent on $1.9 billion from state income taxes, Tate knows the income tax elimination will never be a reality. He is merely pandering.

To quote H.L. Mencken, "For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and....wrong."

pla·gia·rism - the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.

Similar:
copying
infringement of copyright
piracy
theft
stealing
poaching

Jackson Jambalaya did not do do the analysis of the bill. Pathetic.

Look at the property taxes in Texas, Florida and Tennessee. Their house taxes are two and a half times higher that ours. The money has to be collected somehow. I suggest a 10% sales tax and let everyone pay into the system. Even if someone that stops in Ms from another state they will help pay into our system.

7:56 - I have news for your UNwoke ass. 5% of the retirees in this state are in the PERS retirement program. 95% of those over 65, on fixed incomes, never heard of PERS and don't deserve to be throttled by Gunn.