Just a brief coda to my series of budget thoughts.
One of the lesser tediousnesses of life under the Golden Dome is the knee-jerk lobbyist’s yelp. You know the drill: Legislature considers a proposal that might — might — impinge on a business interest, and the flacks go screaming to the press corps: This Bill Will Kill Jobs and Decimate Our Industry!!!
The latest run to the microphones was made by Parker Riehle, head of Ski Vermont. And the object of his trumped-up ire was Friday’s House Ways & Means Committee vote for an increase in the state rooms and meals tax.
An increase of one-half of one percent. Effective for only one year.
Cue Mr. Riehle, as reported by the Freeploid’s Terri Hallenbeck (Gannett paywall warning):
Minutes before they made their choices, lobbyists were still making pleas for their members to be spared new taxes. Parker Riehle, executive director of the Vermont Ski Association, said raising the meals tax would hurt restaurants who work on thin profit margins and, in the case of ski areas, compete with neighboring states for business.
“Hello, Okemo? I’d like to book one of your finest chalets. …Wait, what’s that you say? The state tax is nine POINT FIVE percent, instead of nine percent? Well, I’m sorry, that’s just too much. I’m taking my business to New Hampshire!”
I mean, c’mon.
Nothing against Mr. Riehle. I’m sure he loves his kids and his dog. And as Hallenbeck makes clear, he was just one member of the gabbling horde. But Vermont is in a tough budget bind, and I’m sick and tired of hearing the same old tired whinge.
(Besides, the committee had just cut the tax hike in half and imposed a one-year sunset in response to his arguments. What more could he expect?)
One time in my life, just once, I’d like to hear this instead: “While we don’t welcome a tax increase that could affect our business, we realize the Legislature has hard choices to make. And if this is the best way forward for all Vermonters, we are ready to do our part.”
Yeah, I know, cold day in Hell, blue moon, airborne pigs. And the flack would probably get fired for his selflessness.
But a guy can dream, can’t he?
That’s right, whack the tourists again.
Sure its only another 1/2%, but thats not a good reason to do it.
Many are sick and tired of your whinge, “its just a little bit more.”
Your darn right the state is in a tough place, and hard choices have to be made.
“The right way forward for Vermonters ” is to place the burden on those from out of state? Some progressive thinking….
I just booked a room in Madison, Wisconsin for a convention. Rooms tax? 14.5 percent!
Florida? 10 percent!
New Jersey? 12 percent, with up to 3% add on from local option taxes.
Connecticut and Rhode Island? 12 percent each.
Vermont’s proposed 9.5 percent? Oh boo hoo.
People who rent rooms can afford a half-percent bump in the tax. Since Shummy won’t allow honest income tax increases on people occupying the upper couple of tax brackets, then let ’em pay for their pleasures. I mean, he was all in favor of balancing his budget with other consumption taxes, you know, the ones that primarily affect the poor?
NanuqFC
Self-declared leaders must be rejected at once when they lack the integrity to stand publicly for the principles they claim to adhere to in private. ~ Woodrow Wilson