<div>But I don't see "poor" people buying the higher ticket items. Wouldn't that be progressive to some extent? I am not arguing that this is the best way to go, I just think it is more complicated than just saying the poor carry all the burden when the sales tax is increased. I don't think that reducing the "homeowner's" exemption also reduces commercial property tax, but maybe a legislator or prospective legislator could chime in and explain. </div> <div> </div> <div>Here's my skeptical view of the situation. The powers that be will lower the homeowner's exemption. There will be a false sense of security and homeowners will pass all kinds of bonds because they feel they can afford it. Then property values and assessed values rise. What stops the property tax from being raised in the future? It still can be done, leaving us with a worse tax scenario (from the individual standpoint)
than before the exemption. It is just a cat and mouse game. Either way, the citizens pay for the services. Either way, the poor get screwed. Either they pay more for services and goods or they go even longer without being able to afford to buy a house. <BR><BR><B><I>Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com></I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">"The latest plan coming from Gov. Jim Risch's camp would eliminate the school tax for everyone, saving $250 million in property taxes. But to cover the cost, he would raise the sales tax by a penny, raising about $210 million, and then take the $40 million left from the surplus."<BR><BR>Both the Democrats and Republicans have unfair plans. Risch's plan is even more reckless. He wants to shift the burden of taxes from property owners and place it on the back of the poor by
increasing sales tax on daily needed items by 20%.<BR><BR>Democrats want to cut property tax by $104 million then raise the sales tax to generate more money for education.<BR><BR><BR>This is just two groups of people arguing whether to call the zebra black with white strips or white with black strips. They are both planning to shift the tax burden from the wealthy and middle class to the poor and middle class by implementing a progressive sales tax. <BR><BR>This is typical politicians thinking: cut taxes just before the election by placing the tax burden on the shoulders of those who can least afford it.<BR><BR>They ought to place a handwashing station at each polling district because the voting booths are the most unsanitary places of all.<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>_DJA<BR><BR><BR><BR><B><I>TIM RIGSBY <tim.rigsby@hotmail.com></I></B> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">Thanks for the thought
and input. Maybe I should have called out the <BR>Republicants as opposed to the Republicans. I agree, Schroeder and Trail <BR>have a very wonderful track record of supporting public education. One of <BR>the reasons they probably support public monies going to public education is <BR>because they represent the University of Idaho. A majority of their <BR>constituents either work for, are supported by, or are related to somehow <BR>with the UI.<BR><BR>Then again, Schroeder and Trail have been called RINOs on more than one <BR>occasion. Thanks Tim for pointing out my broad stroke.<BR><BR>Tim<BR><BR><BR><BR>" 'Politics is the art of controlling your environment.' That is one of the <BR>key things I learned in these years, and I learned it the hard way. Anybody <BR>who thinks that 'it doesn't matter who's President' has never been Drafted <BR>and sent off to fight and die in a vicious, stupid War on the other side of <BR>the World -- or been beaten and gassed by Police for
trespassing on public <BR>property -- or been hounded by the IRS for purely political reasons -- or <BR>locked up in the Cook County Jail with a broken nose and no phone access and <BR>twelve perverts wanting to stomp your ass in the shower. That is when it <BR>matters who is President or Governor or Police Chief. That is when you will <BR>wish you had voted." - Hunter S. Thompson<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>>From: Tim Lohrmann <TIMLOHR @yahoo.com=""><BR>>To: tim.rigsby@hotmail.com<BR>>CC: vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>Subject: Democrats new property tax plan: $104 million cut for homeowners<BR>>Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 09:59:31 -0700 (PDT)<BR>><BR>>Hey Visionistics,<BR>> He may have a cool first name, but I've still got to call Tim <BR>>Rigsby on a little something here.<BR>> Tim writes--"Republicans never have supported public education and <BR>>I am sure they were pissed when the IEA collected enough signatures to get <BR>>the 1% initiative on
the November ballot. Thoughts?"<BR>> Yeah, I actually managed one of those thought thingys on this one, <BR>>Tim.<BR>> Watch those broad, sweeping statements---because you're just plain <BR>>wrong here.<BR>> Wrong how?<BR>> Two words---Schroeder & Trail.<BR>> It would be tough to find a State Rep. or a State Senator of <BR>>either party who have supported public education more consistently than <BR>>either Tom Trail or Gary Schroeder.<BR>> The IEA agrees by routinely endorsing them for re-election.<BR>> Anyway, thanks for the interesting article forward...just thought <BR>>you might wanna do a little closer fact check on your "short message" <BR>>section next time.<BR>> TL<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> "Those 'technicalities have a name, Bobby. They're called the <BR>>Bill of Rights."<BR>> <BR>> ---Hank Hill<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>The Idaho Statesman <CONTACT
@idahostatesman.com="">wrote:<BR>> You have been sent the following article from Tim Rigsby as a courtesy <BR>>of The Idaho Statesman.<BR>><BR>>"Local News - 10:56 a.m. Democrats offer new property tax plan: $104 <BR>>million cut for homeowners"<BR>><BR>>To view this article on The Idaho Statesman website, go to:<BR>>http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660711006<BR>><BR>>The following is a short message from Tim Rigsby:<BR>>Could be good, who knows for sure though. I am guessing that the <BR>>Rebublicans want to raise the sales tax to prevent the IEA proposed sales <BR>>tax increase from passing in November. Republicans never have supported <BR>>public education and I am sure they were pissed when the IEA collected <BR>>enough signatures to get the 1% initiative on the November ballot. <BR>>Thoughts?<BR>><BR>>=====================================================<BR>>List services made available
by First Step Internet,<BR>>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<BR>>http://www.fsr.net<BR>>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>>====================================================<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>---------------------------------<BR>> Open multiple messages at once with the all new Yahoo! Mail Beta.<BR><BR>_________________________________________________________________<BR>Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! <BR>http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/<BR><BR>=====================================================<BR>List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>http://www.fsr.net <BR>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>====================================================<BR></CONTACT></TIMLOHR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <div> <HR SIZE=1> Open multiple messages at once with the <A
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