Floridians, would you vote for an income tax....

[dryan]

a Duer stated today that Floridians are getting a free ride because we are getting help from FEMA not once but twice because of the recent storms. This poster says that they are from Ohio and they collect state income tax. So I am taking an informal poll. Please answer the following:

1. Should Florida have an income tax: Yes or No
2. What is your age?
3. What is your income bracket?
4. Would you elect a Democrat who believed in a state income tax?
YES or No
5. What part of Florida do you live in and for how long?

Thanks!

[SheilaT]

1. People who live in states with no income tax

don't seem to understand that they pay taxes anyway. Although a state like Florida shifts a lot of the burden to tourists, which is an excellent reason not to visit that state if you don't already live there. Or they have taxes, like sales taxes, that fall disproportionately on lower income folks.

Leona Helmsly was the spokesperson for all rich people when she said, "Only the little people pay taxes."

[FlaIndie]

2. what does FEMA have to do with state income taxes?

Fema = federal dollars. We pay Federal Income taxes here the same as everybody else.

1. Should Florida have an income tax: No
2. What is your age? 23
3. What is your income bracket? Damn low.
4. Would you elect a Democrat who believed in a state income tax? No
5. What part of Florida do you live in and for how long? Gainesville, forever.

We don't need a state income tax because we have a unique economy driven on tourism and the like. But I do think we could free up more money by taking away some of Jeb!'s tax breaks for businesses (ie: Disney) that he pushed through. We already had one of the lowest tax burdens in the country before he got in power--and a budget surplus. Now we just keep making ends meet or borrowing from money saved during the surplus years.

[dryan]

3. You are right....

FEMA has nothing to do with state income tax. I was just curious after another DUer put up yet another "anti-Florida" message. Bill McBride even admitted during the third Governors debate that he was against a state income tax and he was a Democrat.

[FlaIndie]

4. Didn't stop Jeb! from sliming him

We had ads all over TV saying McBride would have to put up a state income tax to pay for his education plans.

[onethatcares]

5. no

1: no
2: 53
3: bout 60K
4: Not a valid issue, it is part of the constitution of Florida and would require a citizens referendum to place on the ballot. But, no
5: west central on the pinellas peninsula 30 yrs.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. The Legislature can also place Constitution Amendments on the ballot

As they did this year with the parental notification issue.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

7. Yes

1. Yes. I'm from Maine and I am used to having to pay some state income tax besides federal. I think it is a good idea and this state needs more funds for education.
2. I'm 25.
3. $30,000 a year
4. Yes, I would.
5. Orlando for 3 years.

[carpe_vinum]

8. That doesn't make much sense. (m)

How are we getting a free ride from a federal program? I'm not sure how that ties in to a state income tax. How would this individual account for the hundreds of thousands of people in states that *do* have a state income tax who have also applied for FEMA assistance? Strawman argument.

As for your questions:


1. Should Florida have an income tax: Believe it or not, I really don't have much of an opinion. I enjoy not having one, but I wouldn't be devastated if one was created. I suspect not having to maintain the bureaucracy necessary to process taxes is something to consider as well.
2. What is your age? mid-30s
3. What is your income bracket? Better than most, not as good as some
4. Would you elect a Democrat who believed in a state income tax?
That wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me.
5. What part of Florida do you live in and for how long? Brevard County 10 years, with an 18 month assignment to NYC in the middle.

[cthrumatrix]

9. Let's see a min wage increase FIRST...then talk about taxes

[FlaGranny]

10. One of the reasons we moved to Florida

in the first place was because there was no state income tax. We moved from New Jersey where, in addition to a hefty income tax, there was also a VERY heavy real estate tax.

So to answer your questions:
1. With proper leadership, it should not be needed, but would not be disasterous.
2. We're in our 60's.
3. Social Security and part time work put us in the lower income range.
4. Yes.
5. Southeast for 27 years.

We are getting anything but a free ride from FEMA as we pay just as much in Federal income tax as the people in any other state. The state and local taxes we pay have nothing at all to do with FEMA.