TWO “A” GRADES TODAY

Today came forth House Bill 416 in the House Labor and Commerce Committee, of which I’m a member, to lower the current $200 business license fee back down to $25. A “fee” translated to plain talk means “tax.” Anytime the government lowers a tax, it’s remarkable indeed.

An amendment in the committee was proposed to raise the proposed new $25 tax up to $100. I objected, argued against the amendment and, praise be, the amendment was defeated.

In 2003, I reluctantly had supported the governor’s proposal to raise the business license fee up to $200 because, plainly put, the state needed more revenue. Today, state coffers runneth over, so the $200 tax is no longer needed. Removal of the unnecessarily high current tax back down to $25 sends a positive message to the business community, especially small business.

So I awarded myself two grades of “A” today. One “A” for defeating the amendment to raise the tax to $100, and another “A” for making the motion to move the tax reduction bill out of committee and for marking my recommendation as “Do Pass.”