2004 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Tax Reform


Mike Beebe: Phase out the sales tax on utilities for manufacturers

To help attract new manufacturers and retain the ones we have, we’ll phase out the sales tax on utilities for manufacturers, with the first step being a one-sixth reduction. I will work with the Legislature and the legislative leadership to roll back the sales tax on off-road diesel fuel and replace it with a per-gallon tax coupled with an incentive to purchase bio-diesel.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 10, 2007

Mike Beebe: Get rid of the regressive sales tax on food

We have a moral charge to rid our State of its most regressive tax, the state sales tax on food. We have the opportunity now to begin eliminating it in a responsible way that will end the tax over time and not impede state services in the interim. We all share a common desire to move our State forward and to offer help to those among us who need it most. That desire is a noble one and should drive us to work together to a common end: never making the perfect the enemy of the good.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 10, 2007

Butch Otter: Keep sales tax on groceries with a grocery tax credit

I will be submitting legislation to increase the grocery tax credit for lower-income Idahoans to as much as $90 per person. I have carefully considered eliminating the sales tax on groceries. There clearly is a need to reduce the tax burden on lower-income individuals and families who must spend a disproportionate amount of their income on food. Simply eliminating the tax is an attractive idea, but the eventual $180 million budget impact would be tough to absorb.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 8, 2007

Eliot Spitzer: Dramatically reduce property taxes to help homeowners

We must reduce our cost structure is to dramatically reduce property taxes. Because of the different needs of our state, as we provide more resources to school districts, we must provide more property tax relief to over-taxed homeowners. I will submit a budget that includes the first installment of a three-year, $6 billion property tax cut - cuts that are focused on those middle class homeowners whose property taxes are rising too fast for their incomes to catch up.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

Bill Richardson: Continue to cut taxes and reform the tax code

We must continue to cut taxes, reform the tax code and invest in infrastructure by fully implementing the personal income tax cuts. I will also pursue targeted tax reform initiatives, including tax credits for creating high-wage jobs and technology start-ups. Let’s cut the tax on food & the tax on medical services. I promise to work with you to find a way to pay for these cuts, but let’s get it done now to help improve the quality of life for all New Mexicans, especially those who need it the most.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature Jan 20, 2004

Mark Warner: Cut taxes for at least 65% of Virginians

Our budget and tax reform plan makes Virginia ‘s tax system fairer. It does this by lowering the income tax for most Virginians; by finally keeping the promise of the car tax cut and the food tax cut; by ending the estate tax for farms & small businesses and by closing the loopholes that allow many major corporations to avoid paying their fair share. It adds one penny to the sales tax, and it creates a new income tax bracket, affecting less than 8% of upper-income Virginians.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to General Assembly Jan 14, 2004

Kathleen Sebelius: Allow overdue taxes to be paid without penalty

The FAIR SHARE program we initiated last year also has paid big dividends. Too many Kansans owed back taxes and hadn’t paid them for years. Offering those citizens a one-time chance to pay what they owed without penalty generated almost $54 million in back taxes. That’s money we never would have seen if we had simply continued our “business-as-usual” approach to tax collections.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature Jan 12, 2004

Kathleen Sebelius: Modernize tax incentive programs for start-up businesses

Our Economic Revitalization plan includes a proposal to modernize our tax incentive programs to make them work better for the businesses they are designed to serve. Kansas will compete more effectively for jobs and attract companies that offer the best- paying jobs. Under our plan, high potential start-up companies can sell their tax credits to already established businesses. It’s a win-win situation: start-up businesses receive needed infusions of cash & already profitable Kansas companies save money.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature Jan 12, 2004

Kathleen Sebelius: Create tax credit for rural business development

Our plan pays special attention to rural Kansas. It creates a Rural Business Development Tax Credit that will ensure that investments are made in viable job-producing businesses, many of which will be tied to agriculture. Our Revitalization Program also extends funding for the Enterprise Facilitation program now nurturing businesses in 24 Kansas counties. So far, this program, which helps communities help themselves, has sparked the creation or expansion of nearly 70 businesses in rural areas.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature Jan 12, 2004

  • The above quotations are from 2004 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Janet Napolitano on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bill Richardson on Tax Reform.
2016 Presidential contenders on Tax Reform:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018