2011 gubernatorial press release: on Tax Reform


Peter Shumlin: Eliminate loopholes, pass progressive taxes

I applaud President Obama's balanced deficit reduction plan & urge Congress to take action on it immediately. As the President has said, when everyone pays his or her fair share, we can live within our means while making smart investments in our future. I strongly support eliminating loopholes that allow millionaires and billionaires to pay a smaller percentage of their income to taxes than middle class families. This plan pays for the President's jobs agenda while also cutting the deficit.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Obama Budget" Sep 19, 2011

Dennis Daugaard: Create jobs & expand tax base rather than raise taxes

Across the country, people are seeing first-hand what can happen through fiscal irresponsibility.

We are determined not to fall into the same trap that has ensnared our federal counterparts. We will not spend unless we have the money. If we can work together to create more jobs, we will expand our tax base. That way, South Dakota will be able to afford more of the things that we find important without raising taxes just as we are emerging from the national recession.

Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release "Archives" Jul 29, 2011

Sean Parnell: Support the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge

The pledge opposes any federal debt limit increase unless substantial spending cuts are made, federal spending caps are in place and a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed.

Significant short term cuts, a statutory cap on spending and a strong balanced budget amendment will put our nation on a path to living within our means. If the balanced budget amendment is sent to the states, I will support it for ratification.

Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release #5840 Jul 7, 2011

Jack Markell: Responsible tax cuts allow for economic growth

The 2012 budget includes prioritized reductions that help industries critical to Delaware's economic core--manufacturing, small business and financial services--promoting job creation and our state's competitiveness.

To stay competitive, build on our existing economic foundation, and create jobs for a workforce that is already trained to work in manufacturing, small businesses, and the financial services industry, we identified reasonable and responsible tax cuts targeted for economic growth.

Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Legislative Session" Jul 1, 2011

Terry Branstad: Reduce commercial & residential property tax

My primary focus remains on creating the jobs Iowa needs in order to poise the state for future growth, and property tax reform must be enacted this year.

For Iowa's employers, this is important as there should not be a choice between hiring another employee and paying the tax bill.

Failure to act on commercial property taxes, and failure to cap residential property taxes, will amount to a $1.3 billion tax increase during a time of economic uncertainty.

Source: 2011 Iowa Gubernatorial press release Jun 12, 2011

Rick Snyder: Simplify the tax code; end job-killing Business Tax

These [new tax reform] bills bring greater fairness and simplicity to Michigan's tax structure while aggressively positioning the state to be economically competitive. The new laws eliminate the job-killing Michigan Business Tax, simplify the tax code, level the playing field among taxpayers and protect low-income families. We will encourage entrepreneurship & spur investment in Michigan. The changes take Michigan from 30th to 16th in the nation in terms of lowest state and local business tax burden.
Source: Michigan 2011 gubernatorial press release, #256823 May 25, 2011

Dave Heineman: To build economy: no new taxes

In order to build on the progress of the past few years, it was critical that we solved revenue shortfalls by remaining committed to reducing spending and preventing tax increases in order to continue Nebraska's economic progress. We have seized the opportunity to make Nebraska more competitive. It required us to make difficult choices and required that we prioritize our investments during the next two years. And we have done that with this budget.
Source: 2011 Nebraska Gubernatorial press release May 17, 2011

Jack Dalrymple: Incentives promote job creation in new enterprises

House Bill 1057 enhances North Dakota's angel fund investment tax credit, providing incentives to promote nationwide, private-sector investment in North Dakota's angel fund enterprises. Risk capital is a vital component for growth and entrepreneurial development, and this legislation will enhance North Dakota's job creation opportunities by promoting technology-based private investment and securing sources of risk capital for early stage enterprises looking to grow in North Dakota.
Source: N.D. 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Job Creation" May 16, 2011

Brian Sandoval: Don't raise taxes by $1B; that would halt job growth

I was briefed on the Democratic plan for raising over a billion dollars in taxes. We had a frank discussion about our differences of opinion concerning the impact of raising taxes, and I restated my belief that raising taxes in this economy would be a mistake. Nevada is just beginning to demonstrate signs of economic recovery and this proposal would bring job growth to a halt, at a time when we have proven that growing our way out of this crisis can address our budgetary needs.
Source: Nevada 2011 gubernatorial press release, #4294971649 May 5, 2011

Jack Dalrymple: Tax relief to share economic gains with people of ND

With our state economy strong and growing stronger, it's important that the people of North Dakota see a substantial share of our economic gains reflected in their tax bills. Providing tax relief was a priority we shared early on with the Legislative Assembly and it should always be a priority as part of our strategy for economic growth.

I signed into law House Bill 1047, legislation that provides nearly $500 million in property tax relief and income tax relief during the 2011-2013 biennium.

Source: N.D. 2011 gubernatorial press release, "$500 million" Apr 27, 2011

Earl Ray Tomblin: One-cent reduction on the food tax: it's regressive

When the focus should have been on providing broad tax relief to everyone in reducing the food tax, the focus somehow turned solely to pay raises... for the public sector. Very few people in the private sector have seen a pay increase.

We need to pass a responsible one-cent reduction on the food tax, and we need to pass it now. A cut in the food tax delivers relief to every West Virginian on the most regressive, unfair tax we have. We deserve to share in the benefits of tightening our belts together.

Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Food Tax" Mar 7, 2011

  • The above quotations are from 2011 gubernatorial press releases.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Christie on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Andrew Cuomo on Tax Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R)
Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)
Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 13, 2019