State of Rhode Island secondary Archives: on Tax Reform
Allan Fung:
For federal tax reform; will lower state and local taxes
"Overall, I support tax reform," Fung said. "Tax reform will cut the corporate and individual tax rates, which will benefit Rhode Islanders and grow the national economy." "I am concerned about the changes to the deduction for state and local taxes
since Rhode Island suffers from one of the highest tax burdens in the nation," he continued. "My focus will be on lowering the state and local tax burden so that Rhode Islanders can benefit more from federal tax reform as well as to grow our economy."
Source: WPRI Eyewitness News on 2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial race
Dec 18, 2017
Allen Waters:
Replace income tax with national sales tax, close the IRS
Allen Waters signed a pledge with the Americans for Fair Taxation (FairTax.org) to support The Fair Tax Act in Congress:
Replace the federal income tax with a national sales tax and close the Internal Revenue Service.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island Senate campaign website AllenRWaters.com
Jun 17, 2020
Ashley Kalus:
Will fight for Rhode Islanders by lowering their tax burden
My life has been dedicated to education and community service, and I will bring that same passion to Rhode Island. I will fight to ensure that parents can send their children to the best schools possible, I will fight to keep more money in
Rhode Islander's pockets by lowering their tax burden, I will fight for pro-job policies to spur economic growth, and most importantly, I will fight for the people of this great state.
Source: 2022 Rhode Island Governor campaign website AshleyKalus.com
Sep 14, 2022
Ashley Kalus:
Raising RI's marginal tax rate would hurt competitiveness
Kalus said a proposal to raise Rhode Island's top marginal income tax rate from 5.99 to 8.99% on income of more than $475,000 could hurt the state's competitiveness. "We would have the highest marginal tax rate east of the Mississippi," she said.
Actually, New York has a top income tax rate of 10.9% and New Jersey has a top rate of 10.75%. Kalus noted that New York's 10.9% rate applies to income of $25 million or more, and New Jersey's 10.75% rate applies to income of $1 million or more.
Source: Boston Globe on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Apr 7, 2022
Bobby Nardolillo:
Cut tax rates, cut spending
The current push by the new Trump Administration to reduce corporate (and individual) tax rates is just what the economic doctor ordered for our economic environment. Tax cutting must be accompanied by the cutting
of government expenditures and that's where some real political will to do the right thing would be helpful. I can supply that will on behalf of the hard working, tax paying men and women of the Ocean State
Source: 2018 Rhode Island Senatorial website Bobby4Senate.com
Oct 1, 2017
Dan McKee:
Increase real estate transfer tax on homes over $700,000
He also supports a buffed-up version of former Gov. Gina Raimondo's bid to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end homes, defined as those costing more than $700,000, to provide "a permanent funding stream for affordable and workforce housing."
(Raimondo had proposed a $500,000 threshold.) The current rate is $2.30 for every $500 spent. McKee's proposal doubles the rate to $4.60 for every $500 spent above $700,000, with all of the new revenue going into a new "housing production fund."
Source: Providence Journal on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2021
Dan McKee:
Reduce corporate minimum tax to help small business
Here's a few of our Small Business Article proposals: - Let's allow cities and town to exempt a portion of business property from the tangible tax.
- Let's reduce the corporate minimum tax, a tax that impacts our smallest businesses the most.
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Let's create a taxpayer steward within the Rhode Island Division of Taxation dedicated to helping individuals and small businesses navigate the taxation process.
- And let's make alcohol to go permanent, an out of the box idea that allows restaurants
and brewpubs to sell alcoholic beverages with take-out food.
For far too long, minority entrepreneurs & minority-owned businesses have faced barriers in starting and growing businesses. They've had more hurdles to jump to get over that finish line.
Let's reduce those hurdles. I'm proposing a $10 million Minority Business Support Initiative to strengthen our minority business community and increase minority business ownership in the state.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature
Jan 18, 2022
Donald Carcieri:
Property tax increases can be avoided
In seven years, we have balanced our budget without raising either the sales or income tax. In fact, seven years ago R.I. had the 4th highest tax burden in the country. By last year we had dropped to 10th--but we need to be lower. New Hampshire, for
example, is 50th. Consequently, its unemployment rate is only 7%.Where some of us in this Chamber disagree--is whether property tax increases are inevitable. I know property tax increases can be avoided. For example, if every city and town employee
throughout our state--including all school department personnel--were to agree to a salary reduction plan this year and next, just as state workers have done, tens of millions of dollars could be saved.
This legislature has the ability to prevent
property tax increases by enacting sweeping authorizations that will allow our local leaders to reduce spending. For example, it is long past time to allow the city and town councils of every municipality to have control over their school budgets.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
Gina Raimondo:
Reduced the corporate minimum tax
Our economy is stronger. We've cut our unemployment rate by more than half since it reached a peak of over 11 percent in 2009. Employers across our state--many of them small, locally-owned businesses--have created thousands of jobs since
I stood before you at this time last year. After years of marching uphill toward recovery, we have finally regained all the private sector jobs that were lost in the recession.
Our business climate is stronger. Last year, we cut our unemployment insurance tax for the first time since 1992, saving employers $30 million. We eliminated the sales tax on energy and reduced the corporate minimum tax.
And it's all paying off. Because of the hard choices we've made together and the strategic investments we've protected, businesses are finally taking a fresh look at Rhode Island.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Rhode Island Legislature
Jan 17, 2017
Gina Raimondo:
Cut car tax by at least 30%
Let's give every Rhode Islander the car tax relief that they deserve. The budget I'll send you on Thursday will cut every Rhode Islander's car tax by at least 30 percent, putting more than $50 million back in your pockets.
As we come together to begin this work, let's commit ourselves to reform that's fair, fiscally responsible, sustainable in the long run and provides relief for every Rhode Islander.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Rhode Island Legislature
Jan 17, 2017
Gina Raimondo:
Cut car tax & unemployment insurance tax
We've made all this progress while cutting taxes every year. So let's continue on that path by cutting the car tax again this year for every single Rhode Islander. Let's also cut taxes for small businesses, who for almost
25 years saw no relief from their unemployment insurance taxes. Tonight, I'm proud to announce the third cut in unemployment insurance taxes since I took office.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Gina Raimondo:
OpEd: Raimondo wants tax increases
It's the week before Christmas and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo is imitating the Grinch--but instead of stealing Christmas, she's headed straight for your wallets. In an interview with the Providence Journal
Raimondo listed at least three potential tax increases: "I just have to find some money. It could come from anywhere. It could come from an income tax. It could come from a sales tax. It could come from a fee."
Source: Republican Gov. Assoc. on 2022 Rhode Island Governor race
Dec 20, 2019
Lincoln Almond:
Eliminate the capital gains tax
I am proposing that we eliminate the capital gains tax. This tax affects a large number of Rhode Islanders. We want to encourage residents to stay in Rhode Island while investing and saving for their future.
We want companies here and outside of Rhode Island to invest in our state. That's why we must make the capital gains tax a thing of the past.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Rhode Island Legislature
Feb 7, 2001
Mark Zaccaria:
FairTax ends complexity that requires entire industry
Question topic: Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.Zaccaria: Strongly Agree.
Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.
Zaccaria: Taxation: We take too much money away from those who productively earn it.
Also, our tax code has become so complex that an entire industry has grown up to help us find our way through it. This is especially egregious for businesses which are thus forced to sustain unnecessary overhead to comply.
The Solution? Flat Tax or Fair Tax rates and simplicity.
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Rhode Island Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Nellie Gorbea:
Would increase marginal tax rate for the top 1%
As governor, Gorbea said she would sign the bill to raise the top margin income rate from 5.99 to 8.99 percent on income of more than $475,000, essentially the top
1 percent of taxpayers. "I do sign it because I believe that it's gone through a whole process in the legislature of vetting it," she said.
Source: Boston Globe on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Mar 3, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023