(Hit on image to enlarge it).When did Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick become so unbelievably lame that he would declare June 26th "Speaker of the House Marco Rubio Day"? Did something bad happen on that date, is that why Slesnick is punishing it?
Is this a joke? Gotta be.
Someone tell me what Marco accomplished as Speaker of the House: Real estate tax reform? Unfunding Miami Dade Schools? to name two...AWESOME. Wait, I recall he also wrote a list of what he called "100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future." That has to count I would suppose, writing a list. What happened to it?
Among other things the City's proclamation says is:
"Whereas Speaker of the House Rubio is best known for his tireless efforts to eliminate real estate taxes in Florida and to bring fairness to our property tax system."
Is that the same tax reduction that is causing our school system to lay off teachers, bus drivers, nurses, and counselors. Is it also the tax reduction that is forcing the County to cut senior services, parks programs, and domestic violence programs? Gee, thanks Marco.
Let's talk about regressive tax policy,
you know the one that would do away with property tax altogether and switch to sales tax to fund all our state programs. That's what Marco Rubio wants us to do. Than we will invent "user fees" so that we aren't "taxing" the people of the state to fund things like schools, indigent health care, prisons, police and fire. Then I suppose we will rely on the part time legislature to determine how our local governments can fund our local services.
That's right, if you loved Marco the Speaker, you will love Marco the demagogue, who may have just made the State's school funding drop us to 55 out of 50 as State Representative Dan Gelber joked at a recent community gathering. The only piece of the state budget that increased was the prison system.
I don't know what Don Slesnick is thinking, other than this Rubio guy is a Gator (University of Florida) graduate, so we should honor him. I think most Coral Gables residents would not agree to the recent cuts from Tallahassee that are forcing the City Beautiful to cut employees, lessen city services and cancel this year's Fourth of July program--these aren't things for us to cheer about, nor is Marco Rubio's tenure as Speaker of the House. He didn't serve our county, school system or city well and WE SHOULD NOT be honoring him.
Let the mayor and commissioners know that there are far better people and far better causes to honor than Marco Rubio. Thank God his term as Speaker of the House is over. With any luck, his political career is close to over too.
17 comments:
my problem with this blog is that it has become the haven of a partisan hack. no longer is this about the issues. why is that a sales tax is regressive if a republican brings it up but i never heard anyone (including the herald) ever say that a sales tax to fund transit or jackson was regressive. i guess its only regressive if tax goes back to the people as opposed to incompetent government institutions!!!!
Sales tax is a regressive tax. It impacts the poor to a greater extent. What is the Herald the expert? If someone disagrees with you...it is good to point out, as you did, that you believe the government is incompetent to make decisions about your money. But they are either way...with property tax or sales tax.
The Public Health trust that administers the penny tax and the County commission that administers the 1/2 penny tax are doing us a disservice. Let's have an intelligent discussion on what to do.
For blogger number one-here is some info on regressive taxes:
Investopedia
Regressive Tax
What does it Mean? A tax that takes a larger percentage from low-income people than from high-income people. A regressive tax is generally a tax that is applied uniformly. This means that it hits lower-income individuals harder.
Investopedia Says... Some examples include gas tax and cigarette tax. For example, if a person has $10 of income and must pay $1 of tax on a package of cigarettes, this represents 10% of the person's income. However, if the person has $20 of income, this $1 tax only represents 5% of that person's income.
Sales taxes that apply to essentials are generally considered to be regressive as well because expenses for food, clothing and shelter tend to make up a higher percentage of a lower income consumer's overall budget.
Unbelievable, that is unless the Mayor is to receive some sort of reward for the dumb, very partisan thing he is doing. Such as cash or a better job. Rubio is a mini Bush. God forbid that he is able to get a position in South Florida.
not a genius
The flaw in your arguement that: either way, through property taxes or a sales tax, the government gets your money is, WITH A SALES TAX, AN IDIVIDUAL CAN CONTROL HOW MUCH OF THEIR MONEY THE GOVERNMENT GETS, BY ADJUSTING THEIR SPENDING HABITS.
With a property tax, the amount you pay is based on a rate set by the government itself.
Sales tax might effect the poor disporportionately because the poor are less likely to own property.
You know very well that the tax burden in america falls on the shoulders of the upper middle class (and above).
The regressive tax arguement is old and obviously the last gasp effort to evoke some sense of unfairness towards poor people.
moderate
Gables Blue says--
My commentary is not partisan, instead it is critical of two things: number one that Mayor Don Slesnick (a Dem. by the way) is honoring Speaker Marco Rubio with a "Marco Rubio Day" and number two that Speaker Rubio did not accomplish much for our local community as Speaker. Most Coral Gables residents would agree with these criticisms.
Mr. Slesnick and Mr. Rubio certainly are both charming enough. No one should doubt that they have both helped their friends and family while in office. Mr. Rubio's attempt to assist one of them get business on the state's turnpike system as reported by the Herald is just one example. I felt Mr. Rubio could have done better for the public schools system, the indigent and the economy. It seems to me that Mr. Rubio is preparing to launch his next campaign which is a likely run for Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla's Senate seat in two years. That will be interesting because it will pit at least two recognized Republicans against each other--Rep. Julio Robaina and Mr. Rubio.
As my previous post comments, the increase in sales tax and the elimination of real estate tax is regressive. And homeowners can't even deduct sales taxes from their income taxes. It is high time Florida get with the program and have some serious new economists and legislators tackle these difficult problems. Our future depends on it. Mr. Slesnkick needs to lead on the issues and become less political. One can only hope for improvement on these fronts.
additionally, the flaw with the text book definition that a sales tax is regressive to the poor when it is assessed on "essential items' is that, in Florida, essentials are exempt from sales tax.
Medicince, most food sold at market, housing, etc...(all are exempt from sales taxes)
moderate
Disagree with genious on this one. Sales tax are a great way to raise money. Florida has a long history of living on real estate taxes and it is breaking the backs of residents. Sales tax that exempt necessities like food, medicine and shelter are paid by everyone; residents, tourists, illegals, and part-time residents. People want to go to Tennessee because real estate taxes are low but sales taxes are 10%. People flock to North Carolina because the real estate taxes are low but they have a state income tax. Take your pick. I say reduce real estate taxes, increase sales taxes exempting food, medicine and shelter, and stop the exemptions on luxury items like yatchs.
Genius didn't write this post. Genius doesn't care that much about how people pay their taxes, I am more inerested in how it is mis-spent. I have to look at the public health trust. I did say the sales tax is regressive...still think so.
I don't think that Rubio deserves this honor so I agree with GablesBlue on that one.
Gables Blue says
I concur with Genius of Despair, the point is that Mr. Rubio, even as the first hispanic speaker of the house did not deserve a "Marco Rubio Day" in Coral Gables. Alas, I do not control the agenda in the city. It is my hope, along with other Gables residents, that more deserving honorees are picked in the future.
Reminder to other Gables residents:
The State of the City and Its Future Worksop is scheduled for the
City Commission Chambers, Monday, June 30th 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
All interested parties should attend.
If it were up to all the complainers on this site, it would be Roxy Bolton day 365 days a year in Coral Gables.
moderate
But back to Rubio: his leadership or lack thereof is a great argument for Democratic gains in the upcoming election.
I think it was a misuse of power and position to have a Rubio day. It seems too much like a political endorsement. If city (or county)money was used for this endeavor, than the Mayor should be called out for it. If he wanted to have a George Bush day -- or an Obama Day -- or a McCain day, he would have bene crucified. Why should he be allowed to have a Rubio day?
duh. If we had the money to pay taxes without pain, then none of us would complain about taxes. But, many of us feel the pinch of the tax man.
rubio day was a wrong move by Coral Gables.
Please, let Marquito enjoy "his day"... No one has to be a genius to figure this is probably as far as he'll ever get! His career is over.
Post a Comment