FreedomWorks to Rally at the State Capitol August 25th

Boise, ID – FreedomWorks activists will rally on the steps of the Capitol as legislators convene to vote on RS 16445, the Property Tax Relief Act of 2006, on August 25th.

While we applaud the legislature for attempting to provide property tax relief, we are concerned that neither the plan offered by Governor Risch or the Democrat’s alternative provide the long term relief hard working taxpayers need.

“Legislators need to know that their constituents are watching their actions closely,” said Jamie Daniels, the Idaho FreedomWorks Coordinator. ”We are coming to the Capitol to show them that there is strong support for lowering taxes while prioritizing and cutting government spending.”

The proposed sales tax increase included in Governor Risch’s plan will negate a large portion, if not all, of the property tax relief provided for most families. This regressive tax increase will hit lower and middle income citizens the hardest and will decrease the competitiveness of business.

The Democrat’s proposed alternative not does deal with the inherent problems of the maintenance and operations tax levy. Agricultural landowners will continue to pay the escalating property taxes forcing many off their lands. Overtaxed businesses and landlords that are not exempted will be forced to either shift costs to consumers and tenants or go out of business altogether.

FreedomWorks believes that taxing people off their land is a fundamental violation of property rights and applauds the legislature for dealing with the skyrocketing rates. We want to urge them to consider comprehensive reform that will stop skyrocketing rates without raising other taxes.