Rep. Barnhart: “The State is not broke!”

As the budget leaders push for big tax increases and representatives struggle to respond to citizens repeatedly call for no tax increases, Representative Barnhart wrote a passionate letter regarding the North Carolina budget that will go down in history as the most blatant example of legislative arrogance toward the wishes of the citizens of North Carolina.

Here is part of what he says:

“… we are being told that we have to increase taxes, with the first apparent target being an $800 million dollar increase in sales tax. The state’s population increased 21 percent since 1991 while government spending increased 113 percent. The State is not broke as you are being told. Let us not mislead the people of North Carolina. We have $400 million more in tax collections than last year and we’ll have $600 million more next year. Where is the shortfall? I think it is long past time for us to take a serious look at the entire spending document and find out where the money is going. Only after that will I even consider raising taxes during a time when the economy is in a slump.

Jonathan Hill, Director of North Carolina Citizens for a Sound Economy issued the following statement: “On behalf of its 18,000 members statewide NC CSE commends Representative Barnhart for his courageous stand in this war against the taxpayers of North Carolina. He is a warrior for the people in the first degree!”