So in my job I get to read a lot of political news articles (not like I didn’t read them anyway, but now their brought to my attention every morning). And today there were two that struck me.

The first one gets it right. I think what the legislature did was not right. Each and every person that ran for their respective office (Senate and House) knew the salary they would get, knew the per diem amount they would get, and knew the housing allowance they would get. If anyone of them did not like the amount then they should have not run. For what is supposed to be a part time, citizen legislature, we’re paying them a lot of money. The article talks about most of the perks that are included with being a legislator. I would love to see how much money each legislator takes in, and add it all up. I bet it’s pretty darn good for 8 months of work (out of every 24 months).

The second one is one I talked about before. I would love to know if someone campaigned on this issue, or where it comes from. There are so many things that people did campaign on that aren’t getting taken care of. But this one is going places.

I am also not happy with the proposed income tax increase. Why is it that with a $2 billion surplus (and $34 billion in spending this year by the state) that we need to raise taxes? It’s not just on income, but they want to raise the following:

• ½ cent metrowide sales tax
• 10 cents a gallon gas tax
• Statewide fuel taxes
• $20 per vehicle wheelage fee
• Increase in vehicle registration taxes and tab fees
• Sales tax on prefabricated homes
• New state tax on gifts
• Increase in the statewide home mortgage DEED tax by 50%
• Increase tax on car leases
• Extend the 6.5% sales tax to cosmetic surgery
• Increase tax on foreign operating corporations
• New state tax on gifts
• 5 cents a gallon paint tax

Isn’t $34 billion dollars in spending enough?