Wednesday, February 9, 2005
Cutting personal income taxes paid by individuals and businesses by 21 percent.
Eliminating state income tax for those earning less than $10,000 yearly.
Phasing out taxes on business equipment and inventory and corporate net worth and profits and replacing them with a 0.26 percent tax on commercial activity. The first $1 million in sales would be exempt.
Keeping a half-penny of the 1 cent temporary sales tax increase that expires in June.
Increasing the cigarette tax by 45 cents to $1 per pack and taxes on other tobacco from 17 percent to 30 percent.
Doubling the tax on beer, wine and premixed alcoholic beverages, but not liquor.
Increasing the kilowatt-hour tax on electricity by 30 percent.
Eliminating a 10 percent rollback on commercial and industrial property taxes.
Creating a partnership of lawmakers, educators and employers to ensure students are better prepared for and graduate from college.
Allotting $100 million for a new student loan program, more funding for need-based college grants and capping state tuition increases at 6 percent.
He also asked for support in putting bond issues on the ballot to:
Try to increase high-paying research and technology jobs through the Third Frontier Project.
Help local governments build roads and other projects.