The group “Americans for Prosperity is collecting signatures on an initiated measure to cut personal income tax in half — and reduce corporate income taxes by 25 percent. The leader — Duane Sand — says the state could have a billion dollars in surplus by 2009. But Hoeven says it’s too early to make that kind of prediction.

“We’re four months into this biennium,”‘ said Hoeven. “I’d encourage a little thoughtfulness in terms of how we approach this, and recognize that we need to continue to grow, and build the revenue. We will make good decisions about tax relief, funding our priorities and making sure there’s money in the bank for the future. That’s what we’ll do.”

Hoeven says he wants to continue property tax relief, cut the income tax, and make sure there’s sneough money for such things as education and human services.

Grand Forks County Commissioners Set to Steal Taxpayers’ Christmas Joy with Proposed Sales Tax Hike

Grand Forks, ND – Once again, taxpayers are supposed to foot the bill for Grand Forks County’s irresponsible spending habits: that’s the message the taxpayer watchdog group Americans for Prosperity – North Dakota (AFP-ND) issued today on the heels of news that the County Commission would seek a 1-cent sales tax hike under the guise of rolling back a portion of this year’s mill levy increase.

“Hiking taxes in order to deliver tax relief is a dangerously ridiculous plan that citizens shouldn’t buy into for one minute. Grand Forks County increased their property tax levy by 10.29 mills for the 2008 budget year.  Now they want to impose a 1-cent sales tax on economic activity in the county to reduce the property tax by 8.26 to 10 mills.  So even in the commission’s best case scenario, local residents will still have higher property taxes and they will also have a new sales tax to contend with,” said Duane Sand, North Dakota Director of Americans for Prosperity.

“We have seen this happen so many times. The government imposes a tax and says it is for one purpose and that it will go away.  These kinds of taxes never go away.  Just like in Fargo with the Fargo Dome sales tax, they will just find a new reason to keep the tax,” said local resident Terry Bjerke.

“The ink of AFP’s report on over-taxation in Grand Forks County is hardly dry, and already the County Commission is trying to gouge taxpayers again.  When elected officials make mistakes, everyone pays.  Local voters and taxpayers must not allow their elected officials the luxury of passing their poor choices on to the taxpayers.  Passing the buck is no longer an option,” concluded Sand.

Click here for the full Grand Forks Report.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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The average household earns $41,506 before tax and pays $783 in state income taxes.

“Rep. Pomeroy voted with Democratic leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman Charlie Rangel to hold much needed AMT relief hostage to reckless tax hikes, including a capital gains tax hike on general partners in investment partnerships.  This bill was a blatant attempt to couple necessary short-term middle class tax relief with a long-term penalty for investing the stock market.  We are disappointed that Rep. Pomeroy put partisanship above doing the right thing for American taxpayers, workers, and investors and we will continue to push for repeal of the AMT without tax hikes,” said Rudie Martinson, spokesman for Americans for Prosperity of North Dakota.

Pomeroy also decided not to support the Republican’s permanent AMT fix.  The Taxpayer Choice Act, which would not only repeal the AMT, but also gives all taxpayers a simple choice between the current income tax system and a new “Simplified Tax” consisting of two rates: 10 percent for joint filers on income up to $100,000 ($50,000 for single filers) and a 25 percent bracket for taxable income above those amounts, with an annual inflation adjustment.

“Ironically, Instead of supporting real tax reform for middle-class Americans, Rep. Pomeroy has chosen to attack those same individuals by increasing the tax burden on their investments.  Most North Dakotans understand that they are overtaxed at all levels, especially at the federal level.” Martinson concluded.

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