79-12-B1
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Tax Revolt Going Strong[edit]
Transcript[edit]I've said often that the more localized the government, the more responsive it is to the wishes of its constituents. This has certainly proven to be the case in the nationwide effort to limit government spending and reduce oppressive tax burdens. The overwhelming passage of Proposition 13 in California in June, 1978, sparked a national outcry for governments at all levels to hold the line on spending and return some revenue to its place of origin--the working people of America. But while the federal government in Washington has paid little more than lip service to this national expression, state governments have been taking significant action to cut taxes and spending. The tax revolt may not get as many banner headlines as it used to, but more than a year after Proposition 13, it shows no signs of abating. The work of the tax revolt is being done quietly and effectively in state houses across the nation. A recent New York TIMES survey of the fifty states confirms this. The survey found that--"the trend toward reducing or repealing taxes and imposing spending limits on state and local governments has been a strong and pervasive one, with virtually all states curtailing revenues or spending, or both, in some fashion." The New York TIMES discovered that so far this year, twenty-two states have reduced property taxes. Fifteen have curtailed sales taxes on certain products and services. Eight state governments have placed spending limits on themselves that will result in tighter state and local budgets in the future. Finally, twelve states have reduced or repealed assorted other taxes. That's an impressive record for a nationwide movement that many commentators say has run out of gas. And there's more to come this November, as a number of ballot initiatives will be presented to voters. In California, an initiative called "Spirit of 13" will be on the ballot this November. It proposes that no government in California can spend more than the percentage of increase in population combined with the increase in the Consumer Price index. A similar spending curb will be considered in the state of Washington. Ohio and Florida voters will have the opportunity to vote themselves substantial savings on their property taxes. The past record of results and the prognosis for the future are good for the nationwide tax and spending revolt. These developments have demonstrated that government on some levels can successfully translate the desires of citizens into policy. The tax revolt has Americans looking to their state and local governments for creative initiatives, rather than to the federal government. All that remains is for the federal government, which has become so used to telling the states what to do, to play "follow the leader" for a change. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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