Editorial: Guinn’s tax plan down, but not out

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 4:41 a.m.

On Thursday the Senate Taxation Committee voted 6-1 to remove a gross receipts tax on businesses from Gov. Kenny Guinn's tax plan. The governor's office downplayed the defeat of the centerpiece of his tax plan, noting that the gross receipts tax can be brought up later. Regardless of this particular early vote on the issue, a broad-based business tax still is needed to bring about stability and fairness to the state's tax structure.

If there is any good to come out of last week's vote, it is that those lawmakers opposed to the governor's plan no longer can just say they don't like it. They'll have to offer an alternative and defend it. So far the alternatives bandied about by state legislators have focused on expanding the sales tax. But all that would do is shift more of the tax burden to individuals, another shaft for consumers. In light of that, it's hard for us to believe that legislators won't ultimately come around and pass a broad-based business tax.

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