Post by Logan on Oct 1, 2016 4:39:07 GMT -6
HELENA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte once called replacing Montana's income and capital gains taxes with a sales tax an "ideal solution" that would draw high-tech businesses to the state, according to an audio clip released by the state Democratic Party leader Thursday.
Gianforte is in a close race against Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in the Nov. 8 election, and the timing of the release was meant to influence Montana voters who have twice before rejected initiatives to institute a statewide sales tax.
Gianforte, in testimony before then-Gov. Judy Martz's Income Tax Advisory Council in 2002, said Montana's tax structure was hindering it from being a worldwide competitor in the technology industry because executives would not want to move to a state where they would pay high taxes.
"The best solution, because our competition's at zero income tax rate and zero capital gains, would be to replace the current income and capital gains rate with a sales tax," Gianforte said. "I know that there are a few political issues and constitutional issues, but I didn't think I'd be fair in coming here and not saying that I believe that is the ideal solution."
Read more: billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/democrats-release-audio-of-gianforte-proposing-sales-tax/article_3d520010-1095-5a9f-9a08-ecce22aa7102.html
Gianforte is in a close race against Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in the Nov. 8 election, and the timing of the release was meant to influence Montana voters who have twice before rejected initiatives to institute a statewide sales tax.
Gianforte, in testimony before then-Gov. Judy Martz's Income Tax Advisory Council in 2002, said Montana's tax structure was hindering it from being a worldwide competitor in the technology industry because executives would not want to move to a state where they would pay high taxes.
"The best solution, because our competition's at zero income tax rate and zero capital gains, would be to replace the current income and capital gains rate with a sales tax," Gianforte said. "I know that there are a few political issues and constitutional issues, but I didn't think I'd be fair in coming here and not saying that I believe that is the ideal solution."
Read more: billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/democrats-release-audio-of-gianforte-proposing-sales-tax/article_3d520010-1095-5a9f-9a08-ecce22aa7102.html