A Tax for All Seasons

Former LP of West Michigan Chair, Ron Heeren's ingenuous idea to help cover the state budget shortfall. Published in the GR Press on 2/16/07. Link here: http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-1/117164079718320.xml?grpress?NELE&coll=6&thispage=6


The governor claims she needs more money to run government.
Here is a tax that citizens will applaud. It doesn't attack smokers, gamblers, property owners, businesses and other areas politicians deem worthy of government wrath, it cuts to our biggest government problem: political campaign contributions and politicians buying their way into office for their agendas.
Here is a tax everyone will favor. If a candidate raises more than 50 percent of the annual salary for the office of which that candidate is seeking, funds shall be taxed at 50 percent of the amount of funds raised in that election cycle.
Second, any campaign funds given to a candidate or political party during an election cycle that are not given by a single individual, will be taxed at 50 percent of each dollar given. Married couples count as individuals.
Any funds left over after a campaign by an office seeker, will be turned over to the state treasury to be applied against the tax. The state taxing authority will have appropriate power to confiscate such largesse.
Taxes will not be applied to individual citizen contributions to initiatives, referenda or recalls.
They will apply to any special interest entities or corporate contributors and coalitions or political parties formed for the purpose of collecting funds for ballot issues.
If politicians believe taxes solve every government problem, let'em put their money where their mouths are.
Put this referendum on the next general election ballot to amend the state constitution.
RON HEEREN/Plainfield Township