In advance of every Democrat’s favorite holiday, Tax Day, let’s pause to review the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax increases that Deborah Ro$$ supports:
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In 2009, Ross voted for a budget that increased taxes by $784 million. Because it included higher sales taxes, and increased taxes on items like movies, digital downloads, and liquor — no North Carolinians were spared.
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In 2005, Ross voted for a $17.2 billion state budget that included $629 million in high taxes. The budget included high income and sales taxes, a cigarette tax increase, and higher taxes on candy and cable television.
- In 2003, Ross voted for a budget that extended “temporary” income and sales tax hikes that were set to expire. This extension raised taxes $384 million.
RESEARCH:
In June 2009, Ross Voted For A House-Passed Budget That Increased Taxes $784 Million. (SB 202, Vote #761: Passed 64-53, 6/13/09, Ross Voted Aye)
The House-Passed Budget Raised Taxes $784 Million, Including A Sales Tax Increase, New Marginal Tax Rates, And Higher Taxes On Liquor, Movies And Digital Downloads. “Their marathon budget week now over, House Democrats soon must get to work again on crafting a compromise with their Senate counterparts over the right mix of spending cuts and higher taxes. The negotiation clock started early Saturday when the state House gave final approval after midnight to its $18.6 billion budget for state government next year that would include taking in $784 million more taxes. The bill passed on a largely party-line vote of 64-53 following a three-hour debate during a rare Friday night session. … The House tax package would raise the sales tax by a quarter-penny so that most residents would pay 7 percent. It would also add two new marginal income tax rates for the wealthy and create or raise taxes on liquor, movies and digital downloads.” (Gary D. Robertson, “NC House, Senate Dems Readying For Budget Talks,” The Associated Press, 6/13/09)
In 2005, Ross Voted For A Budget That Included $629 Million In Higher Taxes
In August 2005, Ross Voted For A $17.2 Billion State Budget That Included $629 Million In Higher Taxes. (SB 622, Vote #960: Passed 61-59, 8/10/05, Ross Voted Aye)
The $17.2 Billion State Budget Included $629 Million In Higher Taxes, Including The Extension Of Higher Income And Sales Taxes, A Cigarette Tax Increase, And Higher Sales Taxes On Candy And Cable TV. “Legislators are preparing to vote today on a $17.2 billion budget that includes more than $600 million in additional taxes, including a six-fold increase in the state cigarette tax. It also lays out how lottery money would be spent on education programs. … The tax changes in the budget plan amount to $629 million in 2005-06 and $934 million in 2006-07. They include: Extension of a ‘temporary’ half-cent sales tax for two more years, raising $417 million this year. Extending a ‘temporary’ upper-income tax bracket for two more years, raising $39.8million. Raising the state cigarette tax from 5 cents a pack to 30 cents a pack Sept. 1 and 35 cents a pack next July 1. The move would raise $119 million this year and $189 million next year. And higher sales taxes on candy and cable TV.” (David Rice, “Legislators Preparing To Vote On Budget,” Winston-Salem Journal, 8/9/05)
In 2003, Ross Voted For A Budget That Extended $384 Million In Tax Hikes
In June 2003, Ross Voted For A Budget That Extended Income And Sales Tax Hikes That Were Set To Expire. (HB 397, Vote #875: Passed 76-39, 6/30/03, Ross Voted Aye)
The Budget Extended “Temporary” Income And Sales Tax Hikes That Had Been Set To Expire. “To pay for state services, lawmakers decided to maintain increases on the state’s sales- and income-tax rates that had been scheduled to expire this year. The budget diverts to the general fund more than $250 million from a highway-construction account and about $65 million from national tobacco settlement proceeds.” (Eric Dyer, “In Change Of Heart, Easley Signs Budget,” News & Record, 7/1/03)
The Temporary Tax Increase Extension Raised Taxes $384 Million. “The 2003-05 budget includes $384 million in tax extensions that had been set to expire on Tuesday. The governor and legislators did renege on promises made in 2001 to eliminate these taxes. But the economic malaise of the past year came as a big surprise to many economists who had expected the recovery to begin by now. There was no acceptable way to avoid the extension of those taxes.” (Editorial, “A Disaster Avoided,” Winston-Salem Journal, 7/2/03)