Rep. Rita Smart Begs to Raise Taxes
Most of us know that Frankfort has a spending problem, but Rep. Rita Smart (D-81) doesn't. Rep. Smart is so disappointed that Kentuckians aren't taxed enough to fund the spending she so desperately wants. From a Richmond Register article:
Smart said while it’s important to be efficient and not waste taxpayers’ money, the blame for the budget cuts rests solely on the shoulders of the state’s “antiquated” tax system.
“There’s just not enough income from tax revenue to support the things we need in our city and state,” Smart said. Legislators struggled to create a budget that would keep the state running despite the state’s Budget Office prediction of a $742 million gap between revenue and spending over the next two years.
Smart realizes that budget cuts in the judicial branch will hurt a lot of people who are already struggling in the slow economy. “Sometimes when (legislators) do things, we don’t realize the consequences,” she said.
Smart strongly advocates revamping the state tax system so the government, one of the biggest employers in Madison County, can prevent service cutbacks and furloughs. Legislators and experts in Frankfort have been examining the problem for several years, and Smart hopes that action will be taken soon.
“We just have an inadequate revenue stream,” Smart said.
She is clearly continuing the liberal tax-and-spend tradition of her predecessor Harry Moberly In the general election, Smart will face Republican Mary McGill Long, who doesn't seem serious enough to have a website or facebook page.
The Kentucky Club for Growth will continue to be an advocate for taxpayers in Frankfort.
