Gov. Dick Kneip wanted an income tax, and he was still elected governor. Now Ron Volesky is supporting it, and he also wants to be governor. In fact, it will be a centerpiece of his 2006 campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination.
“As long as Republicans are in charge of government, we will never have tax reform in South Dakota,” Volesky said. “I am going to hit hard, hard, hard and say we need tax reform. And I have no problem defining it. We need a state income tax and a corporate tax.”
Income tax often is considered a dreadful alternative for taxpayers, but Volesky, a Huron lawyer and former state legislator, says it is time they faced the facts.
To make sure people know what they are dealing with, Volesky says he would want to see the income tax placed in the constitution.
“I would dedicate it primarily to fund K-12 education,” he said.
His ultimate objective is to rid state taxpayers of other burdens.
“With an income tax, we can repeal property taxes by 50 percent, repeal the hideous tax on food and get rid of this dragon of insanity, the gambling addiction,” Volesky said.
Republican Gov. Mike Rounds is expected to seek re-election next year, and Volesky says his candidacy will offer voters a clear choice.
Volesky formally announces his candidacy Friday at a meeting of the Minnehaha County Democratic Forum at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls.
Jim Meader of Sioux Falls, a political analyst, says Volesky’s plan is a bold proposal and makes some sense since he is challenging a popular governor.
“I don’t think this plan will resonate with a majority of South Dakota voters, especially the income tax idea. The corporate tax probably has more initial support but will immediately run headlong into the criticism that it will cost the state jobs,” Meader said.
It's clear that many Democrats in South Dakota want an income tax (a tax levied on the financial income of a person or corporation), which doesn't help them politically. The lack of an income tax is a huge selling point for South Dakota when recruiting businesses, so I doubt Volesky's plan will go anywhere.
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