July 12, 2012
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: "I don’t know a single small business in Rhode Island that is going to be made or broken by tax rates"
How'd I miss this gem? Spoken by the junior senator from Rhode Island during a panel of Van Jones' "2012 Take Back the American Dream" conference last month. Reported by The Blaze.
Democratic Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island chimed in, adding that he did not know a “single small business” that would be effected by tax rates:“What works well for me at home, I don’t have this, you know, poll-tested…I say, look I don’t know a single small business in Rhode Island that is going to be made or broken by tax rates. What’s going to make or break small business is whether people are actually coming through the door to spend money, whether they have customers.”
Thanks to the Barry Hinckley campaign for the heads-up.
Undoubtedly small businesses around Rhode Island will be relieved to hear this news, especially in light of the latest - but very far from unprecedented - ranking of the state for business.
My total tax bill, minus the 10% excise federal tax on tanning services is 500 corporation tax, 230 for RI Health Dept license,100.00 local license (city of Warwick) 300 for fixed tangible property(city of Warwick) 10 bucks for a sales permit to the State of RI , then 7% sales tax on product that the customer pays. It really isn't all that onerous. (although the recently rescinded, -you're welcome small business owners- inspection permit fee of 120 still gets my craw)
The other 49 states must be able to run their small businesses for next to nothing.
Posted by: michael at July 12, 2012 4:21 PMOf course Sheldon Outhouse does not know about small business. He's too busy tweaking his "blind" trust with insider info (that he creates). Justin can add this reason to his post about the RI "Paradox". There is no paradox. People are voting with their feet. Out go the producers...in come the takers looking for that sanctuary state with generous benefits and idiot politicians like Missing Linc who wants to give illegals tax breaks for education,etc. Thats right Outhouse........thats business (as usual ) in RI.
Posted by: ANTHONY at July 12, 2012 6:54 PMMichael - Your business doesn't pay any commercial property taxes? Interesting.
Posted by: Dan at July 12, 2012 8:28 PMRent, Dan. Yeah I know it's what makes my rent a hundred bucks more every month, you are missing the point. I also pay high workers comp rates, but what does it matter you will just accuse me of cheating on my taxes anyway.
Posted by: michael at July 13, 2012 12:03 PMNot accusing you of anything, just making the point that property taxes are a big issue to businesses and renters pay it.
Posted by: Dan at July 13, 2012 1:35 PMPardon me for questioning your motive for the comment, I simply recall my last commentary here concerning small business in RI being greeted with accusations of under-reporting income and sales.
Posted by: michael at July 13, 2012 2:51 PM