Letters to Gov. Bill Walker support criminal-justice measure, oppose state income tax
NFIB/Alaska State Director Denny DeWitt re-starts his weekly updates from the State Capitol prior to the Legislature reconvening in special session on Monday, October 23.
The Legislature will begin its Fourth Special Session on Monday, October 23. The two bills currently on the call are Senate Bill 54 and Gov. Bill Walker’s request for a state income tax on wages and the self-employed.
Petty Theft
Senate Bill 54 will be heard on Monday. It addresses penalties for fourth-degree theft, class-A misdemeanors, and class C-felonies. NFIB continues its strong support for SB 54’s passage. In a letter to the governor, NFIB thanked him for adding SB 54 to his special call.
Income Tax
NFIB also distributed to legislators another letter it sent to the governor stating small businesses’ opposition to his call for 1.5 percent tax on wages and net earnings from self-employment. Included with the letter was NFIB’s Small Business Economic Impact report.
From the letter: “Your proposal creates an income tax on Alaskans that has long been known as an impediment to economic growth. The American Legislative Exchange Council studied the economic growth of 11 states that have adopted an income tax in the past 50 years. They found that the 11 states faced economic decline or, at least were outpaced by the rest of the 39 states. Given Alaska’s fragile economy, this is not the time to add burdens that will slow our economy even more.”
Related Information
Victories From the 2017 Session of the Alaska State Legislature
2018 Issues in the Alaska State Legislature
Previous Reports, Related News Releases, And Editorials
October 13 News Release—Walker Thanked for Adding SB 54 to Special Session Call
May 19 Report—Restoration of Petty Theft Penalties Fails to Pass
May 12 Report—Alaska Senate Votes Down State Income Tax Revival
May 9 Editorial—Fundamental Income Tax Lessons for Alaska
May 5 Report—Income Taxes, Petroleum Taxes and Little Else
April 28 Report—Which Will Cave First Over State Income Tax, House or Senate?
April 21 Report—One Adjournment Deadline Ignored. Will a Second Be?
April 14 Report—NFIB Victory: Independent Contractors Pulled out of State’s Crosshairs
April 7 Report—NFIB Forcing Legislature to Practice What it Preaches
March 31—NFIB Testifies in Favor of Tougher Petty Theft Penalties
March 24 Report—Hearings on a New State Income Tax Take Center Stage
March 17 Report—NFIB Victory: Deceptive Income Tax Proposal Put Aside
March 10 Report—NFIB, State Still Far Apart on Defining Independent Contractors
March 3 Report—NFIB to Fight Alaska bid to Spike UI Wages
February 24 Report—Gas Tax Increase, State Income Tax Bills Still Alive
February 17 Report—NFIB to Testify Against Assault on Independent Contractors
February 10 Report—NFIB Looking at Four Fixes to Omnibus Crime Bill
February 3 Report—Flaw in SB 91: What Penalty for Petty Theft?
January 27 Report—Independent Contractors Once Again in Crosshairs of Alaska Legislature
January 20 Report—Costly Bills Make Return Engagement in Juneau
January 5 News Release—Poll: Alaska Should Not Be in The Retirement Business
