“A lot of people want a consumption tax, and I believe it’s the way to go,” said the Sharpsburg Republican, who spoke Thursday to the LaGrange Kiwanis Club. “… The state may go forward with some kind of consumption tax.”
Food and prescription medicine would be exempt, but services would be taxed for the first time. Taxes could be capped on certain expenses, such as housing, and medical and attorney fees to avoid creating a hardship, he said. He said the proposal would give people the freedom to decide “how much tax to pay and when to pay it.”
“I’d get the state out of the property tax business” as well, now that property taxes are no longer the stable revenue source they were before the real estate collapse, Seabaugh said. He said sales taxes have been more stable over the past 24 months.
Seabaugh said the state needs to “de-lawyerize” laws so anybody can read and understand them and “it’s the same way with taxes.”
The consumption tax is an example of what may be considered by a council that has been studying Georgia’s tax structure, he said. It may issue recommendations to a joint House-Senate committee and there would be an up or down vote in each chamber. The bill wouldn’t go through the normal committee process so it doesn’t become subject to a variety of influences, he said.
Seabaugh said he believes the state could maintain a 4 percent sales tax that would be “revenue neutral” - not adding money to the state treasury.
Florida and Tennessee have no income taxes.
Seabaugh was first elected in 2000 and became majority whip in his second term. He was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the hometown of Rush Limbaugh, and relocated to Georgia as a controller with International Paper Co.
Seabaugh said the state’s ban on texting while driving effective July 1 is an example of ill-conceived legislation.
He said the fine for reckless driving is $1,000, but $150 for texting behind the wheel.
“So the legislature in its wisdom said you can’t text,” he said. “It’s OK to read, eat, converse or change clothes. I’ve done it. My advice … is to admit to texting while driving and the fine will be limited to $150. It lets you know that sometimes what seems good doesn’t necessarily make a whole lot of sense.”
Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.
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