The McKay Tax Plan

Former Senate President John McKay had a great plan to make Florida's tax system fairer and do a better job funding the budget.

John McKay was president of the Florida Senate a few years back, and concluded that the state's tax system had long ago outlived its usefulness.

He decided the state relied too much on a regressive sales tax full of exemptions and exclusions worth tens of billions of dollars a year, many favoring big business.

Jeb Bush and the corporate business lobby successfully killed McKay's plan. 98% of Florida businesses pay no corporate income taxes. That isn't likely to change with the current Governor and Republican-controlled legislature. Charlie Crist told state agencies to "try to find places where reductions can be made without hurting services." That statement isn't realistic; given the budget shortfall.

Crist isn't going to raise taxes, rebates or dip into the coffers. How exactly does he plan on on having cuts withing decreasing funding for schools and roads? Crist is a skilled politician, but that may prove to be too much of a sales pitch.