The Tax Shift: Yachts and Planes

The Florida House Finance and Tax Committee was suppose to eliminate $29 million in sales tax loopholes. The end result was tax cuts for yachts and private airplanes. The Committee added tax loophole that places $25 million against the budget. Republicans say the yacht tax breaks for to promote job growth.

Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, proposed a 6 cent sales tax on bottled water. That was quickly killed.

"Water is an incredibly valuable resource in Florida; we have shortfalls all the time," said Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, who tried to attach the amendment to a wide-ranging committee bill to make changes to the tax code.

Blue Crystal Bottled Water and Silver Springs Bottled Water are major companies in Florida. Candidates from either parties do not want to get out the bad side of these financial powerhouses.

The Florida House doesn't have the stomach or the maturity to deal with the budget crisis. Republicans say people are buying yachts outside the state. Purchases out of Florida is beyond the state's control. The yacht industry is not a huge growth market for jobs. To sell this as job creation is disingenuous.

Democrats want to make the sales tax holiday permanent. Republicans ignored their pleas.

''If we can afford a bill that helps out struggling families in tough economic times then we probably can afford this going into the future,'' said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, a Sarasota Democrat who sponsored the amendment.

"I don't think it's a good idea to make this permanent, said Chairwoman Ellyn Bogdanoff. "This is premature, especially in these economic times. I would encourage everyone to vote against it."


Republicans deem yachts are more imporatant than school clothes and hurricane supplies. Fuck the middle class.