March 23, 2004
State Democrats want money to help people, not corporations
Democratic legislators Monday called on their Republican counterparts to postpone a series of planned tax cuts to spare the state deep cuts in social service programs.Posted by Norwood at March 23, 2004 06:30 AMFlorida shouldn't lower taxes for corporations and investors when the state is considering eliminating prenatal care for an estimated 7,000 poor pregnant women, Democratic leaders said.
"We need to understand the first rule of holes is when you're in one, stop digging," said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale. "We don't need these tax cuts this year."
Republican leaders, including Gov. Jeb Bush, are considering three major tax breaks worth $277-million: the next phase of the intangibles tax cut on stocks and bonds, a piggyback on a federal corporate income tax break and a nine-day sales tax holiday.
Legislative budget writers are proposing social service cuts of more than $300-million, including reductions in prenatal care, a popular youth tobacco education program and health coverage for extremely sick Floridians who can't get insurance.
