WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) strongly opposes efforts to Governor Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware to increase taxes on hardworking families.
Gov. Minner continues to support tax increases even though revenue projections for her state have improved. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council announced Monday that they had revised Delaware\’s revenue projections to account for $75 million more in revenue for this fiscal year and the next.
Nevertheless, Governor Minner calls efforts to balance the Delaware budget without tax increase "quick fixes and gimmicks," and Joint Finance Committee co-chairwoman Senator Nancy Cook plans to spend the unexpected revenue increase on "minor capital improvements."
"The state of Delaware didn\’t earn this revenue increase," commented Grover Norquist, President of ATR. "Taxpayers did. And lawmakers in Delaware ought to return this revenue to taxpayers without raising their taxes.
"I don\’t understand this compulsion to spend every nickel that the state collects," continued Norquist. "I certainly don\’t balance my checkbook that way, and I know that millions of Delaware taxpayers don\’t, either.
"I strongly encourage taxpayers and Taxpayer Protection Pledge signers in Delaware to voice their opposition to these proposed tax increases. I challenge every lawmaker in Dover to balance the budget without tax increases, and to provide tax relief for Delaware families instead."
In her budget, Gov. Minner proposes $144.5 million in tax increases, including a 26c/pack cigarette tax increase and a 17% increase in corporate franchise taxes.
The following lawmakers in Delaware have signed ATR\’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising to "oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes."
1. Robert Venables, Sr. (S-21)
2. William Oberle, Jr. (H-24)
3. Vincent Lofink (H-27)
4. J. Benjamin Ewing (H-35)
5. Tina Fallon (H-39)