Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) announces campaign to oppose Nevada tax hike.
WASHINGTON – Today, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the nation\’s leading taxpayer advocacy organization, announced it would lead the charge against Gov. Kenny Guinn\’s (R) proposed tax hike in the Silver State.
The campaign includes both paid and earned media, as well as letters to state legislators and the governor, and will culminate with an April 21 press conference at the state capitol building in Carson City.
"Nevada\’s reputation as a business-friendly state is at terrible risk as Gov. Guinn considers this proposal," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, who heads ATR in Washington. "It\’s the type of tax hike that has every businessman and woman in the state wondering if they\’re next, and that\’s no good for business, jobs or the economy," he continued.
The non-partisan Small Business Survival Committee, based out of Washington, DC, ranked Nevada first in its rating of business-friendly states in 2001, and second in 2002. Major magazines such as Money and Fortune have consistently rated Nevada as one of the most favorable states for business location. But this reputation of being a friend of business is at risk with the governor\’s tax hike proposal and the ever-growing state budget, which totals almost $5 billion this year. When businesses leave the state, jobs will follow soon after.
"Taxpayers will fight this tax hike tooth and nail," continued Norquist, "and we urge Gov. Guinn to reconsider his position by looking at places to trim the state budget first."
Nevada is one of forty-four states facing similar tax revenue shortfalls due to overspending this year. Notably, Colorado, which passed a law in 1992 limiting state spending to the rate of inflation and population growth, does not face budgetary problems of this magnitude.