I don’t get folks some times. All you hear anymore is how we don’t want more government… And then the National Retail Federation, which claims to be the world’s largest retail organization, goes and asks for more government.
Let me back up. The NRF has asked President Elect Barack Obama to include a national sales tax holiday in the next stimulus package. They have suggested national sales tax holidays for ten days each (down to picking the actual days) three times in 2009: March, July and October.
I know what you’re thinking: we don’t have a national sales tax. Exactly.
The NRF wants Obama to require states to observe these national sales tax holidays. And wait, it gets better… Then, the federal government will reimburse the states what they will lose because of the proposal. And don’t cry for those states that don’t have any sales tax to begin with: the NRF suggests giving those states the revenue which would approximate a national sales tax reimbursement had they actually had a sales tax.
Incredible.
The NRF claims that the idea could save up to $20 billion dollars or approximately $175 per family.
Except for the bit about taxpayers funding the silly thing to begin with… Where does the NRF think those reimbursement dollars would come from? The Treasury, of course.
To me, this reeks of bad policy – from overstepping the bounds of what should be state sanctioned – to requesting a “reimbursement” from taxpayers for “saving” them money.
But apparently, I’m in the minority. The NRF claims that a 2001 study found that 82% of those surveyed were in favor of a national sales tax holiday.
While I’m scratching my head over the idea, I’d like to hear what you think. Vote in the poll and leave your comments below.
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