About 45 years have passed since a U.S. state last eliminated its income tax on wages and salaries. But with recent actions in Mississippi and Kentucky, two states now are on a path to do so, if their economies keep growing.

The push to zero out the income tax is perhaps the most aggressive example of a tax-cutting trend that swept across states as they rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic with surging revenues and historic surpluses.

But it comes during a time of greater uncertainty for states, as they wait to see whether President Donald Trump’s cost cutting and tariffs lead to a reduction in federal funding for states and a downturn in the overall economy.

Some fiscal analysts also warn the repeal of income taxes could leave states reliant on other levies, such as sales taxes, that disproportionately affect the poor.

  • derzeppo@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    50
    ·
    19 hours ago

    Kansas tried something similar and it was such a disaster the Republicans had to repeal it themselves.

    • Ledericas@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      11 hours ago

      AND THATS why they also have a dem gov, because they cant take the blame for everything, so they allowed a Dem to becom one of the state.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      18
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      18 hours ago

      Turns out there are public services even Republicans still want. And you don’t please your base voters by bankrupting police departments and rural school districts.

      Still, this is all contingent on some degree of democracy. If we’re just an oligarchy with a Two Minute Hate channel attached to it, we’ll get tax cuts followed by excuses. Blame the Haitians eating the dogs and the cats. Blame the mayor for killing peanut the squirrel. Then sit back and wait for the controlled opposition party to apologize for only half agreeing with you.

      • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        18 hours ago

        They’ll straight up disband public schools and all other public benefit before they defund police.

        • meco03211@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          11
          ·
          18 hours ago

          Jokes on them. If they cut tax revenue without a plan to cut costs, they’ll waltz right into defunding the police without even meaning to.

          • Ledericas@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            11 hours ago

            police is only useful to them, asa bludgeoning device. dictatorships have a strong police force, while makign thier own military weak, its by design.

          • enkers@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            17 hours ago

            Also, I suppose one way to get cars off the roads is to leave them in such severe disrepair that nobody can drive.

              • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                4 hours ago

                Fuel is, curiously, the one thing we’ve managed to get cheap.

                The rest of the economy is inflating like a blimp, but gas prices are as low as they’ve been in decades

                • Revan343@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  4 hours ago

                  For now; it’ll become an issue as the refineries start needing maintenance and all the parts and equipment have gone up in cost