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Food and Beverage Tax Increase in the Works

According to recent comments by Botetourt County Board of Supervisor Member, Terry Austin, he wants to put a new tax on Food & Beverage sales in Botetourt County.  The article from the Fincastle Herald, January 13, 2010 says,

“Buchanan District Board of Supervisors member Terry Austin was at the meeting and noted that every area of county government will be affected---from the Sheriff’s Department to the Treasurer’s Office.  He suggested the General Assembly give counties the same taxing authority as cities have.  Cities can levy taxes on cigarettes and higher meals and motel taxes.  “We have the same expenses as cities,” he said.”

A bill passed in the State Senate, SB280, will allow the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors to implement a Food & Beverage Tax with a simple majority vote.  Why does Terry Austin want this legislation to pass when the Board of Supervisors already can put this measure to a referendum and allow the citizens to vote on whether they want their taxes raised?  He wants this legislation for two reasons.  First, he knows that the citizens of Botetourt County do not want their taxes raised and would not grant the authority.  Secondly, he wants to blame the tax increase on the state legislature so he will not be held accountable.  SB280 has passed the State Senate and is awaiting action in the House of Delegates.  Senator Smith voted against raising the taxes.  Senator Edwards voted to raise the tax which will put businesses in Botetourt County at a competitive disadvantage with Roanoke.

Is it likely that the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors will vote in favor of this tax increase?  I think the answer is yes.  I say that because of the action the Board of Supervisors has taken since Terry Austin made these comments.  At the board meeting held January 26, Terry Austin was voted in as chairman.  Austin was nominated by newly appointed Fincastle Supervisor Donna Vaughn.

What can be done to STOP this TAX? 

1.       Contact all members of the House of Delegates that you know as well as Botetourt County Representatives Del. William Cleaveland, (540-591-5959) and Del. Lacey Putney, (540-586-0090 ext. 1).  Tell them you are opposed to SB280.  Tell them that you support legislation that makes it more difficult to raise taxes and not easier.

2.       Contact Members of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and tell them that you do not want increased taxes.  Taxes depress the economy and with the current state of the economy we should do nothing to depress it further.  Botetourt County Government spending has increased to 148 percent what it was in 2006.  Decrease spending instead of raising taxes.  Contact Chairman Terry Austin (254-1085), Vice-Chairman Steve Clinton (992-3066), Donna Vaughn (884-2789), Don Assaid (992-6445), and Billy Martin (977-8085).

3.       Contact Danny H. Goad at (540)283-9289 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to receive more information about this legislation or would like to help stop the onslaught of taxes.

You are cordially invited to a
Republican
Open Forum Coffee

Free and open to the public!

Hosted by the
Botetourt County Republican Committee

Saturday, February 20, 2010
7:30 a.m.

The Glebe
200 The Glebe Blvd
Daleville, VA 24083

Come meet your elected officials and hear what is currently happening in the local, state, and federal government. Bring questions for your representatives to answer during the question and answer session.

Seating is limited, so please plan to arrive early.

INVITED ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Congressman Bob Goodlatte
Senator Ralph Smith
Delegate Bill Cleaveland
Supervisor Don Assaid
Supervisor Stephen Clinton
Supervisor Billy Martin
Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom
Commissioner of Revenue Jay Etzler
Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle
School Board member Ruth Wallace

Questions?
Call Christine 397-2724

 “You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

View This Research Briefing At www.gop.com

The American Spectator's Quin Hillyer: "I never wrote this in advance, but I had thought it was a bad idea to have Gov. McDonnell give the SOTU response. Well, I was wrong. That was by far the most effective SOTU response I have EVER heard in 30 years of listening to these things." (Quin Hillyer, "McDonnell Was Great," The American Spectator, 1/27/10)

The Associated Press's Jennifer Loven: "[I]n the Republican response, Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia showed no sign of his party capitulating to Obama." (Jennifer Loven, "Obama: Government Faces 'Deficit Of Trust'," The Associated Press, 1/27/10)

· Loven: "In fact, the choice of McDonnell to represent Republicans was symbolic, meant to showcase recent GOP election victories by him and others." (Jennifer Loven, "Obama: Government Faces 'Deficit Of Trust'," The Associated Press, 1/27/10)

· Loven: "McDonnell reflected the anti-big government sentiment that helped lead to their wins, saying in excerpts from his own post-speech remarks that Americans want good health care they can afford, just not by turning over 'the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.'" (Jennifer Loven, "Obama: Government Faces 'Deficit Of Trust'," The Associated Press, 1/27/10)

AP's Stephen Ohlemacher: "McDonnell told a cheering crowd of supporters in Richmond, Va., that Democratic policies are resulting in an unsustainable level of debt. He said Americans want affordable health care, but they don't want the government to run it." (Stephen Ohlemacher, "Republicans Say Nation Can't Afford Dem Policies," The Associated Press, 1/27/10)

· Ohlemacher: "McDonnell said that all Americans want affordable, high-quality health care. But, he added, 'Most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.'" (Stephen Ohlemacher, "Republicans Say Nation Can't Afford Dem Policies," The Associated Press, 1/27/10)

Los Angeles Times: McDonnell hit efforts by Democrats to jump start the economy -- efforts he called lacking..." ("Republican Response: Gov. Bob Mcdonnell Invokes Jefferson," Los Angeles Times' "Top of the Ticket" Blog, 1/27/10)

· LAT: "The staging allowed for applause and, in some instances, humor." ("Republican Response: Gov. Bob Mcdonnell Invokes Jefferson," Los Angeles Times' "Top of the Ticket" Blog, 1/27/10)

The [Hampton Roads] Daily Press: "[T]he Republican took substantive shots at Obama and Democratic initiatives, including the $787 billion federal stimulus, defense priorities, energy policy and health-care reform ..." (Kimball Payne, "Gov. Bob Mcdonnell: Democrats 'Trying To Do Too Much'," The Daily Press, 1/27/10)

· DP: "The national spotlight allowed McDonnell to introduce himself to millions of voters unfamiliar with Virginia politics." (Kimball Payne, "Gov. Bob Mcdonnell: Democrats 'Trying To Do Too Much'," The Daily Press, 1/27/10)

· DP: McDonnell gave "the Republican Party a merry, pro-business face and staying true to the focal point of his campaign pitch -- job creation." (Kimball Payne, "Gov. Bob Mcdonnell: Democrats 'Trying To Do Too Much'," The Daily Press, 1/27/10)

· DP: "McDonnell criticized ballooning federal debt and said it's vital to cultivate entrepreneurship." (Kimball Payne, "Gov. Bob Mcdonnell: Democrats 'Trying To Do Too Much'," The Daily Press, 1/27/10)

· DP: "McDonnell said it is counterproductive to extend the legal rights of a U.S. citizen to the bomber who attempted to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day..." (Kimball Payne, "Gov. Bob Mcdonnell: Democrats 'Trying To Do Too Much'," The Daily Press, 1/27/10)

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