DeSantis’ Sales Tax Plan & Voting DeSantis to Dump Trump – Top 3 Takeaways

DeSantis’ Sales Tax Plan & Voting for DeSantis to Dump Trump – Top 3 Takeaways – September 22nd, 2022 

1. DeSantis’ sales tax plan is the best yet. State legislature, make it happen. Better still, feel free to take the framework and run with it. Yes, the governor’s proposal includes a bunch of the sales tax holidays Floridians have become accustomed to including the school sales tax holiday, the disaster preparedness holiday, the Freedom Week tax holiday, an Energy Star appliance tax holiday and the Tim the Tool Man Taylor home improvement sales tax holiday. And while thinking of Home Improvement brings back good memories, my preference would be for all of those types of sales tax holidays to become memories. As I’ve explained in discussing Florida’s sales tax holidays... Do you actually use them? Probably not. Analysis shows 80% of Florida households don’t intentionally make use of Florida’s sales tax holidays. And as for those who do, that’s often not a good thing either. Those most likely to intentionally time purchases with sales tax holidays are those who are the most likely to be using debt. Florida’s sales tax rate is 6%. Currently, the average credit card APR is over 21% - the highest on record. Obviously saving 6% in taxes to pay 21% in interest is about the furthest thing from Floridians personally economically benefiting – which is the purpose of the holidays after all. And as the fed continues to raise interest rates, they’ll only continue higher. Previously I’d suggested this as a better approach... add up the total value of them and reduce the state sales tax rate on all purchases throughout the year by a nominal rate decrease.  
2. That way all people would benefit all the time from lower tax rates. Now, that’s not exactly what the governor’s set out to do, but it is effectively what he is proposing we do with specific products and categories. In addition to retaining the sales tax holidays implemented this year, the governor is proposing permanent sales tax exemptions for diapers, baby wipes, clothing, shoes, cribs and strollers for children under the age of five. Additionally, the governor’s plan calls for a permanent sales tax exemption for medical supplies and equipment that’s not already exempt under state law. Additionally, the governor is calling for a permanent exemption for otc pet medications and treatments. The plan also proposes a one-year exemption for household items under $25, a la toiletries, children’s books, toys and athletic equipment. And last, but not least, a one-year exemption for pet food. People are welcome to debate the categories prioritized, but what isn’t economically debatable is that this approach is much more economically sound for consumers, and of benefit to Floridians throughout the year. My hope going forward is that sales tax holidays are extended to one-year exemptions and the short-term “holidays” become a thing of the past.  
3. Vote for DeSantis to dump Trump. My expectations for what's reported in state news is low. Many reporting news are out to prove my expectations aren’t yet low enough. Without once again talking about the relative silliness of simply grabbing the latest political poll and reporting it as gospel, there’s a dynamic that’s still sillier. Taking a political poll and reporting it as gospel for an election that isn’t taking place while ignoring the actual election that’s taking place in a month and a half in the process. What am I referring to? USA Today’s latest poll sampling Florida’s political scene is in and was widely reported. And what’s the headline to the story? Who’s theoretically positioned to win? Governor DeSantis. You might be thinking there’s no surprise there (and you’d be right), but no, not in the actual election taking place in Florida in a month and a half. But rather one that may never take place in Florida. The headline to the story... DeSantis leads Trump among Florida Republicans for 2024. It’s hard to know who’s more obsessed with getting Trump, New York officials, the Feds or legacy news media types. That’d be a tight contest. So, ah yeah, the USA Today poll which showed an eight-point lead by DeSantis over Trump is the big political story of the day from our state. Oh, and in other news, you know for the actual election taking place in just over six weeks, DeSantis was up shown up seven over Crist. So, here’s a new campaign idea given the extent of Trump Derangement Syndrome. To Florida’s Democrats not named Dave Kerner – who offered the best reason why every Floridian should consider voting to reelect DeSantis when he said... We are a state on the rise, and I give a lot of credit to our governor for the trajectory of our state. This was not a difficult choice for me. This was not the proverbial lesser of two evils. Gov. DeSantis has demonstrated himself beyond worthy of the humbling duties of his office. And he has done so with the level of dignity, purpose and respect that is lost in the public sphere today. But anyway, if that logic doesn’t work for you, here’s an idea. Vote for DeSantis to dump Trump. After all he must win his governor’s race in order to be able to win a presidential race.