TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Republicans in the Florida House propose a one-week sales tax holiday to return some of the budget surplus to taxpayers.
The plan would set aside $500 million to make up for local and state taxes that would not be collected from July 31 to Aug. 6, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
"All of us ran on a platform of lowering taxes," said Joe Negron, the House Fiscal Chairman. "We're just doing what we promised."
The House is also considering bills that would eliminate sales taxes on school supplies and on supplies used to prepare for hurricanes as well as an intangibles tax on stocks and bonds.
Democrats say that the main beneficiaries of the sales tax holiday would be tourists and suggest instead providing $100 rebates on property taxes for homeowners. Florida Tax Watch, an advocacy group, says that the tax holiday is a nice idea but warns that the surplus could be needed for roads and other infrastructure.
