State Rep. Mike Holmes (R-Wetumpka) said the recently completed regular session of the Alabama Legislature ranks as one of the seminal efforts in state history to pass meaningful laws concerning abortion, a lottery and the gas tax, and he has another foundation-altering proposal for 2020.
Holmes said he intends to introduce a tax-reform package next year to eliminate personal and corporate income taxes and bring in revenue with enhanced sales taxes.
kAm“xE H:== 36 2 72:C E2I[” w@=>6D D2:5] “xE H:== C6DF=E :? 2 >F49 D>2==6C E2I :?4C62D6] %96 2G6C286 E2I H@F=5 36 g]`T[ =@42= 2?5 DE2E6 4@>3:?65] qFE D6CG:46D H@F=5 2=D@ 36 E2I65] $@ :7 J@F 92G6 2? 2FE@ >6492?:4 H9@ E2I6D E96 A2CED[ 96’D 2=D@ 8@:?8 E@ 492C86 g]`T E2I @? 9:D D6CG:46D]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 96 8@E 6DE:>2E6D 7C@> A6@A=6 :? 4@>>6C46 H9@ D2:5 E96 DE2E6 4@F=5 42AEFC6 Sa]f 3:==:@? E@ Sb]a 3:==:@? 2??F2==J :? C6G6?F6 7C@> A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E A2J :?4@>6 E2I6D]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 8@E 2 9F86 F?56C8C@F?5 64@?@>J H96C6 A6@A=6 2C6 A2J:?8 ?@ :?4@>6 E2I H92ED@6G6C[” 96 D2:5] “x 8@E 2? 6DE:>2E6 @7 Sa]f 3:==:@? E@ Sb]a 3:==:@? H6’C6 >:DD:?8] %96D6 2C6 :==682= :>>:8C2?ED 2?5 @E96CD H9@ 2C6 @77 E96 3@@<D] xE’D 2?JH96C6 E96C6’D 2 =@H C6BF:C6>6?E 7@C D<:==]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 F?56C 9:D AC@A@D2= 2 BF2CE6C=J AC632E6 4@F=5 36 8:G6? E@ 72>:=:6D C682C5=6DD @7 :?4@>6 :? 2? 2>@F?E 6BF2= E@ E96 6DE:>2E65 E@E2= E2I A2:5 FA E@ E96 6I:DE:?8 A@G6CEJ =6G6=] xE’D 56D:8?65 E@ 6=:>:?2E6 E2I6D @? 9@FD69@=5 ?646DD:E:6D]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D 4@?46565 9:D AC@A@D2= >2J 6?4@F?E6C 5:77:4F=EJ :? E96 =68:D=2EFC6 — “xE’D 4@>A=6I 2?5 :E H:== 36 2 492==6?86 E@ 86E :E A2DD65[” 96 D2:5 — 3FE 96 92D 9@A6 8:G6? H92E 92AA6?65 :? E9:D J62C’D =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D E96 3:886DE[ >@DE 4@>A=:42E65 D6DD:@? :? E96 7:G6 J62CD x’G6 366? 96C6[” 96 D2:5] “W$6?]X y23@ (288@?6C W#\'6DE2G:2 w:==DX[ H9@ 92D 366? :? c_ J62CD[ D2:5 :E H2D E96 >@DE 4@>A=6I D6DD:@? 96’5 6G6C D66?] p =@E @7 :>A@CE2?E DEF77 H6?E E9C@F89 :? 2 9FCCJ]”k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 96 @AA@D65 :E[ w@=>6D D2:5 E96 82D E2I :?4C62D6 E@ C2:D6 >@?6J 7@C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 C2?<D 2D E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E =68:D=2E:@? A2DD65 :? a_`h]k^Am
kAm“Wv@G] z2J xG6JX <?6H D96 925 A@=:E:42= 42A:E2= E@ 3FC? 2?5 :E 8@E 72DE\EC24<65[” 96 D2:5] “$96 H2D 3@F?5 2?5 56E6C>:?65 E@ 86E :E E9C@F89 :? @?6 H66<]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 2 A@== 96 925 4@?5F4E65 3J 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 4@?DF=E2?E D9@H65 ebT @7 C6D:56?ED :? 9:D 5:DEC:4E @AA@D65 E96 82D E2I :?4C62D6 @7 `_ 46?ED 2 82==@? @G6C E96 ?6IE E9C66 J62CD]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@CE:@? 32?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6’D 23@CE:@? 32? :D DFAA@CE65 3J 2 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 p=232>:2?D 3FE w@=>6D <?@HD :ED AFCA@D6 :D E@ 5C2H 6?@F89 =2HDF:ED 492==6?8:?8 :E E@ 7@C46 E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE E@ C64@?D:56C E96 =2?5>2C< #@6 G] (256 CF=:?8]k^Am
kAm“|J 5:DEC:4E H2D @G6CH96=>:?8=J 7@C :E 2?5 A@==:?8 D9@HD E96 D2>6 E9:?8 DE2E6H:56[” 96 D2:5] “(6 8@E 25G:46 7C@> 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2EE@C?6JD E@ 9:E E96 C:89E 3FEE@?D 2?5 H@C5 :E :? DF49 2 H2J D@ :E 925 E@ 36 2 4=62? 3:==] xE’D 92C5 E@ 6IA=2:? E@ 7@FC >:==:@? A6@A=6 W:? p=232>2X H9J H6 ?66565 E@ =62G6 :E 4=62? :?DE625 @7 255:?8 2>6?5>6?ED 2==@H:?8 6I46AE:@?D 7@C C2A6 2?5 :?46DE] qFE E96 =2HDF:ED 2C6 2=C625J 368:??:?8 2?5 E96C6 2C6 H2JD E@ 9@=5 FA :>A=6>6?E2E:@? @7 E96 3:==] $@ :7 :E’D FA96=5 E96? H6 42? AC@323=J 4@>6 324< :? E96 7FEFC6 2?5 7:?6\EF?6 :E H:E9 E96 2>6?5>6?ED 7@C C2A6 2?5 :?46DE] (6’C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 4@>>@? D6?D6 7=6I:3:=:EJ]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m{@EE6CJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 96 C68C6ED E96 =68:D=2EFC6 564:565 E@ 4@?D:56C 2 =@EE6CJ AC@A@D2= 3J $6?] vC68 p=3C:EE@? W#\pE>@C6X :?DE625 @7 @?6 3J $6?] y:> |4r=6?5@? W#\$AC:?8G:==6X E92E H@F=5 92G6 6DE23=:D965 2 82>3=:?8 4@>>:DD:@? 2?5 2=D@ 2==@H65 6=64EC@?:4 82>:?8 2E DE2E6 5@8 EC24<D] p=3C:EE@?’D 3:== 42==:?8 7@C 2 A2A6C =@EE6CJ H2D 4C:E:4:K65 3J D@>6 2D 2 H2J @7 AC@E64E:?8 E96 !@2C49 rC66< x?5:2?D’ 42D:?@ @A6C2E:@?D] p=D@[ |4r=6?5@? H2?E65 E96 AC@4665D E@ 36 DA=:E 36EH66? E96 v6?6C2= uF?5 2?5 E96 t5F42E:@? %CFDE uF?5 H9:=6 >@?6J 7C@> p=3C:EE@?’D G6CD:@? @7 E96 =@EE6CJ H@F=5 92G6 8@?6 6I4=FD:G6=J E@ E96 v6?6C2= uF?5]k^Am
kAmp? p=232>2 =@EE6CJ H:== A6CD:DE F?E:= :E :D 2AAC@G65[ w@=>6D D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E H:== 4@>6 324< 7@C6G6C F?E:= D@>6E9:?8 86ED 5@?6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D BF6DE:@?65 E96 S`ef >:==:@? 2??F2= ?6E 6DE:>2E6 E96 DE2E6 H@F=5 >2<6 7C@> 2 =@EE6CJ]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 E9:?< J@F 42? 5@ >:C24=6 H@C< H:E9 =@EE6CJ AC@4665D[” 96 D2:5] “x D2H H96C6 :E H2D AC@;64E65 E@ 86E S`ef >:==:@? ?6E 3FE 6G6CJ3@5J D66>65 4@?7FD65 3J E92E] x’> ?@E DFC6 :E H2D 6G6C 4=62C H92E H6 H@F=5 86E @FE @7 :E] x’G6 D66? W52E2X E92E D9@H65 :E 4@DED e_ E@ edT E@ A2J @77 H:??6CD 2?5 b_T E@ 25>:?:DE6C :E] %92E 5@6D?’E =62G6 >F49] *@F’5 ?665 8C@DD C6G6?F6 :? E96 Se__ >:==:@? C2?86 E@ ?6E S`ef >:==:@? 2?5 x 5@F3E E92E] x H2D 2 ?@ G@E6 3642FD6 E96C6 H6C6 2 =@E @7 BF6DE:@?D E92E ?6G6C 8@E 2?DH6C65]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 |4r=6?5@?’D 3:== H2D E96 36DE D@=FE:@? 3FE :ED 4@>A=6I:EJ 2?5 E96 724E :E H@F=5 2==@H 6=64EC@?:4 82>:?8 2E 5@8 EC24<D 5@@>65 :E]k^Am
kAm“%96 3:== E92E 8@E 2== E96 2EE6?E:@? 4@>:?8 :? H2D |4r=6?5@?’D 3:==[” w@=>6D D2:5] “w:D 3:== H2D E96 36DE 3:== 3J 72C 2?5 x H:D9 x 4@F=5 2?DH6C H9J :E 5:5?’E 8@ 2?JH96C6] x E9:?< H6 92G6 2 4@?D6?DFD E92E 6G6CJ3@5J <?@HD H6 D9@F=5 =6E E96 A6@A=6 G@E6 @? :E] qFE >2J36 |4r=6?5@?’D 3:== H2D E@@ 4@>A=:42E65] xE H@F=5 92G6 2==@H65 AC:G2E6 6?E6CAC:D6 WE96 5@8 EC24<DX :? |24@?[ vC66?6[ y6776CD@? 2?5 {@H?56D 4@F?E:6D 3642FD6 @7 4@F?EJ C676C6?5F>D] (6 42?’E >2<6 E9:?8D 2 >@?@A@=J 7@C 2 >:?@C:EJ DF49 2D E96 !@2C49 rC66< x?5:2?D]k^Am
kAm“p=3C:EE@?’D 3:== H2D >F49 D:>A=6C 3FE E@@ @A6? 6?565 2?5 E92E >256 :E 2 AC@3=6>2E:4 3:==] %96C6 H2D ?@ H2J E@ 25>:?:DE6C :E 6I46AE E@ 4@>6 324< 27E6C E96 724E]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mqF586EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 96 :D A=62D65 H:E9 E96 3F586ED E96 =68:D=2EFC6 A2DD65 7@C E96 v6?6C2= uF?5 WSa]` 3:==:@?X 2?5 t5F42E:@? %CFDE uF?5 WSf]` 3:==:@?X[ H9:49 :?4=F56D A2J C2:D6D 7@C E62496CD 2?5 DE2E6 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm“%92E’D @FC >2:? ;@3[” w@=>6D D2:5] “(6 A2DD65 E96 3:886DE 3F586E :? DE2E6 9:DE@CJ 7@C 65F42E:@?] %62496CD 2?5 DE277 2?5 25>:?:DEC2E@CD 8@E C2:D6D] pD FDF2= E96 v6?6C2= uF?5 H2D E:89E6C] %96 |65:42:5 7@=<D 8@E 2 C632E6 @? A92C>246FE:42= 5CF8D] x E9:?< :E’D 2 =:G23=6 3F586E[ 2 7:D42==J D@=:5 3F586E]” k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt5F42E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 AC@8C6DD H2D >256 @? 6=6>6?E2CJ\=6G6= C625:?8 3J 2==@H:?8 65F42E@CD E@ C6E2:? E9:C5\8C256CD :7 E96J 2C6?’E C625:?8 2E 8C256 =6G6= 2?5 2=D@ DFAA@CED 2 4@>>:DD:@? D6=64E:?8 DE2E6 D49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36CD 2?5 E96 DE2E6 DFA6C:?E6?56?E :?DE625 @7 2 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm“x H@F=5 ?@C>2==J 36 282:?DE E2<:?8 E96 4:E:K6?D’ C:89E 2H2J E@ G@E6 7@C 2 DE2E6H:56 A@D:E:@? 3FE p=232>2 92D 366? 8@:?8 324<H2C5 7@C d_ J62CD 2?5 :E’D E:>6 E@ ECJ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6[” w@=>6D D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C:D@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw@=>6D 6IA64ED xG6J E@ 42== 2 DA64:2= D6DD:@? :? E96 72== E@ 255C6DD E96 DE2E6’D AC:D@? 4C:D:D] %96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 :D E9C62E6?:?8 E@ DF6 E96 DE2E6 :7 :E 5@6D?’E 4@CC64E C2>A2?E G:@=6?46 2?5 4@?5:E:@?D :E 42==65 F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=] xG6J H2?ED E@ 3F:=5 ?6H AC:D@?D 3FE w@=>6D D2:5 724:=:E:6D 2C6 ;FDE A2CE @7 E96 AC@3=6>]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< H6’G6 8@E D6C:@FD AC@3=6>D 2?5 2== E96 2EE6?E:@? 92D 366? @? 3F:=5:?8 ?6H 3F:=5:?8D[” 96 D2:5] “x 5@?’E 28C66 H:E9 E92E] WyF=:2X %FEH:=6C W!C:D@? 7@C (@>6?X 8@E 4=62?65 FA H:E9@FE 3F:=5:?8 2 ?6H 3F:=5:?8] (6’C6 D66:?8 DE233:?8D[ >FC56CD[ C2A6D[ D6IF2= 92C2DD>6?E 2?5 6IE@CE:@? @7 A2C6?ED 2?5 8C2?5A2C6?ED @FED:56 E96 AC:D@? 36:?8 E@=5[ ‘x7 J@F 5@?’E A2J FD[ y:>>J H@?’E >2<6 :E] (6’== 362E 9:> E@ 562E9]’k^Am
kAm“x <?@H @7 @?6 6I2>A=6 H96C6 2 >2? 925 C646:AED :? 2 42C53@2C5 3@I E92E E@E2=65 Sed[___ :? @?6 J62C W:? 6IE@CE:@? 56>2?5DX] *@F’G6 8@E E@ 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 HC@?8 :? J@FC DJDE6> 7@C E92E E@ 8@ @? 2?5 H6’G6 8@E E@ 7:I :E] (6 92G6 7656C2= 6?4C@249>6?E ?@H 2?5 H6’G6 8@E E@ D2E:D7J E96> 7:CDE] qFE ?6H 3F:=5:?8D H@?’E D@=G6 E96 AC@3=6>D DE:== :? E96C6]”k^Am