Rural legislators have cried foul on bills that remove tax exemptions on items important to their businesses. Two bills, HB10-1190, suspending industry fuel sales and use tax exemptions, and HB10-1195, collecting sales tax on agricultural items such as chemicals to protect bull semen, are particularly galling. The bills passed both chambers and the Governor signed them.

HB10-1190 will bring in $7.2 million in '09-'10, $37.6 million in '10-'11, and $40.2 million in '11-'12.  HB10-1195 will gin up $.9 million in '-9-'10, $4.6 million in '10-'11, and $4.6 million in '11-'12.  The state needs the money to close the budget gap in these years and to meet its obligations to k-12 education, higher education, and Medicaid, among many other responsibilities.

Sonnenberg and Brophy lead anti-tax effort

Leading the charge against higher taxes on farmers are Representative Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, and Senator Greg Brophy, R-Wray. They both have railed against the removal of the tax exemptions.

Sonnenberg and Brophy are particularly proud of their anti-tax and small government stands. Sonnenberg has twice received the "Guardian of the Taxpayers" award from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers.

Sonnenberg, Brophy, Renfroe enjoy their crop payments

And yet. Both Sonnenberg and Brophy receive large federal crop payments for their farm operations. $459,252 of tax dollars have gone to Sonnenberg from 1995-2006 (Sonnenberg crop payment). $83,717 have gone to Brophy from 1999-2006 (Brophy crop payment). Senator Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, is a subsidy piker, receiving only $6566 since 2002 (Renfroe crop payment).

Totaled up, the three lawmakers have taken $549,535 in federal crop subsidies over the years.

Sonnenberg's US treasury tax dollars from 1995 to 2006 include: Wheat subsidies - $269,927; corn subsidies - $27,464; sunflower subsidies - $25,022; barley subsidies -$1,797; sorghum subsidies - $1,606; livestock subsidies - $858. Who would have thought that sunflowers can bring such bounty as well as beauty?

Brophy's subsidies are simpler: $76,858 corn; $1421 wheat.

$549,535 only through '06

The federal database hasn't reported subsidies after 2006. But based on the numbers, it's surprising that these legislators are so anti-tax. To compare, most regular taxpayers were happy to receive their US Treasury tax rebate checks of $500 during the Bush years. Imagine the joy of getting a $59,111 US Treasury check in your mailbox in 2005, which was Sonnenberg's federal crop payment that year.

Sonnenberg, Brophy, and Renfroe may be against big government and taxes, but they've learned how to milk the federal government system, even if they don't get their subsidies for dairy products.

Maybe they justify their dips into the crop payment system because those are federal dollars. But for most people, tax dollars in another person's pocket are tax dollars out of their pocket. And when a person takes tax dollars and then complains about paying taxes, that taxes everyone's patience.PEN, CCW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post was published on February 28, 2010. Permalink »