Bill would tax mailed newspapers, magazines
TALLAHASSEE (AP) – Newspaper and magazine subscriptions and most charter fishing trips would lose their sales tax exemptions if lawmakers pass a bill proposed by a House panel Monday.
Savings from those and some smaller exemption repeals would be more than offset by provisions reducing state revenues, including a pair of three-day sales tax “holidays” for back-to-school and hurricane preparation purchases. Sales taxes on yachts and airplanes also would be capped.
The bill would result in a first-year revenue shortfall of more than $20 million, further stressing an already-tight budget.
The House Finance and Tax Council unanimously voted to introduce the measure although some members disagreed with parts of it. Debate centered on repealing the exemption for publications delivered by mail and a failed proposal to tax bottled water.
On a voice vote, the panel rejected a motion by Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, to retain the subscription exemption. Thurston said the tax might cost jobs by putting publications out of business or encouraging them to leave Florida.
Republicans said it was a matter of fairness because store sales of newspapers and magazines are taxed.
Rep. Rich Workman, R-Melbourne, also cited newspaper editorials urging the repeal of exemptions that favor certain businesses over the public interest.
“My particular newspaper has called for me to make sure that I vote to do away with special interest, state-delivered welfare to corporations,” Workman said. “I’m going to do that by voting down this amendment.”