HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 101

(By Delegates J. Nelson, Ihle, Hill, Faircloth, Moffatt, Walters,

                               Blair, R. Smith, Householder, McGeehan, Folk and Butler)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the issue of West Virginia becoming a fair tax state whereby income and property taxes should be replaced by a consumption tax.

            Whereas, There has been a movement on both the state and national levels to replace income and other taxes with a consumption tax; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes has slowed economic growth and has reduced the standard of living of West Virginians; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes impede the competitiveness of West Virginia's industry; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes reduce savings and investment in West Virginia by taxing income multiple times slowing the capital formation necessary for real wages to steadily increase; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes lower productivity; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes impose unacceptable and unnecessary administrative and compliance costs on individual and business taxpayers; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes are unfair and inequitable; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes unnecessarily intrude upon the privacy and civil rights of West Virginia citizens; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes hide the true cost of government by embedding taxes in the costs of everything West Virginian's buy; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property tax laws are not being complied with at satisfactory levels and therefore raising the tax burden on law abiding citizens; and

            Whereas, It should be studied whether income and property taxes impede upward social mobility; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That we should study whether it would be in West Virginia's best interests in becoming a fair tax state whereby income and property taxes should be replaced by a consumption tax; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2016, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.