Secretary of Agriculture; previously Republican NE Governor
No tax increase for research on celluosic ethanol
Johanns said, “Scott said corn-based ethanol will not be a part of our future. I could not disagree more.”
“I don’t know why, as Secretary of Agriculture, he urged the president to veto the Farm Bill, which included $1 billion of research for
celluosic ethanol,” Kleeb countered.
Johanns said he makes no excuses for vetoing the bill. “I would do it again. You put a tax increase in a farm bill I will veto it just like I vetoed the state budget when they boxed it up with tax increases.”
Source: [Xref Kleeb] 2008 Nebraska Senate debate
Aug 24, 2008
As governor I opposed higher taxes; will do same in Senate
As governor I balanced budgets, held the line on spending, vetoed bills that wasted your money, and I opposed higher taxes. In the Senate I will do the same. I will work to lower taxes to keep our economy growing, create new jobs and ensure that
you keep more of your hard earned money for your family’s budget, not the federal budget.
Source: Campaign website, www.mikejohanns2008.com, “Issues”
Mar 2, 2008
$60M in property tax relief over next two years
Keeping true to my pledge of providing direct property tax relief, I am asking the Legislature to approve $60 million dollars over the next two years for property tax relief through the State’s community colleges.
We have funded this method of providing direct property tax relief in each of the last two years. It has been successful and we should continue this effort.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Nebraska Legislature
Jan 11, 2001
No national sales tax or VAT.
Johanns adopted the National Governors Association policy:
State tax policy is closely linked to federal policy. 36 states currently use either federal income or federal tax liability as the state tax base for personal income taxes. It is critical that Congress and the administration do not enact tax reform in a vacuum, but in consultation and in partnership with the nation’s Governors.
National Sales or Value-Added Tax The nation’s Governors oppose a national sales or transactional value-added tax. Such taxes would intrude into a tax area that has traditionally been reserved for and relied on by state and local governments. If enacted, either of these taxes would seriously threaten the ability of state and local governments to maintain their tax base.
Current Income Tax If Congress decides to reform the current tax system, they should reduce the complexity of current income taxes; increase incentives to work, save, and invest; and increase efficiency and fairness. As part of any reform of the
current income tax, the nation’s Governors would oppose any modification to the deductibility of state income taxes, property taxes, and the interest on state and local bonds.
Transition If major tax reform is enacted, it should not be implemented for at least three years, to give states ample time to adjust their own tax systems.
Information Needs of the StatesThe ability of states to tax various revenue sources depends to a large extent on information that only the federal government can collect. This is becoming much more important given the complexity of both the international and domestic economies in tracing where goods and income are generated. It is critical that the federal government separate tax reform per se from the information that is collected from individuals, businesses, and corporations with respect to income generated. The data collection role of the federal government must be developed in partnership with state and local governments.
Source: NGA Executive Committee Policy Statement EC-9 00-NGA1 on Feb 15, 2000
Let states independently determine estate taxes.
Johanns adopted a letter to Congressional leaders from 37 Governors:
We are writing to request equal treatment between states and the federal government on estate tax changes. Regardless of one’s view about phasing out the federal estate tax, the Governors are absolutely united in opposing any action that would discriminate against states in the phase-out of the state and federal estate taxes. This issue needs to be addressed before the Senate goes to conference with the House.
Governors believe that the ability of states to independently determine their own tax revenue policy is a basic tenet of federalism. Moreover, no federal tax bill should be enacted without close consultation with the states.
At the very least, there must be equity in the treatment of the state death tax credit in the tax bill the Congress considers with the proposed phase-out of the federal estate tax. Governors oppose provisions that impose disproportionate impacts on state revenue systems. The changes proposed by the Senate would have abrupt, significant adverse impacts on state revenues at a particularly onerous time for many states. The potential impact on states would begin next year and have a potential impact of between $50 and $100 billion over the next ten years.
We urge the leaders to respect those rights and to restore fairness.
Source: National Governor's Association letter to Congress 01-NGA19 on May 23, 2001
Keep reduction of capital gains tax.
Johanns signed Amendment to Jobs Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act
A bill to repeal the sunset on the reduction of capital gains rates for individuals and on the taxation of dividends of individuals at capital gains rates.
Repeals the termination date in the Jobs Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 for provisions reducing individual tax rates on capital gains and dividend income.
