On Tuesday, State Auditor Andrew Sorrell discussed a possible end to Alabama's state income tax as suggested by Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee John Wahl.
During an episode of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Sorrell praised Wahl for taking a progressive stance on the hot-button issue while criticizing lawmakers who attacked him for his suggestion that the tax would make Alabama more competitive nationally.
"Wahl comes out and says, 'Hey, in order to be competitive with our surrounding states, we need to eliminate the Alabama state income tax. We need to phase it out over about a 10-year period,'" Sorrell explained. "People went nuts. They were like, 'Oh my goodness, the Lieutenant Governor doesn't have that power. How could he even say such a crazy thing?'"
"You had 25 legislators get on Facebook and whine about how the lieutenant governor doesn't have the power to do that, and it was ironic because every single one of the people whining about it does have the power to draft and introduce that legislation. Not one of them said, 'This is a good idea; I'm going to actually go do it.'"
Sorrell revealed a potential timeline for ending the Yellowhammer State's income tax.
"I want to make a prediction right now. The Alabama state income tax will be eliminated. It will begin, I think, in the next quadrant, the next four years. It will begin to be phased out, and it's because you have strong leadership," he added.
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