Last week, the Mississippi Legislature moved to eliminate its state income tax, putting the Magnolia State in line with Alabama's neighbors Tennessee and Florida, which are states without an income tax.

Friday, during his weekly appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show," State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) predicted Alabama could look at making a similar move during the next quadrennium.

The Morgan County Republican lawmaker, who also chairs the Senate Education Budget Committee, said such a "reform" package was required to allow Alabama to compete with its neighbors.

"[W]e saw yesterday that Mississippi has now passed a plan to reduce their income taxes to zero," he explained. "Now, they're going to raise taxes elsewhere to make up for some of it. But that's their long-term plan that they put into effect via the legislature. And so the question becomes now for Alabama — we got Tennessee, we got Florida, no income tax, Mississippi on a journey to also do the same: What are we gonna do here in Alabama regarding income taxes?"

"And that's something that I would think maybe in the next quadrennium, Dale, the legislature could take up a wholesale tax reform type package and look at how taxes are assessed here in Alabama and come up with a good plan — but would put us more in line with our neighbors because that having no income tax really makes a difference when it comes to competing for workers and for companies to come to your state."

Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.

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