State House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) defended his 2023 overtime tax exemption law during an appearance on Tuesday's broadcast of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show."

According to the Madison County Democrat, efforts to roll back the tax break by the Republican-led Alabama Legislature should be perceived as a tax increase.

"For me, I want to give people back as much money as possible," he explained. "I want to put money back into people and invest in our infrastructure so that it'll prompt more growth and opportunity. We shouldn't be taxing people at the rate that we're taxing them anyway. For me to allow this piece of legislation to sunset, you know what that is, Jeff?"

"That's a tax increase," Daniels continued. "You're putting a five — it's basically a 5% tax increase on hard work in Alabamians that are working additional hours in order to make our state's economy continue to move in the direction that it should be moving."

Daniels' remarks follow those of State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the Senate Education Trust Fund budget committee chairman, who warned that the tax's removal significantly overshot the Legislative Services Agency's "best guess" projections.

SEE ALSO: State Sen. Orr warns overtime tax exemption exceeded 'best guess' projection by $162 million, calls for cap for ETF to keep pace with demand

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 jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on X @jeff_poor.

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