Defeat of Tax Increase Labeled “Victory for Florida”
Caleb Tiller , +1 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel , +1 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Tallahassee, FL, (June 27, 2006) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) today congratulated Governor Jeb Bush of Florida for his veto of a bill that would have hurt Florida-based businesses. The bill would have enabled Florida counties to impose an additional $2 per day tax on car rentals, effectively doubling the current tax. The proposed increase was included in a transportation bill with numerous other provisions. In vetoing the measure, Bush stated that his objections were related specifically to negative impact of the car rental tax increase.
NBTA Executive Director & COO Bill Connors, CTC, said, “Governor Bush is to be congratulated for understanding the negative impact a car rental tax increase has on the Florida economy and for taking a principled stand based on that understanding. All too often, lawmakers and government officials believe they can raise car rental excise taxes without impacting their constituents. But our research shows that most companies rent as many or more cars locally than in other areas. An increase of car rental taxes ends up hitting local businesses’ bottom lines.”
NBTA has actively opposed the Florida bill, with actions including testimony before the Florida Senate Transportation Committee in April on the then-pending legislation, letters to the Florida House and Senate Committees with Transportation oversight, a letter to Governor Bush, and grass-roots communications encouraging NBTA members and chapters in Florida to voice their opinions to state officials.
“Instead of hitting companies with a tax increase, the veto allows those companies to continue to invest those funds in improving their businesses for the future,” continued Connors. “The defeat of this bill should be seen as an important victory for the businesses and people of Florida, and as investment in the state’s future.”
He added, “With dozens of proposed car rental tax increases pending in state legislatures across the nation, NBTA will continue to work on behalf of the business community to ensure legislators and government officials understand the impact of such tax hikes.”
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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