Tax Reform Update

As you know, we have been working on a tax reform plan in the NC House. Our goal is to modernize an outdated tax code and reduce overall tax rates. Most importantly, we are working to create a better business environment, which will promote job creation.

Here is an overview of our plan...

HB 998 - The Tax Simplification and Reduction Act

Under this plan, working families of North Carolina will keep more of the money they earn. This will make our State more competitive for job creation. In fact, Americans for Tax Reform predicts that this plan would result in our State going from the 7th worst business climate to the 19th best in the nation.

INCOME TAX RATE

This plan would cut the personal income tax by $1.7 billion over the next five years, giving all North Carolinians an income tax reduction. The three-tiered tax bracket system would be eliminated and replaced with a flat rate of 5.9 percent. This is a much more equitable method of applying income taxes to our citizens.

There would be no tax on Social Security, and the deductions for mortgage interest and property tax would remain in place with a $25,000 maximum.

Moving to a flat tax on personal income is a major development in reforming our tax code. It will make our State much more conducive for economic growth, and it will benefit all of our citizens.

CORPORATE TAX REDUCTION

North Carolina's corporate tax rate would be reduced from 6.9 percent to 5.4 percent. This would make our corporate tax rate the second lowest in the Southeast, just behind South Carolina. Reducing this particular tax is pivotal, because corporate taxes are typically passed to consumers. Reducing this tax would also make North Carolina more attractive for businesses, which will result in more job creation.

STREAMLINE SALES TAX

Currently, our sales tax applies primarily to goods and not to services. Over the last couple of decades our State has moved from more of a goods-based economy to a service-based economy. As a result, our government is generating less revenue from the sales tax, which has caused income and corporate taxes to increase.

In order to get these rates down, we must expand the sales tax to include some, but not all, services. This plan would expand the sales tax to services that already collect and remit part of the sales tax, such as warranties and service contracts. Doing this allows us to lower our overall tax rates, which will help to spur economic growth.

Exemptions from state sales taxes on food and medicine would be kept in place. This would ensure that citizens are not paying taxes on the most essential necessities.

MOVING FORWARD

Tax reform is a process, and this plan is a positive step toward creating a sensible tax structure. I believe this is an excellent plan. Not only will it ease the tax burden on our citizens, it will also help to achieve the objective of creating a better economic environment. This plan also sets us on course to implement further tax reform measures in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates on tax reform, and let me know if you have any feedback. Your thoughts are always welcome.

NC House Update - June '13

Tax Reform

We are now in the midst of discussing tax reform in the NC House. My hope is that we can lower personal income taxes; move to a flat rate on personal income taxes; lower the corporate tax rate; and broaden our sales tax to cover some, but not all, services. Our goal is to create a tax code that will ease the burden on taxpayers and generate more economic activity.

If you have thoughts or ideas on tax reform, please contact me. Your feedback is always welcome.

State Budget

In addition to tax reform, we are currently working through the budget process. Our goal is to implement a budget that is fiscally responsible and sensible. Both the House and Senate are working on individual plans, and there will be extensive discussions before a final plan is reached.

In my opinion, we must focus on working to advance a plan that applies taxpayer funds to core responsibilities of government. Stay tuned for more information as we move forward with this process.

Bills Pass the NC House

There have been numerous bills that I have cosponsored this legislative session. However, there are seven bills that I have filed this year as the lead sponsor. Fortunately, each of these bills has passed the House and moved to the Senate.

Advancing these bills was a great honor, and I could not have done it without the support of colleagues and staff. Here is a list of each of the bills that I filed as the lead sponsor this session:

HB 250 - Charter School Enrollment

HB 273 - Charter School/LEA Accounting of Funds

HB 610 - Modify Requirements for In-Stand Beer Sales

HB 687 - Homeless Shelters/ Remove Age Limits

HB 688 - Amend Continuing Ed Req's/Cert. Well K'ors

HB 761 - Exempt Well K'ors/Electrical K'ors Lic Reqs

HB 762 - Amend Certain Bail Bond Procedures

Common Core

Lately I have been getting a lot of feedback on Common Core, which is a federal program pertaining to education. Parents and teachers alike have contacted me to express their concerns about this topic. While the supporters of Common Core may have good intentions, I must confess that I have serious concerns about this program.

First and foremost, I believe that education is a state and local issue. As someone who believes in parental choice and local control of education, I am skeptical of any federal program that would institute regulations on education in North Carolina.

HB 718, which is currently in the NC Senate, would create a commission to study the effects of Common Core in North Carolina. I think this is a great idea, and it is important that we move forward with this study.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts, concerns, or ideas on the topic of Common Core.

Quote to Remember

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."
- Vince Lombardi

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 26, 2013

Raleigh, NC - Yesterday Rep. Jon Hardister (R - Guilford) successfully passed two regulatory reform bills in the NC House. 

HB 688, which passed on a vote of 115-2, reduces continuing education requirements for ground water well contractors. HB 761, which passed on a unanimous vote, allows ground water well drillers the ability to install certain electrical devices. The purpose of these two bills is to ease the regulatory burden on the well contracting industry.

"These bills will make it easier for well contractors to do their job," Hardister said. "It is important that we work to implement policies that will make it easier for private sector businesses to grow. These two bills will help to accomplish that goal."

Hardister also expressed gratitude for the strong bipartisan support that both of these bills received.

Contact: Jon Hardister (jonhardister@gmail.com)

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Raleigh, N.C. - Yesterday Rep. Jon Hardister (R - Guilford) successfully passed his first bill in the NC House. HB 250 - Charter School Enrollment - cleared the NC House on third reading with a vote of 114-1. The bill, which is supported by the NC Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the NC Public Charter Schools Association, will now go to the NC Senate for consideration.

"This bill will provide charter schools with more flexibility in how they conduct enrollment procedures," Hardister said. "It is an honor to promote this bill, and I am thankful that it passed overwhelmingly. I appreciate each individual who supported the passage of this bill."

Contact: Jon Hardister (jonhardister@gmail.com)

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Raleigh, N.C. - Yesterday Rep. Jon Hardister (R - Guilford) filed HB 273, which addresses accounting issues related to charter school funding. The bill would require local education authorities to provide an accounting of charter school funds and a time line for the transfer of funds. It would also require local education authorities to transfer charter school funds on time. Reps. Marcus Brandon (D - Guilford), Chris Malone (R - Wake), and Paul Stam (R - Wake) have joined Hardister as primary sponsors of the bill. 

"The purpose of this bill is to bring more transparency to the funding of charter schools," Hardister said. "It is reasonable to require details on how funds are transferred to charter schools. It is also reasonable to require charter school funds to be transferred on time. This is a bipartisan bill, and I am hopeful that it will move forward successfully."

Contact: Jon Hardister (jonhardister@gmail.com)

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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Raleigh, N.C. - Yesterday Rep. Jon Hardister (R - Guilford) filed HB 250, which addresses enrollment procedures for charter schools in North Carolina. The bill would expand preferential enrollment to the children of all school employees; allow for all siblings to enter a charter school under a lottery; and allow re-enrollment priority for a student who leaves a charter school for less than two years due to special circumstances. Reps. Marcus Brandon (D - Guilford), Donny Lambeth (R - Forsyth), and Paul Stam (R - Wake) have joined Hardister as primary sponsors of the bill.

"It is important that we work to improve our charter school system in North Carolina," Hardister said. "This is a bipartisan bill, and I am hopeful that it will move forward successfully in the NC House."

Contact: Jon Hardister (jonhardister@gmail.com)

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NC House Update

We are now several weeks into the 2013 legislative session. Although we have been faced with some tough decisions, I feel as though we are on the right track. Here are some updates...

  

Unemployment Insurance

We passed HB 4, which will allow North Carolina to retire a debt of $2.5 billion to the federal government. This bill brought unemployment benefits in-line with surrounding states, and adjusted contributions to the system. Although this was not a pleasant bill to support, it was the best possible approach to address this problem.

Medicaid Expansion

We need to focus on improving our current Medicaid system before expanding bureaucracy and incurring additional costs. Expanding Medicaid was simply not a prudent idea given the fiscal uncertainty that would be associated with the expansion. Ultimately, we passed SB 4, which blocked both the expansion of Medicaid and the establishment of a state healthcare exchange.  

Vocational Education

We passed SB 14, which will increase opportunities for high school students to enroll in career and technical education programs, particularly in areas with employment needs. This legislation also establishes high school diplomas that indicate whether a student is "college ready," "career ready" or both. This was the first bill that Governor McCrory officially signed into law.

Annexation Amendment

HB 79, which I have introduced as a primary sponsor, would set forth a constitutional amendment to protect private property from forced annexation. If this bill makes it through the General Assembly, it will be submitted to the voters for approval as a constitutional amendment.

  

Estate Tax

  

We recently advanced a bill in the House Finance Committee that will abolish the estate tax in North Carolina. I am firmly opposed to the estate tax, and I believe it should be eliminated as part of our tax code. I expect this bill to move forward successfully in the current legislative session.

Notable Bills

Here are some notable bills that I have sponsored:

HB 8 Eminent Domain

HB 9 Speaker/Pro TEM Term Limits

HB 17 Gun Permits / Restaurants & Confidentiality

HB 65 Restore Partisan Judicial Elections

HB 67 Permanent License Plates for Charter Schools

HB 118 Consular Documents Not Acceptable as ID

Quote to Remember

"Courage is what it take to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

- Winston Churchill

  

It is an honor to serve in the NC House. Each day, I dedicated myself to making informed decisions as to what is best for my constituents. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and feel free to contact me any time.