Bentley addresses Shoals Chamber… Gives his rational for tax increase… Asks for support

FLORENCE – Selling hard, Governor Robert Bentley made his case for a $700-million tax increase to the Shoals Chamber of Commerce. “It is time to put an end to the special tax breaks some of our citizens and companies get,” Bentley said at his midday address to Chamber members. “Why should a huge insurance company get a $40-million break? Why should nearly half the State have to pay a sales tax on public utility service while the other half does not? We need to level the playing field for all Alabamians.”

Bentley asked that Chamber members give cover to their local state representatives when they vote in favor of the tax increase. “This is something that is critical to our budget. We owe a lot of money to the Federal Government for the bailout money we got a few years ago,” Bentley explained. He continued, “At the time the state needed it, but now the debt has to be repaid.”

When the speech was finished, the Governor got a standing ovation from the audience.

Something else happened just after the Chamber luncheon. three Lauderdale County elected officials announced that they were changing political party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. They are lauderdale County District Attorney, Chris Connolly; Lauderdale County Commissioner Fay Parker and Circuit Court Clerk Missy homan Hibbett.

The Quad-Cities Daily was on hand to record the luncheon in event photos.