Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | Negative | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
SB 942 violates our principles of limited government and free markets because the hotel occupancy tax distorts the free market by favoring certain businesses over others, raises prices on consumers, and encourages government spending.
The role of a limited government is not to grow tourism or to subsidize certain events facilities with taxpayer money. Like any city whose concern is to see more tourists come and visit, a better solution would be the repeal of the municipal hotel occupancy tax, which would encourage individuals to stay longer in hotels and to spend more of their money -- that would have otherwise been paid in taxes -- within the local economy. Such a situation would benefit tourists, municipalities, and their communities and would also favor a limited government and the free market system.
For these reasons, we oppose SB 942.