For Immediate Release, February 12, 2007 – Cut Taxes Now, the St. Petersburg based grassroots movement advocating for tax reform, has formed a Political Action Committee to work for tax relief, decreased government spending.   Cut Taxes Now PAC, Inc. was formed February 7^th 2007 and is filing papers with the State Division of Elections as a Political Committee, a necessary step to accept campaign contributions and launch targeted political campaigns to accomplish its mission. The PAC lists its mission at its website (CutTaxesNow.com) as creating a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), advocating for decreased government spending and supporting candidates for office that will help them accomplish their mission.  TABOR will likely require implementation at the constitutional level in the state and would limit all tax and spending growth to the lesser of 3% or inflation and population growth unless otherwise approved by voters.  A TABOR passed in Colorado in 1992 and has resulted in $3 Billion in tax refunds or cuts to citizens of that state. “Passing a Constitutional amendment for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights will be a large, but worthy challenge for citizens of our state” according to Chairman of Cut Taxes Now PAC David McKalip, M.D..  “Most Lawmakers throughout governments in Florida have refused to exercise the fiscal discipline that respects taxpayers and focuses government on its core missions. Citizens will have to solve this problem through their own constitutional initiative”.

The PAC started its activities by testifying at the St. Petersburg City Council meeting and pointing out that, despite a token cut in tax rates in 2006, tax collections in that city will increase 12% in 2007 – four times faster than inflation!  The PAC asked them to adopt a TABOR standard for its 2008 budget. Cut Taxes Now PAC will seek to accomplish its mission by attracting Floridians to join the PAC in large numbers, educating the voters about local and state budget excesses, and launching a constitutional amendment drive to pass TABOR.

Cut Taxes Now PAC will continue its mission on Thursday, February 15 as it testifies in front of the Senate Property Tax Reform Hearing in Tampa at the Student Services Building of Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus, 4001 Tampa Bay Blvd..  Wearing their signature red T-shirts, members of the PAC’s board, research committee and general membership are expected to present their tax stories and ask for the Senate to support TABOR this year.  Cut Taxes Now PAC notes that many in government are calling for a special election this year to pass tentative steps for tax relief such as a increasing the homestead exemption, making Save Our Homes Portable and extending the 3% cap on tax growth to businesses.  Cut Taxes Now PAC believes these steps will simply shift the tax burden to others and ignores the core problem of run-away taxes: excessive government spending.  Cut Taxes Now will ask the Senate panel to ensure that a spending cap and across the board tax cap are placed besides all other ballot proposals this year to give the voters a true choice for an effective and fair solution.