Siegelman says day after Thanksgiving should be tax holiday

[Thom Little]

While most people are enjoying Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, former Gov. Don Siegelman will be standing in front of an empty shopping mall calling for the Alabama Legislature to declare a sales tax holiday for the day after Thanksgiving in future years.

Siegelman, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor in next year's elections, has scheduled a news conference at the main entrance to Montgomery Mall for 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Siegelman said Wednesday that he will call on Republican Gov. Bob Riley, who is running for re-election, to support his plan to declare the day after Thanksgiving a tax holiday. Under the plan, the state would not collect sales tax on items purchased on the day after Thanksgiving, which is considered the busiest shopping day of the year. He estimated that Alabama shoppers would save between $5 million and $9 million on the tax holiday.

The Legislature has in recent years considered, but not passed, proposals to declare a sales tax holiday in the late summer to help parents with the cost of supplies, clothes and other back-to-school expenses.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AL_SIEGELMAN_TAX_HOLIDAY_ALOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-11-23-19-33-18

[southlandshari]

1. Welcome to DU, Thom Little!

If you are planning to stay for a while, might I suggest pacing yourself?

I'm sure you know exactly what I mean, my Alabama friend!

:hi: