Friday, Aug. 2, 2002 | 4:07 a.m.
Jon Ralston's July 21 column about the business community reneging on its promise to come up with a broad-based business tax was right on the mark.
Ralston recommends that businesses pay their "fair share through a gross receipts or net profits tax." Such a tax has been recommended by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) as part of our comprehensive proposal. PLAN's 5 percent tax on business profits over $50,000 would raise $340 million a year with the lion's share of the money coming from out-of-state corporations.
All of our neighboring Western states have a business tax, with the lowest rate being Utah's 5 percent. So, the profits tax would not adversely affect Nevada's ability to bring in new businesses.
Because of "business free riders" our state cannot afford to decently fund education and social services. Education is underfunded by more than $1,000 per pupil and 25 percent of our state's population lacks health insurance. It is time we put economic justice and the interest of Nevada ahead of corporate greed.
MARK NICHOLS Editor's note: The writer is president of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.
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