Are state income taxes necessary?

Public Comments

1. No, There area several states that do not have an income tax. Also there are several states that have an income tax and no sales tax. NH does not have either. States without the tax have to come up with money for their schools and projects and usually property, city and county taxes make up for it and are higher.
2. It would depend, if you enjoy good roads plowed in the winter, enjoy the outdoors and its natural resources, if you send your kid to school and other essential services, then yes. If not no.
3. State taxes are the only ones required by the constitution. Federal taxes are the only ones I disagree with. Realistically, it's a total flip-flop: The federal government gets most of our tax money, and the supposed liberals (who call Jefferson a liberal when we was really an anti-federalist) think the federal government should get all our money, and give us back whatever they think we deserve.
4. No, my state of TX has none, but overall fees are higher to take up the slack in many areas. If I was a governor and didn't have certain ways to boost state revenue for programs, I'd probably lose the election by suggesting a state income tax. The feds are pushing more programs down to state levels to handle, such as social programs, now illegal immigration problems, use of state National Guard troops, and so forth. I would rather have more revenues in which to save and to pay off any debts, than not.
5. It is either the income tax or higher property taxes or higher sales taxes. Roads must be built ,police must be paid and all of the other compromises we make so that our lives are easier and safer.
6. Of course not. Income taxes are a nice way to say SOCIALISM. It is set up to take more from one class of people and use it for other classes of people, it is discrimination at its finest and is wrong. Do a sales tax, or a flat tax. When everyone pays an equal share everyone will be more interested in how the government uses that money.
7. Of course. In PA, Gov. Rendell, the guy with a bad comb-over--needs our tax dollars to build new sports stadiums. Yep, in PA, we've got the worst roads, but the best stadiums! Now he wants to raise the state tax from 6% to 7%. Nuthin' but pork!
8. They should not be needed. The states have all that "tobacco settlement" money at their disposal, not that most use it for what it is intended.