mabus, most proposed sales-tax-only systems are structured such that bare basic necessities like groceries and heating are not taxed, just the luxury items like oreos, liquer, tv's, lakeside condos, etc, so even poor people have a choice about how much tax they want to pay. Besides, wealthier people generally live wealthier lifestyles and spend more on all those luxury items, thus they would end up paying more (but voluntarily). Heavily forcing the wealthy to pay for the poor is just a milder form of communism. Those blessed by God with wealth have a moral obligation to give to the poor, but when the government steals it from them its another story.

More on topic, I understand people close to the border that might shop in southern WI for lower sales tax, but is that really going to be a selling point to Chicago residents vacationing in northern WI? They're going to visit their summer cottages regardless of what the sales tax is, and if they're willing to blow the gas it takes to drive up here, they probably aren't going to notice 5% tax vs. 10%.

Re sales-tax-only advocates: People who, of necessity, have to spend all of their income on basic needs are subject to tax on their entire income, unlike the wealthy who have all that left over untaxed millions for their lakeside condos, foreign cruises, mountain lofts, and international Swiss bank accounts.

I agree with Hannah, I'd rather do away with state tax altogether (and federal) in favor of sales tax. This was one of Huckabee's biggest selling points to me... I miss that guy. Then if we could eliminate/reform the federal reserve, and the associated hidden tax known as inflation, then citizens would actually have a true idea of how much their government is costing them.

karen: but you may have paid more for that TV in Wisco than in Illinois.
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The ads at Christmas time are always misleading to the Wisconsin shopper. Wisconsin has laws on the books that prohibit certain items from being sold below certain levels. I know television sets are one of those items....and it can be up to the tune of a couple hundred bucks.

Illinois does have a state income tax, and it IS alot lower than Wisconsin.

TOLL!

I wouldnt mind if sales tax was higher and they got rid of state tax!!! Only taxed on what I buy not what I make. Which would sorta be related but then I have some control unlike it is out of control now for state tax

Actually I think Illinois's state income tax is a lot lower then Wisconsin if they even have a state income tax at all (some states don't such as Florida). They make up the difference by having higher sales taxes & toll roads.

and so it starts... what they're not saying in the article is that the price of everything will most likely increase to compensate for the tax reduction... also, how long before the tax hike?? in time, we'll be in the same boat as our neighbors in IL...

Big deal. So they are going to remind tourist that although the sales tax has not been lowered it's still lower than Illinois? Too bad the headline wasn't "Wisconsin hopes lowering sales tax spurs sales". That might actually have an impact because it would allow Wisconsin tax paying citizens to also keep more of their personal income.

Don't worry Wisconsin, once Diamond Jim and the rest of the tax first, ask questions later folks in Madison get a load of Illinois' 10.25% tax we'll have one soon enough. They've never seen a tax increase or fee they didn't like.

I'm a full time resident of Cook County IL, and a part time resident of Rock county, I window shop in IL, and make my purchases in WI, already bought a 48" flat screen TV at Sears in Janesville and brought it back to IL. Our local government is NUTS.

That might not be a bad Idea for Rock County also, for the summer eliminate the county sales tax. Illinois money spends the same right?

People in Chicago pay 10.25% tax on top of their federal, and state tax? Where's the riots? Maybe this country is doomed if people don't care anymore.