Jack Heinsius: We need a special tax on political contributions
With the tax season ending and the political season beginning (although neither really end, do they?), how about a special tax on campaign contributions?
OK. If you’re just exercising your citizenship and plunking down a few bucks for your favorite cause or candidate, great! No charge. Maybe even a credit! But if you’re laying out serious greenery for someone who is going to, say, curb spending and reduce the national debt (instead of wasting funds on frills like health care or education), why not apply a portion (say 80 to 90 percent) directly to your tax debt?
Eliminate all that messy post-election business of reminding the candidate how much they owe you and that you are here to collect.
Jack Heinsius, Modesto
This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Jack Heinsius: We need a special tax on political contributions."