Macon Telegraph: September 14th, 2006

No Income Tax for Seniors, Perdue Pledges

By Shannon McCaffrey
Associated Press

Atlanta - Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday night made the first campaign pledge of his re-election bid, promising to eliminate the tax on retirement income for Georgia's senior citizens.

"If given the honor of a second term, this is my first promise to the people of Georgia. We will completely eliminate the state income tax on retirement income for seniors 65 and older," Perdue told 600 party loyalists who paid $500 apiece to attend the Georgia Republican Party's "2006 Victory Dinner" in Atlanta.

"By eliminating taxes on their retirement income, seniors will have more money in their pockets to cover the costs of prescription drugs and health care or to spend more time with their grandchildren," Perdue added.

The measure, which would need to pass the Legislature, would cost an estimated $142 million a year. Perdue administration officials said the tax cut would affect at least 305,000 Georgians. It would affect currently taxable income from pensions and certain interest income. Income from wages would still be taxable.

Perdue has said for some time that he would like to eventually eliminate all state income tax on Georgia's seniors age 65 and up in an effort to make the state more attractive to retirees, many of whom flock to neighboring Florida where there is no state income tax. Seniors also make up a politically powerful voting bloc.

A spokesman for Perdue's Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, said Perdue has failed to cut taxes in his four years in office.

"When Mark Taylor is governor, he will not only cut taxes for seniors, but for every Georgian," Taylor spokesman Rick Dent said.

Perdue used the speech before party faithful to take a few pointed jabs at his opponent.

"It's an election year and I have an opponent that will promise just about anything to anyone hoping to win votes," Perdue said.

He accused Taylor of remaining "stone, cold silent" during the debate over the state's tough immegration law earlier this year.

Perdue has already taken steps to lighten the tax burden on seniors.

In 2005 he signed into law a measure that allows the state's seniors to exclude $25,000 of thier income from state taxes. And Georgians this november will vote on a homestead exemption measure approved earlier this year that would exempt those age 65 and older from the state portion of the property tax.

Perdue's first two years in office were marked by deep budget cuts as the state's economy struggled.

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