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MURRELLS INLET, SC -- Hoping that his military credentials will offer him a boost in South Carolina's sizable veterans community, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday proposed a tax break for returning wounded soldiers "to help to get their lives back."
At a VFW hall outside of Myrtle Beach, the Texas governor suggested that "post 9/11" veterans certified as wounded by the Department of Defense should receive a five year exemption from paying a personal income tax.
"If you sacrificed that much for your country, the least this country can do is give you that type of support when you come back," he told about 50 audience members in the hall.
Perry, the son of World War II tailgunner and himself an Air Force veteran, is the only candidate in the field other than former flight surgeon Ron Paul to have served in the military. He was accompanied Tuesday by South Carolina native and Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Mike Thornton.
As the governor of Texas in 2009, Perry signed into law a full property tax exemption for veterans who are classified as 100 percent disabled.
In remarks that contained no specific critiques of his opponents, Perry said that the tax break would be an enduring message about the value of military sacrifice.
"That’s sending the message. That’s sending the message that will last longer than a parade, that will last longer than a proclamation on the war, than a pat on the back," he said.
After his remarks, Perry spoke at length with attendees, telling one questioner that he would seek to eliminate the Small Business Administration.
"I''d just do away with them," he told a man who complained that the SBA was "all talk."
President Barack Obama proposed last week to consolidate the SBA, the Commerce Department, and numerous other trade and business agencies. He also elevated the head of the SBA to a cabinet-level position.
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A little late to be pandering to the military, don't you think Ricky?
Given the fact you were sucking on your shoe again, when it came to defending those Marines who urinated on dead bodies...
Feisty, He may be pandering but I actually think it's a pretty good idea.
I agree lisa - it's a GREAT idea but, that's all it is...
How is he going to pay for it?
I agree that it's a good idea. But the frothy redhead refuses to recognise anything as being a good idea unless it comes from a democrat regardless how idiotic their ideas are.
This is just another example of a republican looking out for the welfare of average citizens that the dem supporters hate for anyone to see. The dem supporters are hell bent on passing their lies that only democrats support or care about anyone other than the wealthiest people.
Mr. Perry also stated that what our very selective media fails to bring to light as often as they should is what our enemies do to our soldiers and civilian people they capture, torture, behead and so on. The liberal media would rather show the photo of the Marines so that they can push their bias media against any and all military involvement in the quest for Americans to help others. But just like the frothy redhead, the media would rather cut and snip, mis-quote or only include a portion of the facts so that the facts can be distorted to favor their opinions.
While I would place Mr. Perry at the bottom of the current GOP field in electibility, I do agree with some of the things he advocates and this is one of them.
"But, Mom, all the cool nations are doing it!"
In my opinion, we haven't done near enough to honor our vets and I don't know why that isn't a totally bipartisan issue...
It's certainly a more respectable position than, "These kids made a mistake, there's not any doubt about it. [They] shouldn't have done it, it's bad, but to call it a criminal act, I think is over the top."
Veterans don't need tax breaks. They need jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Can't take advantage of the tax break without a job can you Mr. Perry? Or maybe in Texas you can because everyone is wealthy. If that is the case then the last thing we need is another tax break for the wealthy.
Unemployment for Young Vets: 30%, and Rising
Posted by: Dan Beucke on November 11, 2011 at 3:45 PM
http://www.businessweek.com/finance/occupy-wall-street/archives/2011/11/the_vets_job_crisis_is_worse_than_you_think.html
As nation’s jobless rate dips, veterans’ unemployment rises for second straight month
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/as-nations-jobless-rate-dips-veterans-unemployment-rises/2011/11/04/gIQAkHD9lM_blog.html
Alberto, The key word is retire. These young men and women that are coming home are not retiring. They could use a little help.
Hell yeah they ought to get a tax break. And all those unsold, repossessed homes the banks have written off on their taxes, give 'em to the vets. And they should be given first shot at any jobs they qualify for.
Republicans are having a hard time getting their ideology straight. They need to know that the reason is that it makes no rational sense. Republicanism is based on cliches, failed but repeated dogma, smear, fear, obfuscation, and a compendium of falsehoods. Republicans are in search of a reason to exist, beyond deception, pandering, and demagoguery. By this point, there is no reason, unless dependent special interests and donors justify existence. This country needs a good second party movement. The Republican Party lasted 100 years, and has spent the past 50 reversing itself and going down hill. It is full of used Democrats of the worst kind, from segregationists, racists, and war mongers to Rick Perry nitwits.
Hold on there Cowboy. I thought you were going to git rid of loopholes, deductions, preferences and all that other crap that fills up the federal tax code. Now you want to start handing out special case tax benefits to a special class of people.
You should be aware that active duty military already get a number of tax breaks like non-taxed housing and subsistence allowances as well as free medical care and PX privileges. Plus, you can start drawing a full pension at age 40.
Surprised you don't know about this stuff since you are certainly good at milking the system.
I'm all for supporting our troops, but how are we going to pay for a 5 year tax break? And since Americans have not realized the true cost that will be paid to our soldiers who now live the horrors of an Iraqi war. We need to figure out how we are going to pay for that treatment as well.
@ White Collar Auto
James Carney was working at Time Magazine and making television appearances as an analyst when he was around 25 or so, and I think he is about 40-45-ish now. That's roughly 20 years of experience see things in this world most of will ever see in our life times. So I don't get what you mean when you type about working in the real world. I'm not defending Carney but you have to think before you such ignorant comments. It's all the real in real time world now and I'm from "da hood".
I agree with Gov. Perry on this one! Pandering or not, and I'm a Manhattan, NYC liberal all the way! They (the troops) are part of the 99%, so what do they on the right in the House have to say about that? Because they did not want to cut taxes for those in the "$100,000 or less" income tax bracket.