Posted on 03/10/2005 10:16:34 PM PST by ambrose
Posted on Fri, Feb. 18, 2005
South Dakota semen tax on its way out
JOE KAFKA
Associated Press
PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota may be the only place in the nation that taxes livestock semen, but possibly not for much longer.
Despite pleas that eliminating the sales tax on cattle and hog semen could start to unravel a decade-old program that provides property-tax relief, the state Senate passed a bill 20-13 Friday that would end the tax.
Sen. Kenny McNenny, a Republican rancher from Sturgis, urged repeal, saying he doesn't believe any other state taxes semen.
The tax should be dropped because semen is an essential agricultural input, like seed and fertilizer for crops and feed for livestock, he said. Most agricultural inputs are not taxed, McNenny said.
Ironically, if a farmer or rancher buys a bull or boar that is used for breeding purposes, that is not taxed, he said.
"We don't tax the delivery of bulls and boars when semen is delivered naturally," McNenny told his Senate colleagues, asking them to end the tax on semen used to artificially impregnate cattle and hogs.
Opponents noted that livestock semen has carried a state tax since 1995 as part of an effort to reduce local property taxes for farmers and homeowners.
Elimination of the tax, which is loosely estimated to bring in $40,000 to $133,000 a year, could begin to unravel the local tax-relief program, opponents said.
South Dakota's broadly based sales tax provides few exemptions, said Sen. Dave Knudson, R-Sioux Falls. Although semen tax revenue is small, it is one of several fairly obscure products and services that net combined state tax revenues of $13 million a year, he said.
Also urging defeat of the tax-repeal measure, Senate Republican Leader Eric Bogue of Faith reminded legislators that they are scraping to find enough extra revenues to increase state funding for schools. Dropping the semen tax may seem inconsequential, he said, but it's all part of the financial equation lawmakers struggle with each year.
Other senators said farmers already pay more than their fair share of taxes and deserve some relief. They also argued that the lost revenues would not be missed.
HB1100, the bill to do away with the livestock semen tax, has one more stop: the governor's desk, where a veto is possible.
The state Revenue Department has opposed repealing the tax.
ping.
Just the right issue for Demorats to get back on track and gain political points: fight against semen tax. It's a watershed issue.
I don't want to know anything about semen being on its way out!
What is this with bull semen stories tonight? This is the second one in about twenty minutes. The other one is also about repealing a tax on bull semen (if they'll tax that, they'll tax anything). How long before they're taxing sheep flatulence like New Zealand? Oh the humanity!
I wonder if whoever is milking those Bulls and Boars gets hazardous duty pay? :-)
Anybody know the difference between a bull and a cow?
The bull smiles when you try to milk it.
(A joke that had to be told)
I heard they use an Electro-ejaculator. Never seen one myself.
Monica Lewinsky is concerned about the economic impact of such a tax on her. She says "It will be definitely hard to swallow."
LOL, maybe Whacko Jacko is bored with his trial and signed up.
That's a lot better than inseminating the cows. Are you aware of what's involved in that process?
The Kyoto treaty may actually tax that.
I would imagine it has to wear on a man.
After reading about the dentist and the iced cupcakes, I was afraid to open this thread....
lol...
No!! and not interested in finding out :-)
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