The Department of Revenue’s December 2005 report indicates that revenue collection from taxes exceeded estimates by $86 million over the last 5 months. November alone saw an increase of $18 million in collection as compared to November 2004.

When the Republicans tried to decrease the food sales tax, Democrats and Governor Manchin said it was fiscally irresponsible to lower it by anything greater than 1% or $25 million. They said we could not afford it. Now that our state has blown past the analyst’s predictions by $86 million, we should decrease the food sales tax by another 3% or $75 million. Because the cut would only reduce the luxurious surplus entering our state coffers, it would not be one bit irresponsible and would not hurt a single government program. The state’s bean counters would never feel a thing because you cannot miss what you did not plan to have.

Democrats need not worry. A food sales tax cut of only 3% would give them $11 million to squander on failing government programs. That way Democrats get to do what they do best (spend) and mothers get to have more grocery money to buy food for their kids and seniors get to stretch their social security check a little further each month.

It’s time for the Democrats running this state to be less like Scrooge and more like Tiny Tim and declare as they open the state coffers, “God bless us, every one!” Christmas is a time for giving after all.

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Related entry: Manchin makes a startling confession and tells the Republican Senators he will not introduce a bill to cut the food sales tax in the 2006 Legislative Session.