Carroll: Tax Bill Veto Override Was Necessary

Kentucky Senator Danny Carroll is defending the state legislature's recent vote to override Governor Matt Bevin's veto, passing a sweeping tax reform and budget bill.

On April 13 the House voted 57-40 to override Bevin's veto, with the Senate voting 34-4. The new legislation reduces the income tax rate on individuals and businesses, but allows for new taxes on some services. It also raises the tax on cigarettes by 50 cents per pack.

Carroll said that although the bill is unpopular among many Kentucky residents, it was necessary to help begin to shore up the state's ailing financial situation.

"It's obvious that our tax structure is not keeping up with the economy," Carroll said. "Revenue should be flowing more than what it's shown. We feel like the beginning of this tax reform will have a positive impact on that."

Carroll added that the state's tax structure has not kept up with the economy in recent years, and that revenue should be flowing more than it has. He says this tax reform is a good first step toward a better financial situation.

"I think in the long run people will understand that even though no one wants to see any type of increases or broadening of the tax base at all, we're simply at a point that we had no choice but to do that. [There's been] a lot of talk about tax modernization over the years, and I think we've taken a good first step," Carroll said. "There's no question that we were elected to go to Frankfort to deal with pension reform and tax reform, and I truly think that there comes a time that you have to stop talking about things and you have to do it."