John Wahl, the Republican nominee for Alabama lieutenant governor and former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, says lawmakers will eventually eliminate the income tax in the Yellowhammer State.
The candidate has been campaigning on a plan to phase out the state’s income tax, similar to how it is being done in states like Mississippi.
Wahl discussed the issue Wednesday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”
“I was one of the first people who jumped on cutting our state grocery tax and making sure that we were giving real, tangible relief to families and those struggling to make ends meet,” Wahl said, “and I think, look, that continues with the state income tax.”
Alabama has a progressive state income tax with three brackets and a top rate of 5%.
“Mark my words, the state of Alabama will phase out its state income tax at some point,” Wahl continued. “It’s a growing movement nationally. Other states are moving towards it. Florida does not have a state income tax. Tennessee does not have a state income tax. Texas does not. Mississippi is working to phase theirs out. Georgia has cut theirs. North Carolina has cut their income tax. If we don’t start phasing ours out, we’re going to be left behind the curve, and I am tired of watching Alabama follow other states.”
Wahl said it’s all about making the state more competitive economically.
“I want to see Alabama leading the nation, being first and reaping the benefits from being proactive and making sure we’re in front of the curve,” he said. “And the bottom line is, if you want to keep Alabama’s economy strong and you want to make sure that we’re the first to economic opportunities, we’ve got to have a playing field, an economic environment, and a structure that attracts businesses to move here. And there are too many states that don’t have a state income tax or are phasing theirs out. If we don’t start working on this, we’re going to be behind the curve, and we’re going to suffer economically. And I think people aren’t thinking about that.”
Wahl said government at every level has to start putting the people of Alabama first.
“We all want the same things, which is better opportunities for our citizens,” he explained. “You know, safe communities and a brighter future for our children. And I think government at every level has got to make the people a priority again. They’ve got to get out there. They’ve got to, you know, bring down some of these costs. You know, actually cut regulations. Actually cut taxes.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee.
