>In general centralizing revenue systems
>and broadening tax bases are good things,
>IMO. Sales taxes tend to exclude the
>sort of services purchased disproportionately
>by the non-poor, so broader sales taxes are
>probably more progressive, not less. Taxing
>internet related is an important political
>statement, given the evolving sacred cow
>aspect of electronic commerce.
>
>Whether the overall planned surpluses are
>too small is another matter. I suspect
>they could be all right for the moment,
>but state budgets typically will be under
>pressure to grow, just to maintain current
>services (health & educ are the biggest
>pieces). A more prudent policy would be
>to bank the surpluses in anticipation of
>that rainy day.