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Rhode Island treasurer made of whole cloth
By adamg on Sat, 11/29/2008 - 2:03pm
Amy Derjue reports from south of the border that Rhode Island's state treasurer has started a billboard campaign convince us to all drive down to Rhode Island to buy clothes because there's no sales tax on clothing.
Frank Caprio has even set up a Web site to let us know that not only does Little Rhody not tax clothes, the entire state is "conveniently located off Interstate 95."
Only problem, as Derjue notes, is that Massachusetts doesn't tax clothes up to $175, and even if you buy something worth more, you only pay taxes on the upper value:
Unless you live in Attleboro or drive a hybrid, you'll spend more on gas to get here than you'd save.
The Providence Journal reports Caprio has spent $12,000 (from his campaign funds, not state funds) so far and is looking to spend even more. Sounds like a real winner.
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Comments
[Insert obligatory hybrid ranting here]
Dammit, the term you want isn't "hybrid." It's "car that gets high MPG."
Yes, I know it doesn't flow as well, but vehicles like the Durango hybrid (19 mpg) or the Yukon hybrid (21 mpg) are, um, hybrids, and they aren't exactly cheap to drive. Just "driving a hybrid" doesn't mean you're getting good mileage.
Or that you should get special parking privileges over those of us whose non-hybrid vehicles get in the 30s. (Do you hear me, IKEA and Logan Airport?)
http://1smootshort.blogspot.com
[Insert obligatory you know what she meant comment here]
You know she was thinking of people who drive Civic Hybrids and Prii, not abominations like the Escalade Hybrid.
Caprio
I live in RI, work in Boston in the financial district.
Frank Caprio wants to be the next governor of RI in, I think, two years. He is amassing a substantial campaign chest, and I would not be surprised if, in fact, he is our next governor.
That said, I just pulled out the sales receipt from a trip to LL Bean in Mansfield two weeks ago, and the only sales tax I paid was $1.20 on a $199.00 coat. I bought other items of clothing too, but it appears the sales tax is confined only to each item as it exceeds $175.00. So, I guess, unless one is buying a $6,000 mink coat, this ploy is just silly attention-getting stunt on Caprio's part!