The guest: The 12% initiative also attacks statism

This year we will vote on the economic initiative “Tax cuts for all”. It provides for a 12% reduction in the tax bill of all Vaudois, for the taxation of income and wealth. A gain for taxpayers of 450 million is expected. The State would continue to achieve – according to the averages of recent years – a surplus result of 100 to 150 million.

In terms of purchasing power, the initiative would allow Vaudois to acquire 244 million liters of organic milk per year (fr. 1.85 per unit) or 112,500 electric bikes at 4,000 francs. The shock of the increase in premiums would be cushioned, allowing, in the Canton, the necessary debate to take place more calmly. A tax cut will perhaps allow the middle class to start saving again, and our many associations to set more generous contributions, to carry out new projects. Government and Grand Council oppose the project and adopted a counter-project bringing the reduction to 7% by 2027.

In the background, the battle will mainly be fought around a conception of the State. Beyond the expected opposition from the left, the initiative also crystallizes the reluctance of the PLR, or at the very least of its state advisors, rather heirs of the radical statism before the merger with the liberals.

Opponents fear the loss of the state’s feathers in the face of the uncertainty of the times. This forgets that the tax law can always be modified if necessary.

In return, the government promises to slow down the growth of costs. The intention is laudable. But the staff, services, budgets and tasks of the administration have continued to swell since 1803. Parliamentary overactivity, from left to right, bears a significant part of the responsibility. We could also cite the requirements of the Confederation due to centralization. Not to mention the propensity of contemporary citizens to demand immediate satisfaction from the State, supposed to relieve all ills and make up for all deficiencies. The administration is self-inflating. We will therefore not be satisfied with the promises of the Council of State.

Why so late?

The fact that the State has garnered surplus budgets since 2008 has accustomed our politicians to ease. It is difficult, even dishonest, to oppose a project with necessary austerity when the previous year garnered hundreds of millions in profits. It is surprising that a concrete tax cut proposal comes so late. The fault, undoubtedly, is the “dynamic compromise”, this pact of rascals between socialists and PLR, carried out partly at the expense of the communes.

Without limiting the State’s resources, a real limitation of its growth – we do not even dare to dream of decline in this area – will be impossible to implement. The initiative committee did well to maintain its project.

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