Sharon Wheeler, the campaign manager for Democratic candidate for governor Ron Sparks, issued a statement today saying Rep. Artur Davis is “lying” about Sparks in his desperation to hold onto a slim lead in the primary race.

“It is painful to say this, but Artur Davis is lying and he knows he is lying,” Wheeler said in a statement distributed by e-mail.

“This is a desperate candidate who feels the election slipping through his fingers, so he will say and do anything to get the nomination,” she said. “Ron Sparks has been for the elimination of the sales tax on food this entire campaign.”

And unlike Artur Davis, Sparks has a funding plan to pay for his promises, she said.

“Artur Davis does not. That is why Artur Davis refuses to take a No New Taxes pledge like Ron Sparks has, and that is why Artur Davis wants to raise property taxes on Alabama homeowners and tax Alabama industries like timber,” she said. “Ron Sparks does not need to raise taxes on Alabamians to fulfill his promises, but Artur Davis does.”

The Sparks Plan, according to the campaign, includes:

Closing tax loopholes and making multinational corporations pay their fair share in taxes.

Creating jobs by expanding economic development incentives and targeting tax credits.

Creating an education lottery to give every high school graduate a college scholarship and raise $400 million “for our kids.”

Creating voluntary pre-kindergarten for every four-year-old child.

Making electronic bingo operators pay a minimum of 25 percent in state taxes, investing new dollars in our schools and in programs for seniors, raisin g $400 million per year and giving five percent to counties without gaming operations.

Eliminating the sales tax on food.

Creating a $1 billion highway construction program that will create 30,000 new jobs and impact every county in Alabama, along with a $400 million in additional funding from GARVEE bonds.

Compare the Sparks plan with the Artur Davis plan:

Pre-k expansion: no way to pay for it.

Hiring tax credits: no way to pay for it.

Expand after school programs: no way to pay for it.

Tax incentives for worker training programs: no way to pay for it.

Business start-up programs: no way to pay for it.

Broadband expansion: no way to pay for it.

Create Charter schools: no way to pay for it.

Fully-fund PACT: no way to pay for it.

Eliminate the sales tax on food: Property tax ADJUSTMENTS! Right…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at 5:21 pm and is filed under Alabama Democratic Party, Alabama Politics, Elections 2010. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.