“Taxes have consequences” means that raising taxes (“raising” is almost always the case) does not simply raise revenue. People and businesses often refuse to pay a tax and flee the jurisdiction; they change behaviors to avoid paying taxes. The consequences of raising taxes doesn’t always result in more revenue. The phrase “taxes have consequences” has been used frequently in the consevative Washington (DC) Times, since 1990.
 
A similar phrase—“elections have consequences”—has been used since the late 1980s and became popular in 2008-2009 with the presidential election of Barack Obama. The phrase ‘taxes have consequences” also has had renewed popularity in 2008-2009.
 
 
9 October 1990, Washington (DC) Times, “$397 billion and bust”:
Another thing to remember is that taxes have consequences. They affect people’s spending and savings decisions, which take on new importance as recession ...   
 
6 November 1990, Washington (DC) Times, “Tax and lose”:
But taxes have consequences that go beyond the polling booth to the supermarket, the bank and the workplace. 
   
16 July 1992, Washington (DC) Times, “Vote with your feet”:
Taxes have consequences. When higher taxes reduce the reward for working, workers find something else to do with their time, typically something that ... 
   
11 June 1993, Washington (DC) Times, “Mr. Moynihan’s stimulus package”:
But at least Mr. Moynihan made it clear in ways even Sam Donaldson can understand that taxes have consequences for economic growth.
 
10 August 1995, Washington (DC) Times:
Taxes have consequences: Uncle Sam takes the family out of family firms
 
Google Groups: alt.messianic
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
From: Joe Slater

Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 12:18:16 +1000
Local: Tues, Jun 24 2003 9:18 pm
Subject: Re: Response to Pam: For Fred and/or Rob
 
>Isn’t it enough to know that there are taxes and the
>experts know when to raise and lower them?  Why not?
 
No, I think you should know the purpose of taxes and that taxes have consequences.
   
Political Dogs
Taxes Have Consequences
by Dave
3/21/2006 05:20:00 AM
Bong!  Bong!  It’s midnight.  This is the ghost of July Fourth’s past.  JAMES MCGREEVEY, you raised taxes the weekend of July Fourth, 2002.  JAMES MCGREEVEY, you were warned, your actions would harm New Jersey business.  JAMES MCGREEVEY, you wouldn’t listen, you insisted those who rang alarm bells were full of crap.  You were wrong James McGreevey.  You were wrong.
 
Bong!  Bong!  It’s one, AM.  This is the ghost of tax increases present.  JON CORZINE, don’t increase taxes.  Your actions will harm New Jersey business.  You will be wrong.  You will be wrong.
   
CR Nation
Taxes have consequences
By sage of monticello | October 27, 2007
Democrats often fancy themselves defenders of the poor, but consider this, while the Democrats what to tax the internet - making access more expensive - only 11% of those making under $30,000 a year have the internet at home
     
True North
Taxes Have Consequences 
Written by Speed Gibson  
Monday, 16 March 2009 06:56
Once again, the DFL says they want / need to raise taxes, this year in the name of the “shared sacrifice, shared responsibility” needed to close the budget deficit. Part of this is to be a new fourth tax bracket reserved for high income taxpayers.
 
Once again, the DFL pretends there are minimal consequences for this. The rich, the threshold to be determined, will simply say acknowledge their need to carry even more of the load. They won’t move. They won’t put off major purchases. They won’t even economize. For those whose returns include their small business income, they won’t lay anyone off. They won’t outsource. In fact, once they realize all that Minnesota is doing for them, they’ll expand!
 
Rubbish. They will do all of these things. They’re smart people. That’s why they make high incomes.
 
Hasenpfeffer Incorporated
Friday, May 15, 2009
Taxes have consequences
I liked this story from the local news here in CNY:
 
Billionaire businessman Tom Golisano is moving out. Citing high taxes, the three-time gubernatorial candidate and founder of Paychex is planning to move to a place where he won’t have to pay taxes on his huge income.
 
It’s typically a place for the snowbirds from the northeast, but now the state of Florida is about to become the home of one of New York State’s best-known billionaires.
 
Golisano says he is paying nearly $14,000 a day in income taxes, and enough is enough.
 
“That kind of money can be put to really good use. I don’t need money to play with, but say just for charitable giving or politics and lobbying to get something done. But, just to turn it over to New York state with the level of irresponsibility of the state?” Golisano told Rochester’s 13WHAM.