PROVIDENCE – U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Chairman J.R. Gonzales will be honored at an awards banquet organized by the Rhode Island Chapter of the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce April 7.
Gonzales is in his second term as chairman of the national Hispanic Chamber and is the owner of JRG Communications, an advertising and public relations agency out of Austin, Texas.
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“I am confident Gonzales’ appearance will serve as an inspiration to local Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Rhode Island,” said Juana Horton, chairwoman of the Rhode Island Chapter.
Fleet Bank’s Rhode Island CEO and President Neil Steinberg will also be honored with the Corporate Leader of the Year award for his civic and community affairs activity. Others receiving awards include Democratic Party Executive Director Melba Depena, who will receive the Community Leader of the Year award; and Ermin Rolando Paiz, owner of Mi Guatemala Restaurant, who will receive the Rhode Island Hispanic Business of the Year award.
Legislation would place sales tax on luxury clothing
PROVIDENCE – The Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing on legislation that would place a 7 percent sales tax on clothing with a price tag of $500 or more. There is no tax on clothing in the state.
Introduced by Sen. Daniel J. Issa – a Democrat representing Central Falls, Cumberland and Pawtucket – the bill is aimed at luxury clothing he says goes beyond being a basic necessity. Similar legislation is in place in Connecticut and Massachusetts in which the tax kicks in at $50 and $175 respectively.
“I believe a $500 threshold is fair to shoppers and to the state alike,” he said.
Issa says as much as $1 million would be generated in revenue each year for Rhode Island should the legislation pass. This would also help Rhode Island benefit from a possible boon from Massachusetts and Connecticut shoppers looking to avoid sales taxes in their home states.
At press time, there was no word if the committee sent the bill to the Senate floor.
