In today's heated Congress session, spirited debates unfolded over a proposed leather tax reform by Representative Tomasz Wawrzecki. Speaker of the House Stanisław Małachowski presided over the house, as the President was absent. Secretary Jan Łuszczewski was also on hand to document proceedings.

The proposed reform, seeking to replace the stamp tax on skins with a consumption tax on slaughter, aimed to harmonize rates across bigger and smaller cities in Poland-Ukraine and Lithuania-Belarus, with a general increase in what taxpayers in cities owe. The proposal also stipulated exemption of rural estates and inns, provided they use the slaughtered animals for local needs and not for sale. In reaction, homeowners were to contribute a modest three copper coins per hearth—a move met with some skepticism regarding its impact on the Treasury.

The legislation spurred a wave of responses, with some Representatives like Franciszek Mikorski, Antoni Pomarnacki, and Ignacy Krzucki offering varied insights on the fairness of tax allocation, the financial burden on lesser privileged townships, and the possible consequences on the meat supply chain, expressing concerns about loopholes for tax evasion.

Representative Jan Zieliński advocated for the leasing of the tax collection to entrepreneurs in cities and stressed the importance of standard pricing to prevent exploitation of the impoverished. Meanwhile, Representative Dominik Giejsztor highlighted regional differences, particularly the quality and size of livestock, which necessitate a flexible tax system.

As the session pressed on, Moszyński filed an additional motion to exempt public hospitals and mendicant orders from this tax, recognizing their modest funds. His sentiment echoed through the chamber, with Senator Bishop Kasper Cieciszowski joining the call for compassion towards charitable institutions.

In the culmination of today's discourse, the House, after a threefold agreement, passed the altered version of the act, which seeks to strike a balance between State revenue needs and alleviating citizens' tax burdens. Notably, hospitals and monasteries now anticipate reimbursement of the levies they pay, provided no misuse of this relief occurs.

To conclude today's session, additional themes were queued for further deliberation, encompassing military fabric suppliers and the regulation of leather prices. We’re adjourned until tomorrow's session, where the Parliament will continue to engage with other pressing issues and possibly revisit the matter of factories proposed by Representative Jacek Jezierski.

Stay tuned for more updates on the workings of our government as our representatives labor law by law to steer The Union toward a harmonious tax structure and fair economic practices.

Topics: Sejm session; leather tax; tax reform; consumption taxes; slaughter; slaughter auctions; slaughter contracts; Treasury commissions; leather export; amendment proposals; kid skins; equality of burdens in Crown and Lithuania; beef; Treasury Ministry; factories; hospital funds;