Posted on 02/07/2006 2:44:10 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Where else but California?
By: Ray Haynes - Commentary
Where else but our socialist paradise? Three bills before the Legislature last week demonstrate just how out of touch the Legislative majority really is.
First, AB 1418 by Jerome Horton. Last year, Republicans wanted to list the names and addresses of child molesters on the Internet so that parents could protect their children from the sexual predators in their neighborhoods. The listing was a common-sense approach for parents who, with information about sexual predators, could take steps to protect their children from these evil perpetrators.
The Democrats were afraid these predators would be harassed or embarrassed by people in the neighborhood who would now know where the predators lived. I don't think harassing these perverts is permissible, but I do believe that people need to have the information to protect their children.
Compare this concern by the legislative majority for child molesters with the intent of AB 1418. That bill would put the names and addresses of tax delinquents on the Internet so that, in the words of the author (a member of the legislative majority), they would be embarrassed into paying their taxes.
I am not a fan of tax delinquents, but they do not pose a threat to the public safety. People don't have to protect their children from tax delinquents. So, why is harassing tax delinquents permissible, but harassing child molesters not?
Next, AB 673 by Johan Klehs, would raise taxes on gasoline because oil companies are making too much money. Oil companies make about 20 cents profit on every gallon of gasoline. Government makes 62 cents in taxes from every gallon of gas, even though it doesn't explore, refine or distribute the gas. In fact, the sales tax on gasoline has doubled since the price of gas doubled in the last two years.
You haven't heard anyone claim that it is a good thing for government to return this windfall profit. So, the best way to reduce the price of gas is by increasing taxes? How about decreasing taxes on gas to reduce the price of gas? Government makes more profit than the oil companies, yet it always wants more.
Finally, AB 674, also by Klehs, would change how farmers pay for their diesel fuel. Government supposedly collects diesel fuel taxes to pay to build roads. Farmers have argued that since they don't drive their tractors on roads, they shouldn't have to pay taxes on that diesel. Farmers got an exemption from those taxes, but in order to get that exemption on regular diesel (as opposed to the special farmer diesel), a special system of taxation was set up.
Government, ever greedy for its money, requires the oil companies to pay the tax before it is sold to the farmers (unlike every other product, where the tax is collected on the retail sale of the product). Since farmers get an exemption (and they have a very effective lobby), the farmers don't have to pay the tax on the sale. So, the oil companies have to apply for a rebate.
In essence, the oil companies give the government an interest-free loan until after the sale to the farmers. AB 674 would have required the farmers to give the government that interest-free loan. Why doesn't the government wait to collect the taxes until the sale, like in every other transaction? Unfortunately, the farmers and the oil companies fought with each other over this law, when the real problem was government greed, not oil company greed.
My leftist friends think the way to run our government is to go after our taxpayers, and let the child molesters go. Aren't you glad you live in this socialist paradise?
Ray Haynes represents the 66th Assembly District, including portions of Western Riverside County and Northern San Diego County.
Who is John Gault?
I know who JG is. What I want to know is where he's living.
Ping.
The very reason we left Kantaffordia!
...JG moved to Nevada years ago. It's also my next move.
Nevada is not far behind California. I have run a business out of there for several years and it is sinking fast. The moonbat environmentalists are infiltrating Washoe County (Reno) and gaining a foothold with little exposure or opposition. The state will eventually mirror California; a rural conservative state completely dominated by large socialist cities, in their case Las Vegas. I was going to take up residency there but having watched California go under it would hurt too much to see the process repeated. I'm looking at Idaho now.
Yea, I'm familiar with the situation there. The "Keep Tahoe Blue" stickers do nothing but fund eco-terroristas and govt slobs.
That is one reason why I was thinking of Douglas County. A bit more rural and yet close enough to everything I want to be close to.
Bump!
I hope Haynes keeps writing these exposés.
Maybe sanity will catch on (or shaming the Dems will help).
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