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California Won't Accept Its Own IOUs
Courthouse News ^ | 08/04/09 | MARIA DINZEO

Posted on 08/09/2009 4:51:50 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

California Won't Accept Its Own IOUs

By MARIA DINZEO

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - Small businesses that received $682 million in IOUs from the state say California expects them to pay taxes on the worthless scraps of paper, but refuses to accept its own IOUs to pay debts or taxes. The vendors' federal class action claims the state is trying to balance its budget on their backs.

Lead plaintiff Nancy Baird filled her contract with California to provide embroidered polo shirts to a youth camp run by the National Guard, but never was paid the $27,000 she was owed. She says California "paid" her with an IOU that two banks refused to accept - yet she had to pay California sales tax on the so-called "sale" of the uniforms.

The class consists mostly of small business owners, many of whom rely on income from government contracts to keep afloat. They say California has used them as "suckers" as it looks for a way to bankroll its operations while avoiding its own financial obligations.

(Excerpt) Read more at courthousenews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; iou
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To: TigerLikesRooster
The class consists mostly of small business owners, many of whom rely on income from government contracts to keep afloat.

right there's the problem...

21 posted on 08/09/2009 6:33:17 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist -ww- I AM JIM THOMPSON!)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

The Phila. city schools are issuing IOU’s to vendors. Our family does business with the schools (musical instrument accessories) but we won’t do any business with them at this point unless we’re paid up front.


22 posted on 08/09/2009 6:48:19 AM PDT by randita (Chains we can bereave in.)
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To: donmeaker

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.


23 posted on 08/09/2009 6:49:10 AM PDT by ronnietherocket2
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To: stockpirate

Is this Arnold’s fault, or the fault of the California voter?


24 posted on 08/09/2009 6:49:41 AM PDT by ronnietherocket2
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Show of hands from all of those who are surprised by this...waiting.......waiting.... oh wait one hand from a lurking troll from DU.
25 posted on 08/09/2009 6:49:46 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit The law will be followed, dammit!)
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To: bert

OTOH, The state is claiming that the IOUs are a valid form payment for tax purposes, so it is illogical that it would be invalid to pay your California taxes with them.


26 posted on 08/09/2009 6:52:42 AM PDT by ronnietherocket2
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To: TigerLikesRooster
As we have suspected, state can issue IOU’s but won't take it as payment.

So much for my plan to get rich on these things. If the state won't take them, they must not be worth the paper they are printed on. Glad I didn't buy any at 5% of par. I still might be willing to take a chance at about 1%. They might be framed collectibles some day.

27 posted on 08/09/2009 7:05:02 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: randita

Wow that’s a tough one. Suppose one of your competitors will do bussiness on those terms. When (if) good times return you’re out of a lucrative govt deal.


28 posted on 08/09/2009 7:09:52 AM PDT by AndrewB (FUBO)
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To: org.whodat

As conservatives, we should be on Calif’s side on this one. As a sovereign state, it should have a right under the constitution to hose folks. There is a reason states can’t file for bankruptcy protection.

And folks should bear the consequences of selling to an insolvent entity on credit.


29 posted on 08/09/2009 7:10:00 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Bump for later.


30 posted on 08/09/2009 7:13:20 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

She has yet to receive any money so how can the State tax that???


31 posted on 08/09/2009 7:30:52 AM PDT by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: stockpirate

What’s the big deal? All those small businesses can run right down to the bank and get a loan to cover their operating expenses, right? Shouldn’t be a problem with the booming economy.


32 posted on 08/09/2009 7:41:21 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Has this been confirmed? This article appears to be from an obscure website, and I haven’t seen any other articles asserting this.


33 posted on 08/09/2009 8:29:42 AM PDT by snowsislander (NRA -- join today! 1-877-NRA-2000)
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To: snowsislander
According to Jul. 29 AP article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090730/ap_on_re_us/us_california_ious_2

California contractor paid with IOU sues the state

Wed Jul 29, 8:28 pm ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A vendor who provided 1,200 embroidered polo shirts and uniforms to a state-run youth camp and got paid with an IOU filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the state of California.

Nancy Baird, the owner of an EmbroidMe franchise in Paso Robles, sued state Controller John Chiang and state Treasurer Bill Lockyer in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.


Nancy Baird mentioned in the above AP article is also the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit reported at the Courthouse News article at the top. Apparently, it has turned into a class action suit.
34 posted on 08/09/2009 8:45:25 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
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To: eyeamok
Article 1, Section 10, paragraph [1].
35 posted on 08/09/2009 8:49:09 AM PDT by Total Package (TOLEDO, OHIO THE MRSA INFECTION IN THE STATE and the death of freedom)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

That is wrong on so many levels.

In the end, the people are responsible. They elected the fools that are running the asylum. Maybe next year, they can rectify some of the problem.


36 posted on 08/09/2009 9:20:55 AM PDT by CriticalJ
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To: TigerLikesRooster

IOW
California won’t accept the worthless crap IOUs it foists on vendors and taxpayers. I hope and prey they lose in court


37 posted on 08/09/2009 11:18:50 AM PDT by dennisw (Free Republic is an island in a sea of zombies)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

I have to ask: Doesn’t $27,000 buy a whole trainload of polo shirts?


38 posted on 08/09/2009 11:27:03 AM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: snowsislander

Has this been confirmed? This article appears to be from an obscure website, and I haven’t seen any other articles asserting this......

Go to google news and you will find many articles for “Nancy Baird” who is suing


39 posted on 08/09/2009 11:37:14 AM PDT by dennisw (Free Republic is an island in a sea of zombies)
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To: timetostand

“Uh Duh!! Like they are like worthless dude!”

I’ll buy all you have for 50 cents on the dollar!!!


40 posted on 08/09/2009 11:52:34 AM PDT by dalereed
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