Posted on 04/11/2009 4:20:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Arguing that the short-term pain of increased taxes is worth the long-term gain of permanent budget reform, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger picked up some major Los Angeles endorsements for a raft of ballot propositions designed to rescue state finances.
"One of the most important things on issues is to get local political leaders, law enforcement leaders and business leaders to support us," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference staged at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sheriff Lee Baca and Chamber President Gary Toebben announced their support for the six measures on the May 19 special election ballot.
"If these fail, the state will have to declare bankruptcy," said Villaraigosa, who had met with the governor two weeks ago over beers at the Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, D.C., to go over the challenges facing the state.
"The governor, as an immigrant, and I, as the son of immigrants, know full well the promise of California," Villaraigosa said. "We have to get the state back to that. And, we need to do that with these reforms.
"The level of partisanship at the state level is unacceptable - where a minority of legislators can hold up the budget. No one likes to impose taxes, but the state is facing an unprecedented problem that we all have to come together to share the sacrifice."
Toebben said the chamber decided to come out in favor of the measures to deal with the projected $50 billion deficit the state faces.
"These propositions, while not perfect, are the best available solution to reform the broken budget process that has crippled California."
The measures, in addition to extending existing tax increases for two years, seek to impose a spending cap and create a "rainy day" fund based on when revenues exceed 5 percent. Another measure, Proposition 1- C, seeks to borrow from future lottery earnings.
The only measure that has shown wide support is Proposition 1-F, which would freeze political salaries when the state is running a deficit.
"These reforms are worth the short-term pain of tax increases," Toebben said.
However, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which opposes Proposition 1-A, said the governor was misleading the public.
"We already have the breathing space the governor is seeking," Coupal said. "The problem with 1-A is it extends taxes for another two years," Coupal said. "Now, they are telling a different story. If they pass this, they will just try to continue to seek higher taxes."
Schwarzenegger this week kicked off a media campaign on behalf of the measures and personally picked up the pace of his in-person campaign appearances for the proposals.
All the more reason to vote NO on all of them. Vote early and often.
All I can say is:
HEADS ON STICKS!
Meanwhile, the CA GOP twiddles their thumbs, still trying to decide if $18 billion in more taxes is a good thing, or bad.
3 more reasons to vote "No"
Prop. 1A will raise taxes on all Californians and extend these taxes for one to two years, taking another $16 billion from you! The already approved tax increase will cost a typical California family $1,100 annually.
HIGHER SALES TAX! Proposition 1A will extend the sales tax hike for an additional full year. California taxpayers already pay the highest sales tax in the nation. This is a direct attack on all working families, especially low-income residents.
HIGHER CAR TAX! Proposition 1A will extend the DOUBLING of the car tax. This affects every California car owner.
HIGHER STATE INCOME TAX! Proposition 1A will extend an income tax increase for two extra years. Californians already pay the highest income tax rates in the nation. Under Prop. 1A, you’ll pay even more.
REDUCTION OF TAX CREDIT FOR DEPENDENTS! Californians with children will see a reduction in the tax credits for dependents, costing them $200 per child. Prop. 1A will extend this attack on families for an extra two years.
PROPOSITION 1A IS PHONY BUDGET REFORM! Knowing that voters won’t support massive tax increases, the proponents of Proposition 1A are calling it “budget stabilization” and “budget reform.” But, Proposition 1A is NOT a true spending limit. It allows payments into the so-called “Budget Stabilization Fund” to be suspended for any reason and, more importantly, it allows the spending “limit” to be adjusted upward any time the Legislature increases taxes. This provides NO spending discipline at all.
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