CALIFORNIA: U.S. senators, legislative leaders call for tax cease-fire

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 8/16/12 | Kevin Yamamura

[SmithL]

In a pointed letter critical of Gov. Jerry Brown's tax rival, California's two U.S. senators along with state legislative leaders called Thursday for a cease-fire from campaigns backing the two multibillion-dollar tax hikes on the November ballot.

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, as well as Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, said in a letter to the California State PTA that the Proposition 38 campaign has "become increasingly negative" and "engaged in personal attacks against Governor Jerry Brown and Prop. 30."

The PTA has joined wealthy attorney Molly Munger in backing Proposition 38, which raises income taxes on all but the poorest households to pay mostly for education. That initiative is competing against Brown's measure to raise income taxes on wealthy earners and the state sales tax by a quarter-cent on the dollar to bolster the state budget.

"These attacks should stop," the four Democrats wrote. "While we may not all agree on the ultimate funding solution, education advocates across California can surely agree on the worst outcome for our state: one where both initiatives fail."

The letter called on the campaigns to "refrain from directly attacking or referring to the other."

[SmithL]

...can surely agree on the worst outcome for our state: one where both initiatives fail.

Birds gotta fly,

fish gotta swim, and

Rats gotta tax!

[quimby]

"While we may not all agree on the ultimate funding solution, education advocates across California can surely agree on the worst outcome for our state: one where both initiatives fail."

No cease fire. Let them continue. Feeding the beast with more taxes will only encourage them. They find hundreds of millions in accounts all over the state, always threaten to cut the wrong programs, etc, etc.

A pox on both their houses, NO on 30 & 38. (yes on 37)

[funfan]

The Molly Munger tax the one the PTA is backing is
really really bad starting around 40K you get taxed
and the rate goes up the more money you make. We would have to pay an additional $1100.00 per year for the Munger tax and of course we would still pax the State tax rate of 9.3% on our income too and lets not forget our property tax and we make about $129K a year. I am running out of money California knock it off already. The munger tax goes on forever I think it actually changes the tax code.

[winner3000]

Translation: “we may disagree on how we want to spend the money, but we both agree that we need to steal the money first from people. After we steal it, there’s always time to fight on how to spend it. So let’s join forces in shaking down taxpayers first.”

[Lancey Howard]

I just read in the latest Victor Davis Hanson column that, "It's estimated that more than 2,000 upper-income Californians are leaving per week to flee high taxes and costly regulations, yet California wants to raise taxes even higher."

Congratulations, Democrats.
Pure genius.

[funfan]

It is ridiculous by the time you finish with your state and federal taxes social security and medicare you are paying around 50% in taxes and then add your sales tax, property tax you have no money left. I love how people think you are rich if you make 250K (I don't by the way) by the time the government is finished with you have 125K and in California that is not rich. If the Bush tax cuts expire we will really be screwed and then there is Obmacare pretty soon I will be in the gutter with no money.

[Sivad]

I may forget how to spell “NO” but I sure as hell won’t forget how
to check “NO” on the ballot when it comes time. I won’t live to see
it but I yearn for the time when a leader tells the State Dept of Ed
to tighten up their ship before they dare ask for money. In Cali-
fornia 40 cents of each state tax dollar goes to K-12. They want
more then they can cut some programs (hint, bilingual ed)

[ApplegateRanch]

"It's estimated that more than 2,000 upper-income Californians are leaving per week to flee high taxes and costly regulations, yet California wants to raise taxes even higher."

But that population loss is more than made up by attracting illegals, lower income benefit seekers, and other disadvantaged people.

If that influx isn't keeping pace, the solution is to raise taxes to pay for higher benefits to attract more disadvantaged residents.

That will mean more jobs to handle the increased case loads, expanded public housing, additional students, and (perhaps) a small up-tick in crime. All that additional employment will put the state back on-track to once again Lead The Nation In Showing The Way Forward!

Of course, all those jobs will be public sector, and a net drain on the state's finances; but, HEY! Why quibble about minor details?

[Rocky]

Move to a different state. That’s what the rich people are doing.

[muawiyah]

Say you have a kid approaching college age. The nation is filled to the brim with great schools ~ and your kid can go there. it's going to be out of state tuition, but that's probably cheaper than paying California's tax increases.

BTW, most of the Midwestern and Eastern states don't let your kid earn "Residency for tuition" while attending school, so don't plan on out of state fees lasting just a year.

Move now to get your kids qualified for in-state rates.

Sure, it's a long way to the ocean, but they have lakes and power boats. You can watch the Pacific on the TV if you really need it. We also have rain in the East ~ lots of it ~ you can count on it.

[pepsionice]

It’s best to look at the future (2020) in California. I don’t see the state or communities able to provide the same services or benefits that I’d expect in forty-nine other states. I don’t see anyone of wealth staying around. I don’t see any companies expanding. I don’t see how the welfare system in the state can survive past 2020. I don’t even see how the education system would be able to continue at the tuition spiral that they’ve been able to present to the public.

My bet is that one-third of the population of California will pack up and move out by 2020. The number of cities in some type of bankrupt situation? Probably over ninety-five percent.

[bert]

The taxes are not to for education, the taxes are for educators.

[p. henry]

One of my friends is among those leaving or about to leave. He is 67 and has had a highly productive career. He owns a home in West LA and a home on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe. He is about to place his home in LA on the market. When it sells, his Nevada home will be his only residence. Being an intelligent and analytical fellow, he has compared the cost of living in South Lake Tahoe to the cost of living in West LA. He tells me the difference is not just significant, it is massive. And California loses another good, productive, intelligent citizen. My wife and I are bound to California by ties of family that will not be easily sundered, but someday even we may be forced out.

[Vaduz]

Indeed the teachers union have owned Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer for years.

[reagandemocrat]

What business do Boxer and Feinstein have sticking their noses into a STATE tax matter?

[funfan]

I wish I was rich and I would. Since my husband does have a job here we are afraid to move and not be able to find another job. Both of my kids are here they are in their 20’s and soon they will be having families and would we like to be close to them. Why do I always have to make concessions why can't people just leave me alone I am sick of it.

[Rocky]

I feel for you. There are a lot of good people in California, but they are now outnumbered by the ones who expect handouts. California is in a death spiral. I fear that the big debt states are going to pull us all down the drain along with them.