Tax load emerges as big issue (in CA governor's race)

Sacramento Bee ^ | Oct. 27, 2006 | Dan Walters

[FairOpinion]

Whether taxes should be raised to balance the state budget and expand services has emerged as the single most contentious issue as Democrat Phil Angelides challenges Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for a second term.

Taxes dominated the televised debate between the two this month. Schwarzenegger pledged to hold the line on taxes while portraying Angelides as being eager to raise taxes. And Angelides insisted that he wants to raise taxes only modestly on the wealthiest individuals and corporations while granting tax breaks to middle-class families and small businesses.

In overall tax burden, California stands somewhere in the upper middle vis-à-vis other states, depending on which basis of comparison is used. But that middling ranking consists of relatively high corporate and personal income taxes and state and local sales taxes, plus the relatively low property taxes that Proposition 13 wrought.

[FairOpinion]

In the primary Angelides did say he wants to raise taxes, after he found that while he won the Dem primary, raising taxes doesn't make voters flock to him, he is trying to obfuscate, but the reality is that he does want more social programs and pay for it with our taxes, taxing everything and everyone that moves.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Arnold is up by what, 18 points now?

[John Lenin]

Whether taxes should be raised to balance the state budget and expand services

Can't pay for the ones we got now, bad idea.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How I hate that notion of expanding services from a state or federal government. The only so-called services the government should be providing are defense, roads and national and state parks. Other than those, I can't think of a single "service" I consume from a government.

[CGTRWK]

Fortunately for the leeches and unfortunately for you, they seriously outnumber you. Once recepients outnumber providers, things only get worse - and it only gets faster.

[goldstategop]

Arnold wants the same thing - high spending sustained by disguised higher taxes through massive borrowing. Its a difference in means only, not end. The only difference is whether we pay now or our children do.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Joe Boucher]

Let's see, Manly man Arnold who has turned around Calif.s economy or Angelides a girlie man who wants to take more of your money from you to pay for social crap.
Man that's a hard one.