Free Republic

SAN DIEGO — Arnold Schwarzenegger, beginning to anticipate victory in the California recall election, yesterday released a 10-point plan for his first 100 days in office. The plan includes ending the huge tax exemption given to Indian casinos, and repealing new laws that increase the tax on automobiles and allow illegal immigrants to obtain state driver's licenses. "I'm not here to talk about campaigning; I'm here to talk about governing," Mr. Schwarzenegger said at a Sacramento rally. Mr. Schwarzenegger's campaign has gained a lot of momentum in recent weeks, according to a Los Angeles Times poll released yesterday. Fifty-six percent...

CALIFORNIANS FOR SCHWARZENEGGER RADIO:60 "TAX" JON COUPAL: THIS IS JON COUPAL, PRESIDENT OF THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO WE SENT THE POLITICIANS A MESSAGE WITH PROPOSITION 13. THIS YEAR WE CAN SEND ANOTHER MESSAGE BY RECALLING GRAY DAVIS AND REPLACING HIM WITH ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, A STRONG FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. HE WILL REPEAL THE CAR TAX AND STAND AGAINST MORE TAXES. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I STRONGLY SUPPORT PROPOSITION 13 AND WILL FIGHT ANY PROPOSAL WHICH SEEKS TO CHANGE IT. I AM IN PRINCIPLE AGAINST TAXING, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH. FROM THE TIME...

<p>State governments spent themselves into financial crises by routinely building budgets that outstripped inflation and population growth during the 1990s, a Cato Institute report suggests.</p> <p>Had states limited new spending to a "benchmark" percentage equal to their combined inflation and population growth rates and returned any excess revenue to taxpayers, the conservative think tank said most would not be in as dire straits now.</p>

North Carolina is once again debating the issue of a state lottery. This time it is the only way we are going to balance our budget. The money will all go to the school kids. Yeah, right. Here is my question: Does it make sense for states to reserve the exclusive right to conduct gambling businesses? If gambling is wicked, then no one should be allowed to run a gambling business. And if gambling is an OK thing, then why is private business excluded from gambling, but states are allowed a monopoly? Where did states get the authority to even...