Wildfires Give Schwarzenegger A Chance To Reopen Tax Issue (George "Slumberin" Skelton Alert!)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 10/30/03 | George Skelton

[goldstategop]

The fires are giving Arnold Schwarzenegger a golden opportunity. They're allowing him to quickly choose the kind of governor he wants to be: practical or political.

Flexible or rigid.

We're talking taxes.

Schwarzenegger can opt to be the "never-say-never" pragmatist on taxes that he was when his gubernatorial campaign began — the candidate who declared, after a ballyhooed meeting with economic advisors:

"You can't ever say never [on tax increases] because we could have next year an earthquake. We could have a natural disaster. We could have a terrorist attack or something like that."

Or Schwarzenegger can stick with the "read-my-lips" politician that he became while being chased by hard-right rival Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks). He can be the no-risk pol who by election day was vowing:

"I guarantee I will not raise your taxes. And I guarantee I will not cut education."

Schwarzenegger also guaranteed he'd repeal the "outrageous" car tax increase, which raises $4.2 billion, most of it for local police and fire protection.

OK, so does a maelstrom of deadly wildfires devastating much of Southern California qualify as a "natural disaster" that could justify a tax increase?

The governor-elect isn't saying. But that could be a good sign that he's open-minded, not locked in some far-right position...

Lesson No. 1: The more people who move into the brushy foothills — or onto the mud slopes or the flood plains — the more it's going to cost to live in California. That means higher taxes.

[goldstategop]

The liberal Sacramento Bureau Chief of the Los Angeles Times who shilled for Gray Davis and whose bosses opposed the recall election and new Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger from Day One, are already taking advantage on the wildfires to urge him to embrace higher taxes. Yep, exactly what 62% of California voters said they don't want. The media elites are not listening to the people of California. Let's pray Arnold does and stands fast against raising taxes since this is exactly what has gotten California into a 30 billion plus state budget deficit in the first place. And we expect the Governator to keep his word on taxes and he will need all of our help to ward off liberals like Skelton who are doing their utmost to make sure the corrupt tax and spend status quo ante in Sacramento is never changed.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm sure Arnold simply loves and respects the LA Slimes these days. I hope Skelton keeps talking.

[dledhead]

If I recall, during an interview with Sean Hannity pre-recall, Schwarzenegger said he who would not raise taxes short of a natural disaster. Well, I believe California is experiencing significant disaster now. We should not be surprised if he raises taxes to cover the enormous expense incurred by these wildfires.

The test will be if, like Governor Reagan, he will give rebates once the budget recovers and the state is blessed with a surplus again.

[goldstategop]

But do you really think a "temporary" tax increase will be anything but? I don't trust the Democrats in the State Legislature. If taxes are raised to cover the cost of wildfires, look for the Democrats to demand tax increases to fund every other state government expenditure. Its in their nature.

[AmericaUnited]

Arnold: Do not fall for this. Your enemies (on the right and left) will try to beat you like a drum if you fall for this treachery.

[DoctorZIn]

This post has been added to the… California In Transition- Must read Threads!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

Visit the new web site for the OC Chapter of the Free Republic!

[Prime Choice]

But that could be a good sign that he's open-minded, not locked in some far-right position...

Translation: either you're open-minded, enlightened and intelligent...or you're a conservative.

Freakin' L.A. Slimes...

[Prime Choice]

The test will be if, like Governor Reagan, he will give rebates once the budget recovers and the state is blessed with a surplus again.

Which -- considering the deficit and business & citizen exodus under the present tax load -- may be about 15-20 years from now.

I don't think it's advisable to punish the citizens with more taxes after they've already been through a punishing disaster.

The better way of doing things would be to offer tax breaks and regulation breaks to developers to rebuild the destroyed areas post-haste. Additional incentives could be put in place for those businesses that also re-seed the burned land so that we won't be seeing massive mudslides come the January rains.

That in itself would do more to jumpstart the affected economies, bring in jobs, attract business and restore what's been lost than any additional taxation would.

[LexBaird]

The test will be if, like Governor Reagan, he will give rebates once the budget recovers and the state is blessed with a surplus again.

We in L.A. county are still paying a "temporary" half-cent sales tax to pay for the earthquake damage of ten years ago.

[dledhead]

Historically, no. However, they were temporary under Reagan. But, that was Reagan.

[goldstategop]

That's true.... and we have a state deficit! Liberals like Skelton seem to think its citizens who need to help the government, its not the government that has ever has to live within its means. Is it any one the state is flat-broke? After all that's happened, you'd think even the short-sighted Los Angeles Times would finally figure out at some point more taxes would actually bring in the government less revenue than its collecting... and Skelton's proposal is on top of LA County Sherriff's Lee Barca's initiative to increase the sales tax here another half cent. Liberals don't think the public is paying way too much yet. 62% of us earlier this month felt differently.