CA: Spending cap absolutely crucial

Gov. Schwarzenegger and his team have done yeoman's work on the budget. But in simply trying to slow the growth of spending, they have been caught in the "liberal flack" budget trap. Has anybody else noticed how much of every newscast is devoted to stories of the "taking wheelchairs from invalids" variety? In his effort to merely halt spending increases, not actually cut spending, the governor is tarred as Simon Legree.

We need a REAL spending cap, not merely a reform of our budgetary process. We need to keep spending in check, not merely ensure the budget is balanced on time. Our aim should be to permanently shrink the size of state government, not balance the budget on the backs of the next generation or ensure it gets on-going revenues to expand entitlement programs.

Local opposition to prop 56...

1/26/04 Local Groups Join No On Prop 56 Campaign by Christine Bensen The Eureka Reporter Friday the Humboldt County Taxpayers League and the Humboldt County Farm Bureau joined hundreds of other groups and organizations in endorsing the No on Proposition 56 campaign. Leo Sears, vice president of the Humboldt County Taxpayers League, and Gene Senetraro, Humboldt County Farm Bureau board member, joined Al Lundeen, communications director for Californians Against Higher Taxes -- No on 56, at a news conference. Currently, the state Constitution requires a two-thirds’ vote of each house of the Legislature for the passage of bills that increase taxes. Among other things, this measure would reduce the number of votes needed to pass tax-increase measures from two-thirds to 55 percent. Lundeen said his group is against Proposition 56 because it knows the real aim of the proposition would be to make it easier to raise taxes. Senetraro said land-tax increases are making it more difficult for local people in the agriculture business to compete on a statewide and national level. He said land tax is one of the highest costs for local agriculturalists. “Yes, we need reform,” Lundeen said, “(but,) 56 does not deliver comprehensive reform.” He said as far as his group is concerned, approving Proposition 56 would be like handing legislators a “blank check.” For more information about Californians Against Higher Taxes -- No on 56, visit www.NoBlankChecks.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Front Page News Arts & Entertainment Community Opinions Sports Youth & Education About Us Ask Us...

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