Posted on 02/06/2005 12:28:14 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO — Polls are showing the Schwarzenegger administration and Democratic lawmakers that there is vast support among Californians for tax increases — a swift escape from chronic, multibillion-dollar deficit woes. But voters want to tax someone else, anyone else, just not themselves.
That is why Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, despite continuing to explore the issue in internal polls, remains flatly opposed to increases in taxes as part of his proposed 2005-06 budget, according to aides and analysts.
And that is also why majority Democrats — even Bay Area and Southern California lawmakers who just jointly and quietly introduced a major tax-increase bill — are not holding news conferences to talk about it.
Instead, Schwarzenegger and Democrats are dueling across California over spending cuts and other controversial solutions.
With politicians particularly mindful of Californians pointing fingers at each other over tax increases, said David McCuan, a political science professor at California State University, Sonoma, "it has become, in a way, a lot like Arnold's movies."
"The two sides are battling each other, but, in this case, there's just not a lot of clarity about which side is good and which side is evil," McCuan said.
In the latest twist, Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Norwalk, has seized on a new study that says major companies are dodging tens of billions of dollars in taxes across the nation, which, she said, proves Schwarzenegger needs to close corporate tax loopholes in California with her new bill — an assertion Schwarzenegger discounts as a move that would hurt business in California.
"Residents are not willing to bite the bullet when it comes to taxes," said Mark Baldassare, director of polls for the San Francisco-based Public Policy Institute of California.
Secret internal surveys by the Schwarzenegger administration and lawmakers match what independent, nonpartisan pollsters have found, according to politicians' aides.
"A majority of Californians support raising the tax rate on the state's top income-tax bracket (69 percent favor, 28 percent oppose) and increasing cigarette and alcohol taxes (74 percent favor, 25 percent oppose)," Baldassare said.
"But they steadfastly oppose increasing the state portion of the sales tax (64 percent oppose, 32 percent favor).
"So who do they think should pay to help get the state out of its current financial hole? Someone else," he said.
A PPIC poll released this week and other surveys, however, indicate growing support for taxes among Democrats and independents.
Democratic Assembly members Juan Vargas of San Diego and Wilma Chan of Oakland have introduced AB6, which would boost the personal income tax on California's wealthiest residents.
"If we are serious about solving the budget crisis, every option has to be on the table for consideration, not just cuts to teachers and health care for the elderly," Chan said.
"Asking the governor to use his clout to get us a fair share of federal funds, at least what we got under (former) Gov. Davis, is the first priority, but we need to be open to a wide range of options."
But Schwarzenegger made it clear again in appearances across the state this week that he opposes their proposed tax increase and others.
"A lot of people say, 'Arnold, why don't you just raise taxes and be done with it?' Well, as I said earlier, we don't have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. We could raise taxes by billions but that would only further drive up spending by billions of dollars," the governor said, referring to voter-approved education funding guarantees and other constitutional twists.
Schwarzenegger, if necessary, plans to bypass the Legislature and go directly to a special election ballot in November with spending- and government-reform initiatives.
His proposed spending plan relies partially on billions of dollars in cuts to essential services, ranging from education to health care for the poor.
Likely 2006 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Treasurer Phil Angelides has led his party's highest-profile officeholders in a traveling road show of their own.
Angelides is staging what he calls a "broad counterattack" against Schwarzenegger's proposals, again, in part because of what polls show, analysts said.
Polls indicate "residents are also not willing to bite the bullet when it comes to cuts in spending," Baldassare said.
Escutia hopes her SB27 will strike a middle ground.
It would prohibit corporations from using tax credits to shelter more than 50 percent of their tax liability for 2005 and 2006.
According to the state Franchise Tax Board, 4,835 corporations used tax credits to zero out their entire income tax liability at a cost of $237.3 million to this state last year. SB27 would raise an estimated $420 million in state revenue this year.
"This points to the need for legislation which prevents these no-tax corporations from taking California for a free ride," said Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the liberal California Tax Reform Association.
But, McCuan said, finding any "middle ground" on taxes this year is unlikely.
"But voters want to tax someone else, anyone else, just not themselves."
That's a classic liberal thought.
---"don't tax me , don't tax thee, tax that fellow behind the tree"---usually described as "Colonial doggerel"---pre-1776--
He's a new suggestions. Tax the illegal immigrants.
Well, surprise, surprise.... California Democrats are no different than any other Democrats.
There's another word for someone who wants someone else's taxes raised so he can have free stuff - criminal.
I like it!
criminal,democrat--interchangeable
Wow. He gets it.
This is democracy in action when you refuse to acknowledge that you're supposed to be a democratic republic.
A democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch. A democratic republic lets the sheep carry a gun.
"He's a new suggestions. Tax the illegal immigrants."
At a rate of about 100% would be a good start.
6. In general, do you think the state government could spend less and still provide the same level of services? 64% yes, could spend less [ask q. 6a] 31 no, could not spend less [ask q. 7] 5 don't know [ask q. 7] 6a. How much could the state government cut its spending without reducing services? [read list] 18% under 10 percent 42 10 percent to under 20 percent 15 20 percent to under 30 percent 11 30 percent or more 14 don't know
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Yep. If you add up the numbers in 6a, it says 67% of those polled believe they could cut at least 10% without affecting services.
So, why did they all vote for more debt?
If you read the whole poll, the answers don't make much sense when looking at them relative to each other. The polls do make a good tool for the politician to sell his program though. (twist, twist... spin, spin...)
btw, Who the heck is Denny Crane? LOL.
These stupid ballot initiatives keep adding more spending to the state. Insanity.
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