CA Petitions (vanity question)

Phone call from dcwusmc | 11/20/05 | Neil E. Wright

[Neil E. Wright]

Got a call from my brother in the Bay area, telling me that he saw some people circulating 2 petitions.

Petition 1 was a petition to raise the cigarette tax another 7.5cents.

Petition 2 was a petition to raise taxes on everyone making over $400,000 to pay for "free" pre-school.

He wants to know if anyone knows about these petitions and who is circulating them? He's working now and is not able to go online.

If anyone has any information on these or any other CA petitions being circulated, please post it here.

Thanks in advance.

[Neil E. Wright]

CA FReepers, anyone have any information on these petitions?

[Neil E. Wright]

CA FReepers, anyone have any information on these petitions?

[DoughtyOne]

Meathead
Rob Reiner

[DoughtyOne]

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr05/yr05rel45.asp

[Wiseghy]

Guess nobody figured out that folks in the $400,000 plus crowd are usually self-employed and have the largest number of options in reducing or eliminating their CA taxes, including relocation.

While an appealing concept to some, any tax expert or economist on earth would predict a dramatic net loss in tax revenue, once the high income folks flee the state, and the economy weakens as a result. Nevada, AZ, UT, and TX beckon those who seek to move their companies, and the jobs they provide out of this state.

[DoughtyOne]

There's already a $0.25 cent tax on cigarettes so Rob Reiner can promote this plan.

Good old Rob want's kids to be propagandized at an even earlier age, since the results haven't turned out as expected when they start at six.

He's been airing commercials throughout California off and on for about five years, claiming that those who attend preschool are more likely to do better in school, will remain in school, will be more likely to go on to college and basicly turn into some sort of master race (of leftists).

The trouble with Robbie's claims is that parents who can afford to send their kids to preschool are generally the kind who will support their kids, make sure they keep their grades up and help them with college.

Those who will be getting free pre-school for their kids won't be any more successful at keeping their kids in the free schools they already attend these days.

Rob is a scum sucking leftist, who isn't satisfied to target adults with his mind altering stupidity.

[DumpsterDiver]

There are two petitions circulating that will increase the tax on cigarettes.

California Secretary of State - Elections & Voter Information - Initiative Update
http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm

1. 1159. (SA2005RF0097)
Cigarette Tax. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 10/31/05
Circulation Deadline: 03/30/06
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponent: Dorel Harms, RN
(916) 443-6972

Imposes additional 71/2 cent tax on each cigarette distributed ($1.50 per pack), and indirectly increases tax on other tobacco products. Tax revenues allocated to specified purposes, including private hospital and physician emergency services, indigent healthcare, breast cancer research, tobacco use prevention, tobacco smuggling prevention and nursing education.

Excludes tax revenue appropriations from constitutional appropriation limits and minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98). Establishes criteria for receipt and use of tax revenues. Increases penalties for tobacco tax crimes. Provides that hospitals collaborating on emergency services are exempt from state antitrust laws.

Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments -- An increase in new state cigarette tax revenues of about $1.4 billion annually, declining slightly annually thereafter. Those revenues would be used for various health and education programs. Unknown but probably significant savings in state and local government health care costs over time due to expected reduction in consumption of tobacco products.

2. 1160. (SA2005RF0098)
Tax on Cigarettes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 10/31/05
Circulation Deadline: 03/30/06
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponent: Charles G. Smith
(916) 442-2952

Imposes additional 5 cent tax on each cigarette distributed ($1.00 per pack), and indirectly increases tax on other tobacco products. Tax revenues allocated to specified purposes, including tobacco use prevention programs, enforcement of tobacco-related laws, and research, prevention and treatment of various conditions, including breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, stroke, asthma, colorectal cancer and obesity.

Excludes tax revenue appropriations from constitutional appropriation limits, minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98), and reduction by the Governor (Proposition 76).

Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments -- Increase in new state tobacco tax revenues of about $1 billion annually by 2007-08, declining slightly annually thereafter. Those revenues would be used for various health and tobacco-related programs. Unknown but probably significant savings in state and local government health care costs over time due to expected reduction in consumption of tobacco products and due to other factors.

If your brother is keeping track of legislation regarding cigarettes/tobacco, AB 178 was signed into law.

California Cigarette Fire Safety and Firefighter Protection Act
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0151-0200/ab_178_cfa_20050906_212850_asm_floor.html

AB 178 (Koretz)
CHARTERED: 10/7/2005
SUMMARY: Prohibits the sale of cigarettes that do not meet specified fire safety standards beginning January 1, 2007.

[Alia]

These are both Rob Reiner's babies.

[hsalaw]

Dittos.

[mosquitobite]

I didn't go to preschool and could read before I started Kindergarten.

If parents want their kids to succeed they don't need PRESCHOOL to do so... *rolling eyes*

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you.

[DoughtyOne]

Exactly!

[calcowgirl]

Rob is a scum sucking leftist, who isn't satisfied to target adults with his mind altering stupidity.

Well said!

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks, but I have to admit it hurt to hold back during those comments.

[John Jorsett]

It is NOT Meathead, who actually opposes increasing the tobacco tax, cuz it would cause a reduction in smoking and thus cut into his organization's tobacco tax take.This post should help explain. By the way, that must be 7.5 cents per cigarette since what they're going for is $1.50 per pack. If your brother thought it was the per-pack increase, they must be engaging in a bit of misdirection to cover up the true cost.

[calcowgirl]

:-) LOL. I know the feeling!

[heleny]

petition to raise the cigarette tax another 7.5cents.

Note that that 5 or 7.5 cents is per cigarette, which comes out to $1 or $1.50 per pack; it's not a percentage. We received this or something similar in the mail. I discarded the package, since the proponents of these types of petitions just want to raise taxes on anything, especially when they can get away with it by proposing to tax a minority (smokers or people who know how to make lots of money).

CA Secretary of State Initiative Update: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm
27 initiatives are circulating. These are the tax-hiking ones.
1151. (SA2005RF0088)

Public Preschool Education. Tax Increase on Incomes Over $400,000 for Individuals; $800,000 for Couples. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 08/15/05 Circulation Deadline: 01/12/06 Signatures Required: 598,105

Proponents: James C. Harrison and Roberta B. Johansen (510) 346-6200

Establishes right to voluntary public preschool for all four-year old children, administered by state Superintendent of Public Instruction and county school superintendents. Funded by 1.7% tax on individual income above $400,000 annually; $800,000 for couples. Directs counties to prepare five-year assessments and annual reports regarding voluntary preschool curriculum, outreach, facilities, childcare coordination, teacher recruitment/ pay, and budgeting. Limits administrative expenses, and requires audits of county programs. Requires state Superintendent to develop preschool teaching credential with financial aid for teachers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased personal income taxes on high-income earners beginning in 2007, with revenues reaching approximately $2.4 billion annually in 2010-11. Revenues would support an entitlement to one year of preschool for four-year olds beginning in 2010-11. Revenues in the early years of the program could be used for facilities, teacher training, student financial aid, and early implementation of preschool services.

1149. (SA2005RF0086, Amdt. #1-S)

Wealth Tax. Tax Rates and Credits. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 08/05/05 Circulation Deadline: 01/03/06 Signatures Required: 373,816

Proponents: Paul McCauley (818) 788-5919

Imposes one-time 46% tax on persons with property worth more than $40 million as of January 1, 2006, and who were California residents for at least five years as of July 1, 2005. Adds 6% to income tax for high-income taxpayers. Reduces corporate income tax rate by more than half. Eliminates alternative minimum tax, gift tax, and certain tax credits, such as those for head of household and dependents. Creates or increases tax credits, such as for teacher pay, public college tuition and health insurance costs. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time increase in state revenues potentially exceeding $100 billion from imposition of a wealth tax. A portion of this revenue would be required to be allocated to schools with the remainder used for other state spending or tax rebates. Ongoing revenue loss potentially in excess of $10 billion annually.

1157. (SA2005RF0096)

Wealth Tax. Tax Rates. Tax Credits. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 10/14/05 Circulation Deadline: 03/13/06 Signatures Required: 598,105

Proponent: Paul McCauley (818) 788-5919

Imposes one-time 45% tax on California residents and certain former California residents owning property worth more than $40 million on January 1, 2007. Amends Constitution to exempt this tax from 1% limit on ad valorem real property taxes. Imposes additional 12% tax on income for high-income taxpayers. Reduces corporate income tax rate by approximately 54%. Eliminates alternative minimum tax and certain tax credits, including those for head of household and dependants. Creates/increases tax credits, including those for teacher pay, public college tuition; property taxes and health insurance. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time increase in state revenues potentially up to $200 billion from imposition of a wealth tax. A portion of this revenue would be required to be allocated to schools with the remainder used for other state spending or tax rebates. Annual increased state taxes- primarily from increased personal income taxes- in the low tens of billions of dollars annually, offset by a commensurate amount of state tax reductions from rate reductions and new tax credits.

1159. (SA2005RF0097)

Cigarette Tax. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 10/31/05 Circulation Deadline: 03/30/06 Signatures Required: 598,105

Proponent: Dorel Harms, RN (916) 443-6972

Imposes additional 71/2 cent tax on each cigarette distributed ($1.50 per pack), and indirectly increases tax on other tobacco products. Tax revenues allocated to specified purposes, including private hospital and physician emergency services, indigent healthcare, breast cancer research, tobacco use prevention, tobacco smuggling prevention and nursing education. Excludes tax revenue appropriations from constitutional appropriation limits and minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98). Establishes criteria for receipt and use of tax revenues. Increases penalties for tobacco tax crimes. Provides that hospitals collaborating on emergency services are exempt from state antitrust laws. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: An increase in new state cigarette tax revenues of about $1.4 billion annually, declining slightly annually thereafter. Those revenues would be used for various health and education programs. Unknown but probably significant savings in state and local government health care costs over time due to expected reduction in consumption of tobacco products.

1160. (SA2005RF0098)

Tax on Cigarettes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 10/31/05 Circulation Deadline: 03/30/06 Signatures Required: 598,105

Proponent: Charles G. Smith (916) 442-2952

Imposes additional 5 cent tax on each cigarette distributed ($1.00 per pack), and indirectly increases tax on other tobacco products. Tax revenues allocated to specified purposes, including tobacco use prevention programs, enforcement of tobacco-related laws, and research, prevention and treatment of various conditions, including breast and cervical cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, stroke, asthma, colorectal cancer and obesity. Excludes tax revenue appropriations from constitutional appropriation limits, minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98), and reduction by the Governor (Proposition 76). Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increase in new state tobacco tax revenues of about $1 billion annually by 2007-08, declining slightly annually thereafter. Those revenues would be used for various health and tobacco-related programs. Unknown but probably significant savings in state and local government health care costs over time due to expected reduction in consumption of tobacco products and due to other factors.

1150. (SA2005RF0087)

Alcohol Beverage Surtax. Sex Crime Penalties. Victim Assistance. Initiative Statute.
Summary Date: 08/08/05 Circulation Deadline: 01/05/06 Signatures Required: 373,816

Proponents: Mervin Evans (323) 419-6294

Imposes 25 cent surtax on each alcoholic beverage serving or container. Directs proceeds into trust fund administered by the Attorney General to support sex crime victims, law enforcement training, program administration and grants for local law enforcement, prosecutors and child social services. Increases penalties for specified sex crimes to 50 years in prison without possibility of parole where the victim is a minor and 25 years in prison without possibility of parole where the victim is an adult female. Requires individualized bail determinations for certain crimes. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state revenues from a new alcoholic beverage tax of approximately $2 billion annually, and comparatively modest other state and local revenue effects. Increased prison costs by mid-century of about $1.5 billion annually for state operations and about $3 billion for capital outlay. Increased tax administration costs potentially ranging up to several million dollars annually.

[A CA Guy]

True, not a rumor and they will more than likely qualify for the ballot.

People better get Arnold's props on the ballot again. In a general election they could pass and if nothing else you get the unions wasting another 200 million.

[DoughtyOne]

Good point, but it sure is weird to see a leftist trash a tax increase. Suddenly, it's "His" turf.