Posted on 11/07/2006 7:51:35 AM PST by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - State mishandling of voter-approved, tax-increase funds for a children's program has pumped powerful, 11th-hour ammunition into close, expensive battles over two similar cigarette and oil-tax boosting measures on Tuesday's ballot.
After an audit revealed multimillion-dollar improprieties in the use of Proposition 10 preschool funding, foes of Props. 86 and 87 attacked the two new tax measures Wednesday as creating the same type of bureaucracies -- except with loopholes ripe for exploitation.
"The audit confirms what many have been saying all along about tax initiatives creating reckless, out-of-control spending of tax dollars through unaccountable government agencies," said Larry McCarthy, president of the California Taxpayers Association.
Supporters of Props. 86 and 87 dismissed the attacks, saying the initiatives include controls that would ensure proper spending of tax funds.
Charlie Smith, chairman of the "Yes on 86" campaign, called opponents' comments "another sign of desperation."
Voters approved Prop. 10 in 1998, boosting cigarette taxes for early childhood education.
In the coming election, Prop. 86 asks voters to again increase cigarette taxes, this time for health programs. A portion of Prop. 86 funds would go into Prop. 10 coffers, to replace funds it would divert.
Prop. 87 would increase oil taxes to bolster alternative energy efforts.
No matter the outcome of the election, lawmakers said the Legislature should seek remedies to the overall problem of what has been dubbed "ballot-box budgeting."
"The Legislature needs to step in" to examine spending by voter-approved tax programs that specially earmark funds for various programs, said state Sen. Dave Cox, R-Roseville.
He and Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, jointly requested the audit of Prop. 10 funds.
State Auditor Elaine Howle concluded that the California Children and Families Commission, set up by Prop. 10 and once chaired by actor-director Rob Reiner, violated state contracting law.
Howle said the commission used poor contracting practices in several instances that resulted in questionable and inappropriate payments to various contractors.
"The audit emphasizes the need for greater oversight," Frommer said.
In the meantime, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office continues to investigate the case, though the auditor said she found no criminal abuses.
Howle will check back at intervals to ensure correction of the commission's actions.
Foes of Props. 86 and 87 insist that the measures should be rejected, in part because they contain dangerous exemptions from state contracting laws.
"As the audit points out, when a public entity -- such as the commission created by Prop. 10 -- does not fully comply with established laws and policies to promote competition, fairness and value, taxpayers cannot be sure they are receiving the best value for their money or that the state's interests are being protected," said Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce.
"Props. 86 and 87 takes a bad situation and makes it worse by providing exemptions from state contracting law in their initiatives," he said. But Smith, of the "Yes on 86" campaign, said that "every cent raised by Prop. 86 will be audited to ensure it is used exactly as voters intend."
As we wait for the smart companies to pack-up and move to Tejas.
It's LIBERALS like this that make me want to go out and commit a HATE CRIME.
You gotta love how the SacBee turns Meathead's dirty tricks as a State mishandling. Perhaps if they exposed Prop 10 (and Prop 71 and Prop 87, etc) for the fraud it was, the taxpayers wouldn't have been fleeced.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
86 & 87 went down in flames last night. (Releasing toxic, greenhouse gasses as the went!)
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