Posted on 12/28/2007 4:01:29 PM PST by SmithL
SACRAMENTO, (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez have submitted ballot language asking voters to fund their health care reform plan.
With time running short to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot, they acted before the state Senate has given its approval.
The Senate's Democratic leader says he is reluctant to pass the health coverage expansion while the state is facing a multibillion dollar budget deficit.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The Senate's Democratic leader says he is reluctant to pass the health coverage expansion while the state is facing a multibillion dollar budget deficit.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?!
As a Kalifornian let me cast the first no vote.
Sure, that makes sense.
Let’s tax employers to fund health insurance for the uninsured. Oh, wait ! Those are probably the same employers already paying for health insurance for their employees.
At least the tax on tobacco makes sense, right ? Oh, wait ! That means all those retirees who are heavy smokers will have to pay another $1.75 a pack, even though they are already insured my Medicare. And Seniors smoke at a much greater rate than other demographic groups. They got hooked 50 years ago when it was “cool” to smoke.
Just another plan to tax people completely unrelated to the recipients of benefits. Income redistribution, pure and simple.
I wonder what the budget problem is in California? Anyone know?
In other news: Democrats and Rinos have submitted ballot language asking voters to declare “money grows on trees” and “there is such a thing as a free lunch.”
I’m not a smoker. I can’t fathom having to light up twenty or more times per day. I’d love to see smokers stop.
That being said, this taxation plan is confiscatory and infuriates me. Any public official that signs on to this plan should be recalled at the earliest opportunity and replaced with someone who has a least 10% of their brain cells still functional.
We’re $14 billion in debt and still want to add $14 billion more each year through some brain dead steal and spend effort.
This pi—es me off!
We call it “Arnold.”
I’ll match your no vote. There, .... we nullified Schwarzenegger and Nunez. Now let’s hope California voters will take care of the rest and shoot down this measure.
One of the remaining funding questions for the plan -- how big the cigarette tax would be -- is answered in the 41-page document. The speaker and governor settled on 8.75 cents per cigarette, which works out to $1.75 per pack.See the full initiative here (PDF).
There is no budget problem. There is a spending problem.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?!
Damn! How can I afford my sex change operation? And how can I afford to get it changed back when I don't like what I see?????
Sarcasm "off" switch is stuck in the "on" position. Help!
“I wonder what the budget problem is in California? Anyone know?”
Somebody might have money that the state forgot to spend. They are taking care of that, though.
I’m not a smoker, either, but my folks are. I wish they’d stop, but after smoking for 65 years, there is no way it’s going to happen.
At 1 1/2 packs a day each, that $1.75 a pack is just going to cost them an extra $150/month that they can’t afford.
I don’t know who the people are that think tobacco taxes are a good revenue source. The majority of smokers in CA are the elderly, on limited incomes, who are so addicted they stand no chance of escaping this tax. It might actually cause them to move out of state.
I sit here in Michigan reading what is going on in your state and wonder how much longer it can last.
Just like your energy crisis under Gray Davis, eventually things are going to come to a head and its really going to suck being a resident of California. I'll give you guys 10 years then the feces is really going to hit the fan..............
I thought this planned proposal is against Federal Law about not dictating what employers must provide or not provide as benefits.
If so- How can it be placed on the ballot?
Somebody forgot to “Blow up Boxes” in Sacramento.
Because the politicians know that the average retard voter will vote for "free" goodies from the government. It's similar to having that ballot initiative that would "outlaw" ATM fees. Of course it passed. If there was a ballot initiative that promised free gas from filling stations it would pass.
Never underestimate the depth of perfidy to which a fascist power freak will sink, NEVER.
The majority of smokers in CA are the elderly, on limited incomes, who are so addicted they stand no chance of escaping this tax. It might actually cause them to move out of state.
I think you've just hit on something. Elderly people consume vastly disproportionate health-care entitlements. This measure may be directed to tax them or force them out of state and make them some other governor's problem.
"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 Palelologus
The tax and spend people are out in force. No matter how much taxes they take in, there will always be a great cause (to them) that warrants more taxation.
It’s way past the point that the public should rise up and revolt against this.
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