Posted on 04/22/2009 9:44:49 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Proposition 1A would extend recently enacted tax hikes from 2010-11 to 2012-13 at a cost to taxpayers of $16 billion and create a budget “rainy-day” fund to be tapped when revenue declined. Crafted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, it is by far the most important measure on the May 19 special election ballot. It is also by far the worst measure on the ballot. We offer three compelling reasons to reject it.
The first reason is the grossly dishonest, ends-justifies-the-means manner by which the Sacramento political establishment is trying to force Proposition 1A down voters' throats. The fact that it is a gigantic tax hike was intentionally omitted from its official ballot description – a wretched, amoral political dirty trick worthy of the Nixon White House.
The second reason is the high likelihood that Proposition 1A wouldn't achieve its ostensible goal of forcing the state to live within its means.
Schwarzenegger and other 1A proponents constantly assert it is the equivalent of a hard cap that would slow the growth of state spending. As the nonpartisan, respected Legislative Analyst's Office notes, this is simply not true: “In any given year, Proposition 1A does not strictly limit the amount of revenues that could be collected by the state or the amount of spending that could occur.”
All that the politicians who want to spend more have to do is raise taxes. For all the talk of how Proposition 13 and other measures have insulated Californians from higher taxes, we have somehow ended up with sales, gas and income taxes that are among the nation's highest and business taxes that are the highest in the West.
Proposition 1A offers exactly zero protection against this already-grim picture becoming far worse.
Yes, having a rainy-day fund is a good idea that has worked well in other states. But even this good idea is perverted in Proposition 1A and its companion measure, Proposition 1B, which requires that $9.3 billion in diverted revenue go not to this fund but to schools and community colleges, beginning in 2011. This is a taxpayer-gouging payoff to the California Teachers Association, not an embrace of fiscal prudence and responsibility.
The third reason to reject Proposition 1A is to send a message to the Sacramento political establishment that voters are fed up with its trickery – the same lesson the establishment should have drawn from the 2003 recall election but didn't.
This establishment, depressingly enough, now includes Schwarzenegger. The reform advocate who railed against Sacramento's heavy spending from 2003 until his 2005 special election wipeout now grouses about the two-thirds requirement to raise taxes and pass budgets. The “action hero” who once called for an assault on the status quo now seeks to preserve it by any means necessary.
But more than ever, this status quo must be repudiated. The best possible starting point for this repudiation is the defeat of Proposition 1A. For a better California, we urge a No vote on this con job masquerading as reform.
Its really hard to take, as I know of several retired teachers who travel to Europe two or three times a year on their generous pensions.
I got my voters pamphlet yesterday. The explanation for 1A tells us nothing. More legislation by deception. The only one that might help spending is 1F...that stops any increase in salaries for ‘elected officials’.
Just Say ,, uhh,, No to uhh All the uhh Props.
The Voters’ Pamphlet for the May election/ California tells nothing. I contacted Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc. They say to vote NO on all propositions, 1A through 1F. They are all chicanery.
What do you know..
KFI’s Ken and John afternoon radio show has been going full blast on this for some time...latest that I listened to ( several days ago) was the way the politicians wrote the explanation in the voting guide....totally misleading!
Democratic and Republican legislative leaders want to reduce workers pay reduce hours increase taxes hey isn’t that the obama plan?hears your chains.
**************************EXCERPT****************************
If you would like a free “No on 1A” bumper sticker, stop by at an Ayres Hotel nearest you! See below for the days and times of the giveaway.
Wednesday, April 22 (3-7P)
http://www.ayreshotels.com/anaheim/map.asp
AYRES HOTEL ANAHEIM
2550 E. Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 634-2106Thursday, April 23 (3-7P)
http://www.ayreshotels.com/costamesa/map.asp
AYRES HOTEL & SUITES
325 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 549-0300Friday, April 24 (3-7P)
http://www.ayreshotels.com/ontarioairport/map.asp
AYRES SUITES ONTARIO AIRPORT
1945 East Holt Blvd.
Ontario, CA 91761 (909) 390-7778
Proposition 1A-VOTE NO
State Budget. Changes California Budget Process. Limits State Spending. Increases "Rainy Day" Budget Stabilization Fund.
Proposition 1B-VOTE NO
Education Funding. Payment Plan.
Proposition 1C-VOTE NO
Lottery Modernization Act.
Proposition 1D-VOTE NO
Protects Children's Services Funding. Helps Balance State Budget.
Proposition 1E-VOTE NO
Mental Health Services Funding. Temporary Reallocation. Helps Balance State Budget.
Proposition 1F-VOTE NO
Elected Officials' Salaries. Prevents Pay Increases During Budget Deficit Years.
First, I do not believe any statement from the ruling elites regarding these phony schemes. The only thing I can be certain of regarding government statements is that they are most likely lies, and that is because most politicians are pathological liars and sociopaths.
Second, on the slim chance that they are not lying, the Law of Unintenteded Consequences of even a reasonably truthful proposal coming from a liberal is that the effects will be the opposite of what is stated (e.g., “war on poverty” = more poverty)
So, what I suspect these schemes are all about is higher taxes, more spending, less accountability, more power for liberal fascists, less freedom, more chaos, more degeneracy, more social breakdown, more crime, more regulation, more government.
And finally, if that Hollywood Clown Arnold is for it, it’s a pretty good bet that it is bogus BS
Starve the beast
Maybe we can carve the beast up...like a turkey :D
Short version:
No, no, no
No, no, no
Works for me!
I sent my absentee ballot in today....No on everything except preventing pay raises for legislators in deficit years.
So what was the zinger that I missed in the one to stop raises for legislators in deficit years?
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