Posted on 06/29/2009 7:30:51 AM PDT by SmithL
In a controversial simple-majority vote Sunday night, the state Assembly approved raising taxes on oil production and tobacco products as part of a Democratic budget proposal that closes most of the $24.3 billion budget shortfall through June 2010.
But the plan met immediate resistance when a spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed that the Republican would veto such an end run around GOP lawmakers. Bills containing new taxes normally require a two-thirds majority to be enacted.
"He will veto any majority-vote budget fix," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "I think this shows that the Legislature is not yet serious about solving the problem."
But Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Baldwin Vista (Los Angeles County), argued that it's time to get the budget back in balance.
"For the governor or anyone to reject these solutions and to exploit the crisis for political gain or to get unrelated reforms or pet projects would really be the moral equivalent of hijacking an ambulance," she said.
The Senate plans to meet today to vote on the package of bills.
By far the most controversial part of the Democratic proposal was the argument that new taxes can be approved with a simple-majority vote if the Legislature lowers other taxes by the same amount. Democrats tried such maneuvering in December when the state faced a $42 billion shortfall, but the governor vetoed that plan as well.
The current plan would lower the state's 18-cent excise tax on gasoline at the pump and impose new taxes on oil production and tobacco products. That bill was passed Sunday night in a 44-30 vote. A separate bill would impose an 18-cent fee on gasoline and use those funds for local transportation projects, alleviating the state's general fund woes. Such a scenario would raise $2.4 billion for the general fund.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
These people are fools. Cut all spending down to bare minimum. If they continue to raise taxes, people will continue to move out of the state. Then they will be left with no one to pay taxes. That will really help. Business has had it and won’t put up with it. Pelosi and crowd will further ruin the state.
More taxes on cigarettes.. I dont smoke, however, I think this is wrong.. make the product illegal, thus no sales.. and no taxes...then let them try and raise a fee of about $15.00 dollars on a movie ticket..
More taxes on cigarettes.. I dont smoke, however, I think this is wrong.. make the product illegal, thus no sales.. and no taxes...then let them try and raise a fee of about $15.00 dollars on a movie ticket..
Interesting. Of course, the Democrats are the reason the "ambulance" was needed in the first place for the very same reason.
Interesting. Of course, the Democrats are the reason the "ambulance" was needed in the first place for the very same reason.
Freaking Democrats. Always looking out for their wallets while poking around in yours.
I'm struggling with the math as reported in this article.
Really smart...keep hiring government officials and protecting the seals because that will be the only things left in California.
Gee...another tax increase on tobacco products. Don’t ya just luv these fresh ideas?
The problem is that the remaining rabid liberals will keep voting for her. Eventually, the remaining remnant will just cannibalize each other.
Covers most of the shortfall with tobacky & oil? Geez, they must be crazy.
Covers most of the shortfall with tobacky & oil? Geez, they must be crazy.
It’s the old game - keep on trying again and again until your opponent makes a mistake - they only need to make it once and you win!
By far the most controversial part of the Democratic proposal was the argument that new taxes can be approved with a simple-majority vote if the Legislature lowers other taxes by the same amount.
Such a scenario would raise $2.4 billion for the general fund.
So they lower the tax in one area "by the same amount" yet bring in more money, how does that fit the criteria? They remove an 18% tax in one area and then apply that same amount to a wider base in another area. More blatant in-your-face "we screw you - legally" tactics.
The middle classes in this state can't pay themselves for all of the stuff the state gives away to lower earners.
It can't go on.
$7000 a year for an English speaking and $15,000 for a non English speaking public school education. On top of that they have a 50% failing rate (made up mostly of the vast majority of black and Hispanic males who don't graduate).
Unions are the problems.
Teachers union and all the government (state and federal) employees unions are vastly compensated compared to the private sector.
It's a MONOPOLY with no competition and needs to end.
The middle classes in this state can't pay themselves for all of the stuff the state gives away to lower earners.
It can't go on.
$7000 a year for an English speaking and $15,000 for a non English speaking public school education. On top of that they have a 50% failing rate (made up mostly of the vast majority of black and Hispanic males who don't graduate).
Unions are the problems.
Teachers union and all the government (state and federal) employees unions are vastly compensated compared to the private sector.
It's a MONOPOLY with no competition and needs to end.
By far the most controversial part of the Democratic proposal was the argument that new taxes can be approved with a simple-majority vote if the Legislature lowers other taxes by the same amount.
Such a scenario would raise $2.4 billion for the general fund.
So they lower the tax in one area "by the same amount" yet bring in more money, how does that fit the criteria? They remove an 18% tax in one area and then apply that same amount to a wider base in another area. More blatant in-your-face "we screw you - legally" tactics.
If Arnie truly vetos this end-run, it would be one of the very, very few things he’s done that is smart.
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