Free Republic

SACRAMENTO (AP) - State lawmakers repealed a controversial fire protection fee on rural property owners Thursday, replacing the lost funds with general taxes as part of the new state budget. They also rejected several other fees tied to timber harvests, California Coastal Commission permits and the accidental killing of species protected by the Endangered Species Act. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted the fees to help close the state's massive budget gap, but gave them up when his fellow Republicans objected, said Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer. Instead, the Republican governor and majority Democrats agreed to take the money from the...