https://freerepublic.com/tag/phonetax/ en-us Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:32:17 GMT Focus Forum 15 https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959703/posts The campaign for a $243-million telephone users tax on the Feb. 5 ballot has amassed nearly $2.6 million, almost three-fourths of it from labor unions... Unions provided nearly $1.9 million to the Proposition S campaign, which is seeking to preserve a tax on cellular and land line calls that has been challenged repeatedly in court. The size of the donations appalled foes of the tax, who said that city employee unions were rewarding politicians for giving them raises -- and ensuring that more will be granted in the future. "This is the economics of special interests," said Walter Moore, who... Los Angeles Times https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1959703/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:32:17 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905457/posts Worried that an upcoming court ruling could wreak havoc on the city budget, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recommended Monday that the City Council declare the city will face an "emergency" if a court rules against the city and invalidates a $270-million telephone users utility tax. The declaration would pave the way for the mayor and the council to put a replacement tax on the ballot as soon as Feb. 5 and -- perhaps more significantly -- lower the threshold needed to win passage of such a measure from two-thirds to a simple majority, lawyers for the city said. Villaraigosa... LA Times https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1905457/posts#comment Tue, 2 Oct 2007 17:49:47 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1114212/posts <p>The trade group for California hospitals withdrew its support Wednesday for a proposed ballot measure that would tax phone bills to fund emergency room services, leading some proponents to question its chances on the November ballot.</p> <p>Jan Emerson, spokeswoman for California Healthcare Association, said the group pulled its support for the initiative because recent internal polling found voters "would not support anything on the ballot that they perceived to be a tax."</p> Sacramento Bee https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1114212/posts#comment Fri, 9 Apr 2004 06:03:01 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/909841/posts <p>EW YORK -- Considering all the extra charges on phone bills, the Universal Service tax might seem minor.</p> <p>Its reach is big, however: It covers the high cost of making it possible for Americans to talk from mountains, swamps, and other remote areas. It subsidizes phone bills for poor people and technology at schools and libraries.</p> AP https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/909841/posts#comment Mon, 12 May 2003 09:28:11 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/734929/posts SACRAMENTO – A stalled state budget would take $278 million from two funds financed by fees on monthly telephone bills, a shift that alarmed phone companies and prompted a consumer group to call the plan "stealing." The regulatory agency that oversees the funds, the Public Utilities Commission, found it had a surplus after being asked by the Legislature to help find ways to close a record $23.6 billion budget gap. "There is a surplus in the fund, and we provided that data," said Loretta Lynch, the commission's president. "It's a policy call that the Legislature is entitled to make in... San Diego Union-Tribune https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/734929/posts#comment Sat, 17 Aug 2002 23:05:12 GMT