Free Republic

Reporting from Sacramento -- California oil producers vowed Thursday to wage an all-out lobbying battle against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's call for a 9.9% state tax on every barrel of crude pumped out of the ground. The governor said the tax was an important part of a budget-balancing solution at a time of economic crisis in the state. But the oil industry warned it would mean higher gasoline prices during a recession. Schwarzenegger calls for sales tax hike,...The governor asked for the levy as part of a package of proposed new revenues aimed at raising $4.7 billion to fill about half...

Small class sizes in kindergarten through third grade are a big hit with parents and teachers alike. Some school districts need added security measures. And students don't want to give up electives such as art and music. But with the state facing an $8 billion to $10 billion budget deficit in the next year, at least half a dozen Silicon Valley school districts are asking residents to tax themselves in the November election to help their schools avoid drastic cuts that directly affect learning. The parcel tax initiatives range from $50 a parcel annually in the East Side Union High...