Randy

SaveCalifornia.com Blog//

Archives for June 2009

Schwarzenegger vows to veto tax and fee hikes

Monday, June 29, 2009, 3:47 pm |

We expected this. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will veto the Democrats’ “majority vote” tax and fee package. Read his statement

For those who care about the constitution, it requires a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature to raise revenue (whether it be taxes or fees).

My prediction is that if Republican lawmakers persevere for days or weeks in their opposition to new taxes, fees or borrowing, the tax-and-spend Democrats will be forced to agree.

Then the budget deficit will be plugged, government reforms begun, and working families protected from higher taxes.

The victory will belong to active and persistent citizens who hold Republican lawmakers accountable with calls, emails, faxes and more. Take action now.

Democrat politicians vote to tax and fee you more

Monday, June 29, 2009, 2:03 pm |

It only took five-and-a-half weeks after they were spanked by California voters for the tax-and-spend politicians to rebel against their masters.

Despite the vote of Californians on May 19 to reject higher taxes and fees and more borrowing, the Democrats in the California Legislature — both yesterday and today — have voted to impose higher taxes and fees and borrowing. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.

The good news is that all six Republicans who voted for higher taxes and fees in February are now OPPOSING the new taxes and fees of the Democrats, in both the Assembly and the Senate. The spanking from the voters seems to at least be working on Republican legislators.

Even better news is that Governor Schwarzenegger will veto this tax-and-fee package because it’s unconstitutional. It takes a two-thirds vote of each house to increase revenue, which won’t happen without Republican votes.  

The Democrats don’t know their constitution and claim they can raise taxes and fees by a simple majority.  In December, the Governor vetoed a similar package of bills that violated the constitutional two-thirds requirement.

The truth is, the Democrats’ irresponsible tax-and-spend habits of the last 20+ years have put the State of California into a kind of financial foreclosure.

But the ruling Democrat politicians don’t want to cut the waste and fraud that’s plain to see. Instead, they want you to pay the bill anda bail them out. (Note: If you have your identity in a political party, rest assured that I’m a registered independent who simply calls ’em as I see ’em.)

Instead of raising taxes and fees, the Democrats should get honest and slash tens of billions of dollars annually in government waste and fraud. This is the first necessary step in restoring financial health to California government.

Today, SaveCalifornia.com issued a truth-telling news release condemning the Democrats’ attack upon the finances of California families. Read it here.

This whole battle of tax increases versus cutting government waste may be resolved this week. If it’s not, IOUs will be issued to government contractors starting July 1. They’ll eventually be paid when a budget deal is struck.

California’s tax-and-spend government must cut the bloat. That’s what the voters demanded on Election Day and what hard-working families are demanding now.

The winners of this battle will be those who persevere the longest. Will you do your part in this fast-moving battle? Please click here to take immediate action. Urge Governor Schwarzenegger and your legislators to “Oppose higher taxes and fees and more borrowing. Cut massive waste and fraud instead!”

As a dog returns to its vomit, 
so a fool repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26:11 NIV

D-Day in Sacramento: Budget battle coming to a head

Sunday, June 28, 2009, 4:10 pm |

For the time being, God’s moral standard of “do not steal” is winning in Sacramento. Your calls and emails and votes against higher taxes, fees, and borrowing are being heard.

But you must keep up the pressure. Some “conservative” politicians could fold unless they hear from you!

It’s all coming to a head, with floor sessions scheduled tonight and every night following, if necessary, to close the the burgeoning $24 billion budget deficit.

The good news is, so far, not one Republican has sold out on taxes, fees, or borrowing. More good news is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is embracing conservative reforms. Read more and see how SaveCalifornia.com proposes to annually eliminate tens of billions of dollars in government waste.

For example, on Friday, Senate Republicans unanimously rejected a three-bill package that would have raised the fees on vehicles and property insurance and resulted in a greater percentage of taxes being withheld from your paycheck.

The bad news is that the Democrats, who hold the majority of legislative seats, want more taxes, fees and borrowing, as usual.

From Associated Press: Democrats have countered with $11 billion in spending cuts and $2 billion in higher taxes on oil drilling and tobacco. Their plan also relies on filling the hole with $5 billion in fees and accelerated revenue through earlier collection of personal and corporate income taxes, and $5 billion in other solutions. One of their provisions is to defer state employee paychecks by one day so about $1.2 billion would be counted in the next fiscal year, which has been criticized by some as a gimmick.

To pursue their tax-and-spending ways, the Democrats are desperately seeking six Republicans to join them (they need two in the Senate and four in the Assembly) to achieve the two-thirds legislative majority required to increase taxes.

Yet so far, none of the six Republicans who raised taxes and fees back in February are repeating their folly. California voters’ rejection of higher taxes, fees, and borrowing on May 19 was a very beneficial rebuke.

Your phone calls are helping too. For example, even Republican Abel Maldonado, who last month said he was open to more taxes, fees, and borrowing, voted “no” last week on various big-government proposals.
 
The voice of principled Californians is needed now, to speak “truth and consequences” to the ears of Schwarzenegger and your legislators. To eliminate waste and avoid more “stealing,” you must call and email Sacramento now.

Click here to send a pre-written email message and for the best numbers to Sacramento decisionmakers

Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
— John the Baptist in Luke 3:12-14 NIV