Well, they did it. The Democrats that control the California Legislature have approved additional taxes and fees upon taxed-to-the-max California families.

And they did it just to ensure they wouldn’t lose a day’s pay under a new, voter-approved rule punishing legislators for late budget. Well, now a budget’s on time, but it’s bad. That’s obvious to State Capitol watchers, including veteran Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters, who writes, “Did Democratic legislators accomplish anything on the state budget crisis Wednesday other than protect their paychecks? Probably not.”

If Democrat Governor Jerry Brown signs this “sham” budget, which contains no structural reform, you will have to endure:

A quarter-cent increase in the sales tax you pay
A $12 surchage on your annual Vehicle License Fee or car tax
A new sales tax on every online purchase you make
A $150 fee each year on property owners in approx. 1/3 of the state (areas where the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides fire services)

This is an obvious disappointment because the abnormally-high state sales tax was scheduled to decrease one full percentage point, and the very high Vehicle License Fee (car tax) scheduled to be reduced by nearly half, on July 1. Instead, two weeks from now, the sales tax will decrease by three-quarters of a percent, the car tax will decrease but have a new surcharge for you to pay, and most Californians will either be paying more taxes through their online purchases or with “fire protection fees” that are redundant with state and county taxes.

Overall, if this bad budget is signed, you will be paying lower taxes overall than you did under the massive tax-and-fee hikes imposed back in February 2009, which are set to expire. Yet because of the Democrat politicians’ irresponsibility, foolishness, and thievery, you are still going to pay hundreds of dollars per year in new taxes. The Democrat legislators couldn’t stand losing a day’s pay under the new rule, so they’re punishing California families and individuals instead.

Take Action: Call Governor Jerry Brown first thing in the morning at 916-445-2841. Leave your message urging him to “Veto the higher taxes and fees. Let the people vote like you promised.”

SaveCalifornia.com and others were successful in lobbying Republican state legislators not to support higher taxes and fees. So be glad about that and pray to God that expected lawsuits are also successful. And tell people you know about the Democrat money grab. Here’s our SaveCalifornia.com news release issued earlier today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2011

Response of SaveCalifornia.com President Randy Thomasson
to the Democrats’ tax and fee hikes

Sacramento, California — In response to today’s passing of additional tax and fee hikes by the Democrat-controlled California Legislature, Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, a non-profit, non-partisan statewide organization that promotes moral virtues for the common good, released the following statement:

“Hard-working Californians who love their families now have another reason to be disgusted with their state government. The Democrats’ budget takes more money from people who earned it — just so these politicians won’t miss a day’s pay. Californians are witnessing corruption, and have more reason than ever to oppose corrupt politicians. I hope lawsuits to enforce the two-thirds vote on taxes and fees are successful, because this blatant money-grab needs to be struck down.”

SaveCalifornia.com has identified tens of billions in government waste, and for the last several months has been calling on concerned Californians to demand an end to tax and fee hikes.

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