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
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