In today’s LA Times front page story entitled “Gov’s budget plan: no deficit, more debt” it reads that he plans “to use a $1.1 billion windfall from the sales tax on gas–the results of soaring prices at the pump last year–to plug holes in the budget instead of spending the money on public transit projects.”
How sweet. We are hit with increased fuel costs including fuel sales tax, Measure M, and our governor can’t wait to take money away from “those who can’t afford to fight back–the transit rider.” Bart Reed, executive director of the Transit Coalition.
“When asked why he robbed banks, bank robber Willie Sutton answered, BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE MONEY WAS.” Sounds like our Legislature.
What’s your view of this latest transportation theft from Sacramento?
On this one….Arnold may have a
point unless he earmarks away all
the Highway and road repairs for
State roads and Highways. Putting
a Bullet Train on hold from Napa
Valley or Red Wood City to El Cajon
….we might support without thought. As Ross the Boss would
say: “The Devils are in the details!”….OK, “The Devil is in
the details…..but we like the
former better!
I’ve always thought sales tax collected on beer sales should be devoted to the bottling industry; sales tax on cars should be devoted to automotive repair facilities; sales tax on t.v.’s should go to supporting the networks; sales tax on condoms should go to (well, you get my drift; etc. By adopting the philosopy of the tax revene goes from whence collected – like those who argue sales tax on gasoline should go to road projects – we would eliminate all general purpose revenues and completely tie the hands of the Governor and Legislature, which is what some morons seem to want to do.
Anonymous 4:09 PM
Oh how I would like to tie the hands of our legislature.
Perhaps we should follow the example set by our northern border state. The Legislature of Oregon is only in session every other year except for emergency sessions.
When you are not sitting with an open lock box on your desk you are less likely to spend and spend and spend.
Email comments from MV resident:
Larry, as I understand it he (the Gov) is using the sales taxes from fuel cost increases. The 18 cents per gallon of state tax (not sales taxes) MUST be used on highway construction / maintenance, etc…. I think there is nothing that says the sales taxes must be used for roads, it just goes into the general sales tax fund. But as I understand how this money gets spent, OC usually doesn’t get our fair share of that pool anyway. So maybe we are not getting “shafted” as much.
So why doesn’t the CA legislature put a windfall profits tax on themselves, as they wanted to do to the oil companies. Suggest they return this $1.1 billion to all the CA taxpayers, by giving every taxpayer a $100 tax credit on their 2006 income tax bills.
Posted as received by Larry G