Early this morning I attended a rally by “Americans for Prosperity” that was held at the Orange County Marketplace (aka OC Fairgrounds). Scott Voigts, CRA Vice President, serving as Orange County coordinator for Americans For Prosperity, introduced Assemblymembers Chuck DeVore followed by Van Tran and Jim Silva.
In his opening remarks Assembly Member DeVore shared with us the pending budget woes in Sacramento. Having a 2/3rds requirement for passage of any fiscal legislation, the governor would need to peel off six of the 32 Republican members of the Assembly to get over the top in that House. If all the Republicans stick together there will not be a tax increase.
Assembly Member Van Tran, whose district we were in, basically reiterated Chuck’s comments. The last Assembly Member to speak was Jim Silva who told us that he previously was a member of the OC Board of Supervisors. As such he is well familiar with OC statistics. Jim said that the average annual income in Orange County, based on two members of the family working, is around $75,000 to $77,000. He pointed out that we pay all forms of taxes that collectively are around 50 percent of that average income. If Arnold raises taxes it will place another burden on those of us who live in this county.
In addition to legislative staff members and CRA/OCGOP photographer Steve Sarkis at the rally, we had volunteers gathering signatures from visitors that will be delivered to Sacramento when we meet for what is labeled the “Taxpayer Action Day” rally on the West Steps of the State Capitol on Wednesday, June 11th where the kick off will begin at 11:30 a.m. A press conference will be held at 12:30 followed by our visit to Legislative Offices to deliver our petitions and message. Fifty residents of Orange County will be flying to Sacramento to participate in this Capitol Rally.
The Taxpayer Action Day flyer summarizes our goals and objectives in stating that we need to “meet with legislators to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and deliver the Message that Californians can’t afford another tax increase. Every day, hundreds if not thousands of individuals gather at the Capitol, demanding their own piece of the budget pie. It is time the limited government tax fighters had their day as well.”
One of the guest speaker will be Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
NOTICE: You can take the pledge without leaving your computer. Download and sign the form to join this fight. Visit www.DontTaxCa.com FAX back to 916.923.2931
For additional information you can also call Elizabeth at 916.648.1222
Yes,by all means let’s empty the prisons, make sure the teachers get no raises, and take money away from the cities so we can cut back on police and fire.
How many times can these guys repeat the same lines about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse before we get to the point where we realize they are wastes of our time, frauds, and we’re tired of being abused by the yacht party?
Remember when Republicans talked about balanced budgets instead of believing in tax cuts and magical ponies for everyone?
Former Reep –
Would you feel differently if the Dems held this event instead? Neither party seems to be doing much to balance the budget.
SMS
Petitions from Orange County saying “don’t raise our taxes”. Now there’s a suprise for Sacramento!
How about some leadership from Silva, DeVore and Van Tran in developing a balanced budget? No, it’s easier to whine about Sacramento as though they are not part of the problem!
I wonder if Tran, DeVore and Silva are going to give up their per diems; car allowances; fuel allowances; and extra money to keep an apartment in Sacramento?
Somehow I doubt it.
Former Republican,
You are most curious. I appear to enjoy bitching without the facts. Nice.
1) California has the highest income tax rate in the nation.
2) California has the sales tax rate in the nation.
3) California has the highest gas tax in the nation.
4) California has the aviation fuel tax in the nation.
5) California property taxes are only slightly below the national average.
6) California has the 47th worst business tax climate in the nation (see: http://www.TaxFoundation.org) — Nevada is #3.
Now, with tax receipts having climbed about $30 billion in four years with spending climbing a bit more than that, which taxes do you suggest increasing and, do you really think an increase in rates would lead to an increase in revenue… Or, do you think, as I do, that increasing rates will merely depress jobs creation?
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
California State Assemblyman, 70th District
http://www.ChuckDeVore.com
Go Chuck Go !!
Tell the Republicans in the Assembly to hold the line on the budget. California cannot afford to raise tax rates.
BTW – What is the state government doing with the “windfall sales tax gain” on the high price of gas?
Investing it where it belongs – on our transportation system? I doubt it.
I’ll bet the increased gas taxes are going to do alot to close that budget gap. I’d only been thinking about the windfall profits that the oil company was making and sheltering through loopholes from paying taxes on. Boy are my priorities off.
I think that before taxes are raised that every loophole down to that pittance of a dependent credit the government gives should be closed. Can we get a half-dozen Reeps to go for that? Nooooo they’re the yacht party home to the rich and powerful.
Been there…done that
I just love it. As stated below,the Democratic party enjoys the majority in both Houses in SAC yet their rank and file blame the minority party for all our fiscal problems. Tell you what. Have your Democratic Assembly and Senate members give up their padded seats and we will gladly show them how to be fiscally responsible.
FYI. “The California State Legislature currently has a Democratic majority, with the Senate consisting of 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans; and the Assembly having 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans. Except for a brief period from 1995 to 1996, the Assembly has been in Democratic hands since the 1970 election (even while the governor’s office has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats). The Senate has been in Democratic hands continuously since 1970.”
Do you have any idea as to what percentage of the state’s budget is already fixed to meet legal mandated obligations? Yet your newly found hero Arnold wants to float more Bonds that will take away vital services of future generations.
Part of our budget problem is the interest and principal payments on the massive bonds we’ve issued because we wouldn’t balance budgets, but we’re also paying for the tax cuts that these frauds keep promoting. There may be waste and fraud, but why are these guys standing at the swap meet instead of ferreting out the billions of fraud and waste?
Tax cuts enacted between 1993 and 2006 will cost the state $12.0billion in 2007-08. The largest reductions include the $4.8 billion reduction inVehicle License Fees, the $1.0 billion expansion of the dependent tax credit, and the $562 million 1996 corporate tax rate reduction.
Hey, “Just the Facts” how much higher do you want to go? You complain that we’ve successfully let the people keep some of their own money and yet:
1) California has the highest income tax rate in the nation.
2) California has the sales tax rate in the nation.
3) California has the highest gas tax in the nation.
4) California has the aviation fuel tax in the nation.
5) California property taxes are only slightly below the national average.
6) California has the 47th worst business tax climate in the nation (see: http://www.TaxFoundation.org) — Nevada is #3.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
California State Assemblyman, 70th District
http://www.ChuckDeVore.com
Tulsa Oklahoma has an 8.5% sales tax rate, so you are cherry-picking statistics or relying on flawed analysis, Mr. DeVore.
Oh yeah, I’m going to bet on flawed analysis. Doctrinaire conservatism is soooo boring. And failing everywhere. You live in an echo chamber, Mr. DeVore, where you only hear opinions that you agree with.
From the Oregon Center for Public Policy:
The Tax Foundation’s claim that Oregon’s low business taxes engender a good business climate is incorrect. Vastly more important is the strength of public structures. If low corporate income taxes result in weakened public structures, economic growth may suffer.
State and local taxes are a small part of business costs and therefore play a minor role in investment decisions. For businesses throughout the country, state and local taxes account for only about 0.8 percent — eight-tenths of 1 percent — of business costs.
When making investment decisions, businesses focus more on factors such as the proximity of markets and suppliers, the quality and cost of labor, utilities, education, transportation and communication infrastructure than on taxes. Quality public investments in these areas improve the business climate and save companies money in the long run.
Moreover, both the reality and the perception of a state’s ability to provide important public services impact the business climate. Oregon’s business community and the state’s economic development officials, for instance, were not pleased to see the state’s education system lampooned in the Doonesbury comic strip in 2002.
The Tax Foundation’s misguided approach — equating low taxes with a better business tax climate and ignoring public investments — is not supported by research. The existing literature reveals “little grounds to support tax cuts and incentives — especially when they occur at the expense of public investment — as the best means to expand employment and spur growth.”
just the facts.
Now that the primary is over let me put on another of my hats. Having devoted the past dozen years working with Supervisor Chris Norby fighting redevelopment abuse let me share some other numbers that will impact future funding for police, fire, etc.
In Redevelopment: The Unknown Government book, Chris reported that the “unknown government” was consuming over 8% of all property taxes statewide; $1.5 billion in 1995. At that time its total indebtedness was $37 billion.
Fast forward to our Ninth Edition, printed in Sept.of 2007,which reports that the above 8% is now 12% of all property taxes statewide–$4.1 billion in 2006. Our total indebtedness has taken off like a rocket ship and is currently over $81 billion dollars. Our total redevelopment indebtedness is doubling every ten years. These projects, approved without a vote of the public shortchange both our schools and city services.
If schools are backfilled, where do you think that money is coming from? Not a tree in my backyard.
Compare these annual diversions while Arnold lobby’s to fix a roughly $15 billion dollar shortage.
No. 8 – Larry
You jump to the conclusion that I embrace a particular party and the current Governor, and that is incorrect. An Assembly member or Senator of any party who seeks the office, raises big bucks to campaign and wins the election, then goes to Sacramento and then whines that they cannot get things accomplished because a given party is or is not in control is, in my book, ineffective. There is enough of that on both sides of he aisle to go around. And, yes, voter imposed restrictions on funding streams seem to further limit legislative flexibiltiy. Now, why would the voters want to tie the hands of the legislature and governor? Hard to fathom, huh? The sad reality is that our electeds and our voters, over the years, have indeed made California ungovernable in my book.
The Democrats keep grasping for straws…when it comes to “who do we blame?”. The funny part is that is sounds like they are opting for the Flat Tax Solution…which the Moderate Repulicans are flaunting. Can you imagine? Think about a 23% tax would add to the price of a gallon of gasoline. Basically at $4.00 a gallon….just kick it a buck! Put that in tanks! That would be lovely encouraging New Business to the State…now wouldn’t it? We are definitely headed toward some sort of “rationing plan” if this keeps up! The English have just raised their
annual license fee for SUV’s by $800 bucks a year!
4X4’s get the same treatment. How much do they pay a year for a gallon of gas? $8.19 a gallon!
Chuck — isn’t this the same organization you are using to fund those nasty Swift Boat-like spots against Barack Obama?
Chuck —
you also left out of couple of things. California Legislators are also the highest paid in the nation. Perhaps we can start with cutting compensation paid to the Legislature and the Governor’s staff as a means of saving so dough.
And in spite all of the doom and gloom you listed off, California still has the fifth largest economy in the world. Perhaps if the legislature worked to make sure the federal government was paying the full costs of NCLB and special education, the burden on California taxpayers to fund these ill-funded federal mandates would be easier to bear.