PLEASE SEE MOST CURRENT POST RE HJTA CALL FOR NO NEW TAXES IN CALIFORNIA
The fat cats keep getting fatter! John Coupal, of California’s Howard Jarvis Tax watchdog group, recently published a scathing editorial excoriating the California Taxpayers Association for caving under pressure to Governor Schwarzenegger’s $10 billion dollar tax increase. As if taxpayers don’t already pay too much in taxes.
Sadly, much of Coupal’s jeremiad will fall on deaf ears as California businesses know they can pass on costs to make consumers and the poor pay for any tax increase. This smug corporatism of big business, big labor, and big government is the death knell of prosperity for California that is bound to erode individual freedoms, as well. But every election, Republicans and Democrats buy into this madness.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
We need the 2/3 majority rule. Without it, I can’t imagine what would happen. The bloated government and government employees would have a real field day with the fruits of labor of the private sector. We need to outlaw government employee unions.
Government has grown too large, needs to be stopped. We’ve become a welfare state….actually we’re a welfare country.
I do not feel ‘protected’ by the 2/3rds super-majority rule. I feel abused. Why is it that the same people that feel that they can change the rights of people with a simple majority balk at the same technique when it comes to money?
Clearly the 2/3 majority has not worked for California, it may force extremes rather than the self correcting issue of simple majorities shifting things back and forth over time. I think the time has come to get rid of the 2/3rd rule here.
As for New York, since when do they set the trend for us?
~ EDITOR ABANDONS RESERVATION — I agree. In the interest of fair and accountable representation, I am in favor of eliminating the 2/3 rule on all matters in the legislature. Republicans should not get 51 percent of power with 33 percent of the seats.
That said, Democrats ought not get 100% of power with 51 percent of the vote. It makes them less accountable. California voters deserve better, fuller representation all around.
The best way to elect representatives is eliminate discriminatory ballot access laws and create one statewide district and have a party list vote for the assembly with a reasonable 5% threshold. Failing move to party list, each seat should be elected by instant runoff voting (IRV). Additionally, increase the size of Senate districts to include 3 seats elected by single-transferable vote (STV).
Let all parties determine the number and order of rank for each candidate that qualifies in their own primary. Parties should be billed for their share of the costs for the general election based on votes received statewide with counties reimbursed proportionately. All parties pay costs of their own primaries.
You can help by joining a tea party in your area on April 15th. Check out http://www.teapartyday.com to join or organize your own protest in your city! Don’t miss this chance to be heard!
Joe – a simple majority is no guarantee of anything. New York has a simple majority vote on their budget and has only been “on time” twice since 1984. Their budget was once a record shattering 104 days late.
Let’s leave California’s taxpayers the protection of a two-thirds vote.
Kris Hunt, Executive Director, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
Any chance to get a propasition to the voters allowing the budget to be passed with a simple majority as the deadline nears for the budget to be approved. I’m sure if we could get this on the ballet, the politicians would work together or realise they have know chance to get any of their items approved. Require two thirds until the deadline date, then all that would be required after that date is a simple majority.
It’s not the taxes paid, it’s the benefit received that counts.
Love to pay no tax. WHERE IS THE LIST OF BUDGET CUTS BEING PROPOSED by the tax watchdog group? It’s just too easy to reduce taxes. Who pays for those cuts?
Why is it when I click on the cat I go to the Howard jarvis website? Is howard jarvis loaded with Fat cats?
I love that cat!!! He/she is awesome!! Tax me to death for a cat like that!!!
Californians are already taxed to the max. Nothing says it more plainly than the calculation of Tax Freedom Day by the Tax Foundation. Tax Freedom Day is the date that the average Californian finally begins to earn money for themselves and not simply to pay taxes. In 2008, that date was April 30. That means the average Californian worked one-third of the year just to pay all of the various types of taxes.
Kris Hunt
Executive Director
Contra Costa Taxpayers Association