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April 10, 2009
THE FED GIVETH - THE STATE TAKETH
On his radio address last month, President Obama said “I’m pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks, meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. The aim is to put more money in the pockets of Americans and stimulate the economy by increasing consumer spending.”
Sounds good…but what the Fed giveth, the state taketh away to the tune of 1.8 billion dollars out of the pockets of California taxpayers. To add insult to injury, voters are being asked to go to the polls next month in a special election and vote to increase the length of time the newly enacted state taxes will remain in effect. We’re being asked to DOUBLE the length of time we’ll agree to be ripped off.
Being a native Californian, I would ordinarily be inclined to do my part by voting “yes” in order to help the state in its dire fiscal situation. Ordinarily! (Because we should all share the pain, right?) But our elected politicians aren’t sharing the pain. People are losing their jobs, their homes, falling behind on their bills, while elected officials are secretly granting pay raises to their staffs. Per diem sessions are gaveled to order in our state legislature, which then adjourn and lawmakers go home flush with their tax-free per diem money in their pockets for having done NOTHING except show up for a few minutes.
Termed out (and defeated) politicians are given plush assignments to boards and commissions along with six-figure salaries; boards and commissions that meet once or twice a month…sometimes only once a year. Even the governor pointed out how the state’s Integrated Waste management Board isn’t necessary, and recommended getting rid of it, It’s members earn six-figure salaries ---and as the Sacramento Bee pointed out, “It’s main purpose seems to be to function as a place for former legislators or gubernatorial staff members to land $132,000 a year jobs.”
A governor’s task force put together a 25 page report recommending the elimination of 12,000 state jobs and hundreds of appointed positions, ALL DEEMED FRIVOLOUS, SUPERFOULAS AND UNNECESSARY. The state would save 32 billion dollars over five years. Politicians kept most of the task force recommendations from being implemented. Meanwhile, some lawmakers hire family members as “consultants”….at hefty salaries.
So, as of April 1st, Californians are suffering under a full percentage point increase in the sales tax, a .25% increase in state income taxes, a massive decrease in dependent tax credit (slashed from $309, down to $99.) Translated….that’s costing you $210 per child. On May 19th, the car tax will more than double….and yet…none of these new taxes was necessary.
There are multi-billions of dollars in obvious government waste that could’ve been slashed from state spending. Our legislators know it…the governor knows it, the bureaucrats know it. I personally think it’s time Californians FORCED them to do something about it instead of ripping off the taxpayers. You can do your part by joining the Tax Day Tea Party starting at 11:00 AM on Wednesday April 15th at Chico’s City Plaza and let your voice be heard.
You can also do your part by voting NO on all five ballot measures come May 19th. At least, the rip-off would only last two years….not four.
Posted by Post Scripts at April 10, 2009 12:30 AM
Comments
I agree, if you people in California fail to vote against those bills, the shot will be heard around the country that you agree with taxation that is crippling the chance of any recovery. Citizens across America want to see Californians take a stance like you did back when you all passed proposition 13.
When you people passed proposition 13, it started a wave that spread across this country. Soon there were similar law being passed in other states that protected thew homeowners from excessive taxation. You can do it again, we are counting on you. You know the old saying as California goes, so to does the rest of America eventually.
Posted by: Fred Jake | April 10, 2009 5:13 AM
I'll be their, well in my town.
It will be very interesting to see if even the liberals in this state have had enough of this tax and spend party the politicians have been having for the last 40 years.
Posted by: Josh | April 10, 2009 7:08 AM
Bruce it's also true that what the fed giveth it will soon take away. The plan to let the Bush tax cuts expire will mean a tax increase for many Americans and a return to the tax rolls for others who have been exempt. It will be interesting to see how Fed justifies the increase.
As far as CA goes...I keep wondering when we reach critical mass. BIG government is so obviously unsustainable. And isn't it incredible how blind so many of us are? You've been at this for...well, we'll just say a long while...and it only gets worse.
Either common sense has been defeated or a virtual big boom is going to happen very soon. April 15th in Chico City Plaza is a good place to light the fuse!
Posted by: Tina | April 10, 2009 11:09 AM
I wished in my country people could say no to the overtaxes. Anyway congratulations for the citizenship lesson being given in your blog.
Posted by: nelson | April 10, 2009 11:29 AM
Thanks a lot for the citizenship lesson given in your blog. Would like to have people in my country saying no to the heavy taxes, too.
Posted by: nelson | April 10, 2009 11:40 AM
Take a walk around some of the office building at Chico State and you'll see many many employees add nothing to the students education. I'm guessing that perhaps 20% of the staff could be eliminated without affecting education.
Posted by: Jim | April 10, 2009 3:49 PM
"Citizens across America want to see Californians take a stance like you did back when you all passed proposition 13."
Fred it's nice to know we've got people across the country pulling for those of us who live in California, who fight for small, effiient, effective government and who rmeber a state that lived up to the name "Golden".
Josh...glad to hear you'll be participating in your town on the 15th!
Posted by: Tina | April 10, 2009 5:59 PM
Nelson thank you for posting comments to Post Scripts. It's wonderful to know there are people from other countries who read our blog.
I hope you will come back again and join in our conversations. I have a feeling we could learn a lot from you if you are free to tell us about your country, your life, your hopes and your dreams.
Posted by: Tina | April 10, 2009 6:03 PM
Bruce, if the government is serving the people, then its on a platter with a knife and fork! That ain't the way we intended to be served either!
Thank you for your article. You have pointed out so very accurately how these rascals in office lavish themselves and use our tax money to buy votes. Then they never really leave once they are termed out, as you again have pointed out...they get fat salaries for sitting on committees and such! It's an absolute outrage.
I'm losing my faith in voters, they are so incredibly ignorant of the facts it’s scary! Just look at the results in California. Voters did that by allowing the politicians to get away with it.
Posted by: Jack | April 12, 2009 9:15 AM