The onslaught of campaign mailers leading up to the May 19th special election, are in the mail. The latest one states Local Leaders Agree: Its Time To Limit State Spending. Right off the bat, at first reading, Im sure youll think Yeah! Limit state spending. Also on the front page of the latest flier, it reads Stabilize Californias Budget and Economy.
Yep, I certainly agree. Limit state spending, and stabilize Californias budget and economy. (Then, comes the shaft.) Vote Yes on Props 1A thru 1F. So, we take a look inside the flier to see just how voting yes can bring all this stabilization and limits on state spending to fruition.
The page reads Get Californias economy moving again. Vote yes on props 1A thru 1F. It states These measures will LIMIT SPENDING, hold politicians ACCOUNTABLE and PROHIBIT PAY RAISES for state legislators any time the state budget has a deficit.
What it does NOT say: Voters went to the polls years ago and took pay raises out of the hands of politicians, and placed the duty in the hands of a bi-partisan commission. That commission determines when, and how much lawmakers salaries will be boosted. There is nothing in 1A thru 1F that declares that commissions decision null and void –deficit or no deficit.
The flier states that Props 1A through 1F will STABILIZE THE STATES BUDGET by locking in a tight spending cap and forcing politicians to save money in a rainy day account. Sounds vaguely familiar with Congressman Wally Hergers Social Security Lockbox bill; that bill was designed to keep politicians hands out of Social Security Funds. It passed the House.failed in the Senate. Result? No Lockbox.
How about the voter approved bill to tax the states millionaires to fund mental health programs? Our lawmakers are in the process of stealing that money and transferring it into the general fund. Spending cap, with Democrats in control? Never happen. Rainy day fund just for tough economic times? Who and what determines when the time is ripe to raid that fund? Democrats whore in control!
And finally, the flier states: GET CALIFORNIA BACK TO WORK by voting yes on 1A through 1F. It states These measures will help get our economy moving and put people back to work.
In order to see through the charade, you must ask yourselfhow does increasing state income taxes put people back to work? Taking more money out of YOUR pocket means less eating out, less money for discretionary spending, less consumer spending altogether. How is that supposed to get our economy moving and put people back to work? How is doubling the car tax going to put people back to work? How is increasing the sales tax gonna put people back to work?
1A through 1F, if passed by the voters will increase the current pain of this recession. Yes, I know.we should SHARE THE PAIN. And I agree, that we should share the pain, and I would be more than willing to share the pain if our lawmakers would share the pain equally and as well. But, theyre not even considering it.