Tax Hikes Look Silly as State Gets Financial Windfall
It must be silly season in Sacramento. As the state receives billions in unanticipated revenues, liberal tax-and-spend lawmakers are proposing massive tax hikes, proving once again that they are out of touch with reality. One key measure of reality ignored by liberal lawmakers is Tax Freedom Day. Calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom […]
Time to Abolish California’s Income Tax?
The last thing overtaxed Californians need is another tax. Yet the Legislature continues to churn out new taxes that, once enacted, rarely go away. Our economy has been transitioning to a greater reliance on services. As a result, some tax reform groups have argued for expanding the sales tax to include services. On its own, […]
California Tax Freedom Day Comes Late Again
California lags behind much of the country when it comes to high taxes and creating an atmosphere that allows businesses to create jobs. Another area where California fails to meet the national standard—National Tax Freedom Day. This year, California residents will work nine days longer than the national average to meet their annual tax obligation. […]
The Shell Game: You Lose!
Democrats in the California Legislature seem to be facing the reality that the fire tax they passed with the Governor’s help in 2011 is unfair. Californians who live in rural areas rely on a range of public services from multiple levels of government to combat fires. These residents already pay taxes to fund essential fire […]
Eliminate the State Income Tax
During a discussion at the 2015 Cal Tax Annual Members meeting, I called for a meaningful public discourse on tax reform ideas that makes life easier for taxpayers. I suggested replacing California’s income tax with a sales tax on services. If you want real tax reform, we ought to look at eliminating the state’s personal […]
Shouldn’t California Have the Best Roads By Now?
If high taxes guaranteed results, then California should have some of the best roads in the nation. For years we’ve had one of the highest gas taxes, yet our freeways consistently receive failing grades. It makes no sense unless you admit that high taxes don’t guarantee good roads. That’s one of many reasons I had […]
Government Has More Than Enough of Your Dollars
After years of debt, deficits and budget cuts, it may come as a surprise to learn that our state government is flush with cash. But you wouldn’t know it by the talk of tax increases coming out of Sacramento. First the facts: 1. California is outspending other states – As the Sacramento Bee’sDan Walters recently reported, census […]
Falling Gas Prices Mask Hidden Tax
So why is it that while other states are now enjoying gas prices of less than $2 per gallon, California is still paying higher prices? Due to high taxes and costly regulations, our state’s gas prices are higher than other states. It’s been that way for years. But what’s new is that the gap between […]
Lumber Tax Cut Good for Small Business
Assembly Bill 2031, authored by Assemblyman Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Brown. Two year ago, the Legislature imposed a heavy burden on businesses when it created a complicated new tax on lumber products. By eliminating this tax for California’s smallest retailers, the Legislature is finally admitting […]
DMV Needs to Stop Robbing Taxpayers
If you recently purchased a car from a private party, you may have paid too much tax to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. I’ve been hearing complaints from constituents that DMV charged them a higher city tax rate when they don’t actually live within city boundaries. These constituents were forced to jump through hoops […]