Timing Couldn’t Be Worse to Float Tax Increase
Yesterday was a day of contrasts at the Capitol with a vocal rally of taxpayers chanting "No New Taxes" while democratic leadership called for $11.5 billion in new taxes. Perata’s call for massive tax hikes is nothing more than brazen. But in one respect, the establishment of clear lines of demarcation benefits the Republicans. Had the democrats actually proposed something reasonable, the Republicans might find themselves in the familiar territory of being on the defensive. But 11 billion plus in new taxes has even resulted in snickers from the Capitol press corps.
The timing couldn’t be worse to float such a silly idea – didn’t the democrats just see the polling where most Californians thought that the lion’s share of the action should be in cuts, not revenue increases?
Exclusive Interview – With the Voting Ghost
With all the controversy this week about ghost voting in the state legislature, Fox and Hounds Daily attained an exclusive interview with the Ghost about his voting practices.
F&H: So, you’re the ghost who votes on these bills. Tell me Ghost, why do you do it?
GHOST: Someone has to vote. Do you realize how many bills need to be voted on? Thousands! If you waited for all the legislators to be present for all those votes they would never get anything done around here so I help out.
F&H: So what political philosophy guides your voting practices?
GHOST: Political philosophy? Please. Liberal or conservative doesn’t matter to me. What matters is an unguarded vote button I can push. Sometimes I vote the opposite way the member would vote just to have fun.
A stark contrast
Two events took place at the State Capitol yesterday that may prove to be of particular significance to California taxpayers. Inside the building, Democrats led by Senator Don Perata held a press conference calling for the legislature to raise taxes in order to balance the budget. Outside, on the west steps, several Republican legislators including Assembly Leader Mike Villines and Senator George Runner joined grassroots taxpayer advocates Americans for Prosperity and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in staging a rally demanding ‘No New Taxes!’
Check out this video from the Sac Bee’s CapitolAlert/CTNS:
Have you ever bought the really cheap garbage bags?
Reducing medical reimbursement rates for doctors and pharmacies will hurt consumers and businesses. Finding a doctor or a pharmacy that will accept Medi-Cal patients will become more difficult, and Medi-Cal patients will then deluge those that continue to accept them. Such pharmacies could be forced out of business, leaving people with no place to turn – except the emergency room.
Furthermore, as more and more doctors and pharmacies do not accept Medi-Cal patients, many people will be unable to obtain preventative care and unable to fill prescriptions. Predictably, patients will suffer physically and taxpayers will suffer financially.