Voters Should Reconsider High Speed Rail
California’s high speed rail program was in danger before
the debt ceiling debate in Washington. Given the desire to cut trillions of
dollars from federal spending that both sides of the debate advocate, seeing a
$20 billion payment to California’s questionable high speed rail system is
doubtful.
If the federal money fails to appear, private investors are
unlikely to kick in with their expected share of the project. That leaves
Californians on the hook. Voters authorized $10-billion dollars in bond revenue
for the project when they passed Proposition1A in 2008 (Disclosure: I was a
member of the No campaign.)
Since that time, reviews and studies on the proposed rail
system have criticized the project.
Projected ridership numbers that were attacked during the campaign have
been continually challenged many times since the measure passed. The lack of a
business plan has been cited. Costs
estimates have grown — no surprise there.
Proponents of the plan say, "Don’t worry," money is not
always lined up immediately for big infrastructure projects that have become a
reality. The plan is needed, they say, because California’s projected
population growth will demand alternative transportation systems.
Double Majority is a Fair Comprise on Taxes
Dear Joel,
Thank you for calling me out for my mention of "Taxpayer Right to
Vote" at our encounter at the Deliberative Poll/PBS event last month. When I described it, I noticed that you were
at a loss for words at the common sense of allowing a majority of the
legislature to take a tax vote to a majority of the people. Joel, from our hundred-plus joint appearances
and debates, I know how quick of mind you are, so I took your silence as
recognition of the natural good sense of the idea.
Think of it: the majority
party of the legislature would be forced to develop a relationship with the
voters about issues of taxing and spending.
The voters are not ideologically opposed to taxes-they vote for them
regularly–but they sure as hell don’t want their taxes going to waste. Only if the state is taking care of its
budgetary business can the legislature justify going to the people for their
assent in taxation. That’s what Jerry Brown
and the legislature did in their March austerity budget, prior to the tax vote
which never happened.
Clicked Off Over Internet Taxes
The California Legislature’s decision a few weeks ago to make Internet retailers collect sales taxes may have seemed a simple and straightforward way to raise $200 million or more in tax revenue. But it’s already become a contentious mess that promises to get expensive for the state.
Oh, and one other thing: The state may get little or no additional tax revenue from it.
Why? Because it’s easy for out-of-state online retailers to sidestep the sales tax. All they have to do is end their so-called affiliate relationships. Those are the in-state companies or even individuals who get a commission when a visitor to their website clicks on an out-of-state retailer’s link and buys something. Without those in-state affiliates, most online retailers have no official, legal presence in the state, and therefore aren’t obligated to collect sales taxes for the state.
In the past couple of weeks, affiliate relationships have been dropping faster than European sovereign debt ratings. Think about that for a moment. That means the affiliates – who are in-state folks – will lose commissions. That’s a loss of income, which could result in a loss of income taxes for the state.
Save America’s Food and Economy
Numerous California counties, cities, and communities are
built upon a strong tradition of agricultural productivity. Through generations
of farmers and entrepreneurs, that tradition has resulted in substantial
economic activity. In 2009, California farmers produced $34.8 billion in gross
cash receipts. In other words, California’s agriculture communities produced
more economic activity than the entire economies of South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming,
North Dakota, or Vermont.
The future of those communities depends upon their ability to remain
competitive and productive. The security of the United States’ food supply
depends upon the success of California farms.
E-Verify has the potential to decimate California’s agricultural communities by
limiting access to the nation’s highly skilled migrant workers. They represent
essential labor that is necessary to harvest the plethora of crops produced
each season.