California's "Big Five" (the governor and the four legislative leaders) met for two hours Friday and made no progress toward closing a budget gap that's almost $28 billion over 20 months. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants lawmakers to come up with a $9 billion immediate fix, but that's not happening either.
Our Sacramento Bee colleagues report that several new ideas have emerged in recent talks, including tripling the car tax. You'll remember that the excessive car tax was a key reason Gray Davis was recalled as governor in 2003. Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for governor on a platform that included killing the car tax. He blew up cars as a gimmick on the campaign trail. One of Schwarzenegger's first acts as governor was rolling back the car tax.
He's now open to raising the car tax because of the budget crisis, but I'm not so sure the public will be happy about it. That would be an extreme hit to middle-class families with two cars. At least increasing the sales tax would be easier to handle because it would be paid a few cents at a time as you buy taxable items.
But in these difficult economic times, raising the sales tax would not be good for the economy. Besides, Republican lawmakers have vowed to block any tax increase.
The SacBee reports that the plan being discussed "would triple vehicle license fees in exchange for dollar-for-dollar budget cuts plus a spending cap that would go on a future ballot. The higher fees could raise about $4 billion in the current budget year."
Charity begins at home........When the federal government gives away checks this time round, would it not be lovely if folks mailed them into Sacramento, making sure that California pays bills and continues to provide service to folks.
Think of all the poor and older folks and disabled that will be able to continue to receive much needed help.
California needs help and what better place to get that help than from folks who could easily give up the estra cash to help others in our great state........in the end we will be helping all of us have a better place to live and work and play.
Such a shame that Davis was punished for having the b*lls to do what needed to be done for this State instead of waiting for things to get critical. Responding to an energy crisis he did not create, he was doing what had to be done and got punished for it. Just goes to show, be careful what you wish for folks. All who voted for his recall should send him an apology.
Kim...I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion but what a total lack of understanding.I think the problem was he gave away all the surplus to the PEU's and increased spending prior to the energy issue.We were rolling in dough back then and still couldn't get it right.No apology is needed but our current Governor is no better so the recall turn out to be an exercise in futility.
I know you are sweet on me Brian but go stalk somebody else.
If Sacramento Senators can not do there jobs and get a budget done on time they should not accept a pay check. They get paid no matter what about the employees in the counties who need there pay checks. I believe it is time to clean house. Vote them all out. I also beleive on the Federal level it is time to clean out the ones who keep fighting over unncessary issues.
Kim...it's that obvious "Darlin"?OK,to anyone out there with a brain...It's the PEU's and the spending!Not "Prop 13 or the "Energy Crisis"or whatever.They need to focus on that and stop the smoke and mirrors.I say...don't take away legislature pay,take away their benefits and make them part-time.If they were really working...30-45 days per quarter should be plenty to get things done and would create some sense of urgency to accomplish meaningful legislation instead of the cell phone, pets in your lap garbage laws they attempt to hoist upon us while the budget seems secondary.In the private sector you don't go on holiday in the middle of a business crisis...unless you want to go out of business.