Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic leadership in the California Legislature is in a standoff over taxes. Schwarzenegger says he will veto a budget that contains higher taxes and the Democratic plan contains tax increases.
The Associated Press is reporting these tax increases; $1.50 per pack on cigarettes; a 9.9% tax on oil production, and a $15 increase in the vehicle license fee (the VLF doubled last month). The Democratic plan also would require income tax withholding for independent contractors, and corporate tax breaks adopted in recent budgets would be eliminated, according to the AP.
"We just had the largest tax increase four months ago, the largest tax increase in the history of California," Schwarzenegger said during a news conference outside his Capitol office. "So to now, four months later, come out and do another tax increase is irresponsible."
Democrats say the fairest way to close the $24.3 billion budget gap is through a combination of spending cuts and tax increases.
Are we really so dumb to think that the Governator will keep his pledge to not raise "taxes"? It’s all in the wording. Arnold / Dems / GOP will simply call it something else - "user fees, revenue enhancements, social support subsidies, service charges, carbon-footprint contributions, civic assessment fees, income shifting options," and then Arnold will cheerfully sign on the dotted line, all the while proclaiming, "see, I didn’t raise taxes."
Are we really that dumb?
Why do politicians make pledges like this? He has no idea what the final answer will have to be. What ultimately happens is in the effort to keep their promises, the best solutions may be ignored. I don't want more taxes either but stop making promises for propaganda's sake and get to work!!!
I'm talking to each and every government representative on the local, state and federal level. Stop grandstanding and solve the problems. You might want to use some common sense in the process.