THE WATER "FEE" IS A TAX. PERIOD.
Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association penned a piece that appeared in the FlashReport, drawing the distinction between a tax and a fee. Given that he is an authorative source on the matter, let’s make no mistake about it. There is a currently a proposal on the table to increase the tax burden on Californians by several billion (yes, with a "B") a year. This proposal would place a mandatory fee of $3/month ($36/year) on every parcel of property in the state, and then these funds would go towards water-related infrastructure investments. But the key is that there is no nexus to an individual’s payment and a project nearby that directly benefits them. Instead, all of these billions of dollars collected locally will be shipped to Sacramento and spent there by politicians. If this isn’t a tax increase, I don’t know what is.
This tax increase is in the fine print of a much large Strategic Growth Plan introduced by Governor Schwarzenegger earlier this year. The specific language for the tax increase has been authored in the legislature by, surprisingly, conservative Republican State Senator Sam Aanestad. Now to be fair, I think that Aanastad is carrying this legislation for the Governor, and I hear rumor that his office may have gotten the language just in time to submit it — and this tax may have been hidden in the fine print.
There was a little mis-communication in the legislature where liberal Democrat Senator Sheila Kuehl torpedoed the tax increase (undoubtedly preferring a bigger tax on expensive properties, not a tax that hits all property equally). But today it is being reported in the Stockton Record that Senate President Don Perata got involved, and now the tax is back on the table. This makes sense as Democrats undoubtedly will seek every opportunity possible to move money from the private sector, and the people, into the government sector.
The reality is that California’s already pay enough taxes to run California government well, AND make all necessary infrastructure investments on a go-forward basis. The sad tragedy is that the social-engineering crowd that dominates the state legislature is unwilling to see the state government’s role as a unglamorous, and very practical one. Instead, they see state government as a vehicle to redistribute wealth from one Californian to another.
GOP UNREST AT BIG SPENDING NO SURPRISE
There are several links on the main page today dealing with unrest amongst Republicans, which touches on the Kennedy hire, and a lot of Democrats being appointed to Judgeships under this Republican Governor’s administration. Most angst that I have found comes from the spending proposals that seek to remake the image of the Republican Party, away from its message of fiscal restraint.
I will be writing a piece soon concerning the upcoming GOP convention. But I will say that I have seen around the web, on blog sites, and in comments, some statements that make it sound like the FlashReport, or its publisher (me!) have been significantly engaged in pre-convention strategic or tactical preparations. While I have been at a couple of meetings where the topic has been discussed, any rumors to some significant role are…just that…rumors.
It is easy to see where some people are making assumptions, though. After two years of being very pleased with this Governor’s fiscal conservatism (allowing me, as full-fledged conservative to stomach his ‘green thumb’ and his socially liberal policies), I’ve been very saddened over the leftward public policy turn lately. Moving into some sort of massive spending stage without first enacted so many of the needed reforms that were supported by at least 2 out of every 5 voters last November, is beyond me. Because I have been a vocal critic of some of the Governor’s policy proposals, some are assuming that I no longer support the Governor.
That said, I have been very careful to temper my remarks, and to make it clear (I thought) that I have some policy disagreements with the Governor, and at least one major staffing hire that I think was regretful. But, I still support this Governor. That said, I think that most of the angst coming from conservatives is understandable.
After all, the Governor campaigned on a theme and on a message of fiscal restraint. To change your message and theme so radically, and expect everyone to embrace such a change pre-supposes that heart-felt beliefs are easily forgotten, or modified.
Anyways, I will be writing more on this, and being a bit more direct about the upcoming GOP convention soon.
HOUSE GOP LEADERSHIP CHANGE
Finally, I wanted to express my concerns that with the new Republican Leadership elected in the House of Representatives, I am not hearing any acknowledgement that it is specifically things like the earmarking of funds (ie..pork) that is a MAJOR problem. Well, more on this another day.
Enjoy your Saturday!
Jon
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