I have great respect for tax-fighters like Grover Norquist, Jon Coupal, Ted Costa and others, but I don’t believe Republicans should be afraid to take our issues to voters – and that includes fighting reckless tax increases.
In fact, we should push for it.
I believe raising taxes – particularly when so many families and small businesses are struggling – is unconscionable and reckless. And I think most voters agree with me.
State government spends billions of dollars on meaningless boards and commissions, duplicative bureaucracy, wasteful contracts and overly generous salaries and pensions. Over-regulation, over taxation and meaningless paperwork are choking business and preventing job-recovery. And I think most voters agree with me.
The state needs to cut waste and abuse; eliminate duplication; cut regulation to free up business to create jobs and boost the economy; ratchet down costly salaries, pensions and benefits; and operate government with a bit more restraint. And we need to do all of that BEFORE even talking about reaching for my wallet.
And, I think most voters agree with me – and it’s time the Governor and Legislature get that message from voters, too.
As Republicans, we should welcome the opportunity to make our case to voters on why raising taxes on Californians is a bad idea. We should embrace the opportunity demonstrate to voters that the majority has failed make even token efforts to eliminate waste, duplication and out-right fraud in government.
Let us not be afraid to put our case before the voters. If we are ever going to rebuild the GOP – and the Golden State – we cannot hide behind legislative process and political maneuvers. Elections aren’t won there, reforms don’t occur there and the public really doesn’t trust what goes on there.
It’s not going to be easy.
The profligate spenders are going to exploit every gifted student, single mom, state employee facing foreclosure and disabled Californian who gets services; parading them around news conferences calling Republicans mean and demanding fewer cuts and more taxes. Somehow they cannot see we can help people without paternal pandering or by punishing the most productive members of our state.
GOP legislators have to get out of the Capitol and talk to newspapers, talk shows, business and community groups and constituents. They need to organize business leaders and local officials to help explain why tax increases will make the situation worse, and that cutting regulation and bureaucracy will spur the economy to help not only the state budget, but family budgets as well.
Democrats already have the votes to put the tax increases on the ballot regardless what Republican Legislators decide to do. Instead of opposing a public vote, Republican’s should trumpet the opportunity to let voters take tax increases off the table once and for all.
Hiding behind political process and legislative maneuvers won’t win the fight. We will have more credibility with the public if we say “we trust you,” than we will opposing their right to weigh in on the big decisions.
Let’s engage in the fight, joining with the public to stop tax increases that won’t fix the budget, but will prolong economic slumber and hurt California families.
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