Our State...Our Principles...Our Future

Below please find a list of the worst tax gimmicks our out of touch politicians in Sacramento imposed on Californians in 2009. Let's make 2010 about the people and stop the madness! Thanks to he Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association for bringing this great information to light through their regular Taxpayer Update. Doing this creates a much more informed voter and that will do wonders in 2010. As I like to say, knowledge is power, and in California the PEOPLE are gaining the upper hand in both areas and taking power back from politicians. - P.J.

T A X P A Y E R   U P D A T E

From the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

The Year in Review: Top 10 Worst Tax Gimmicks of 2009

Sacramento --- It’s been a rough year for taxpayers in California. As 2009 comes to a close, Californians find themselves clutching their wallets more than ever.

Below, a look at the diabolical, dangerous, and downright worst Tax schemes of 2009:

#10: As part of last summer’s Budget deal, Legislators agreed to sneak an additional 10% Income Tax Withholding from Californians’ paychecks … just in time for the holidays.

#9: Claiming he could solve the State’s budget crisis with a single puff, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced AB 390. He claimed the bill would close California’s budget gap to the tune of $12 to $18 billion by legalizing – then Taxing – marijuana sales.

#8: Desperate to find revenue, Governor Schwarzenegger threatened to solve the Budget crisis… one Golf course at a time. His plan to tax “greens fees, monthly dues, and golf cart rentals” got caught in the rough. Perhaps he feared a nine-iron to the rear windows of his black Suburban?

#7: Three words… Tax the Internet! (AB 178)

#6: Despite the recession and California’s record high unemployment, the Legislature manufactured its own version of Cap and Trade. AB 32 will cost Californians up to

1.1 million Jobs, place a $49,000 burden on California’s small businesses, and cost the average family $3,857 per year in increased living costs.

#5: Proving it’s a “dam shame” every time the State Legislature gets involved in solving a problem, the Legislature passed a bill to place an $11 billion Water Bond on the ballot during the worst economic downturn since The Great Depression. The bond will dole out billions of dollars in taxpayer monies, establish more government bureaucracies, and do little to address the water crisis in time to put farming communities back to work.

#4: As Californians struggled to keep their jobs and their homes, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass authorized pay increases for bureaucrats who work in the State Legislature. After the media discovered the raises, she revoked them.

#3: Still searching for more revenue, the Governor vowed to raise Taxes on beer and other alcoholic beverages… just when Californians could use a stiff drink.

#2: In February, the Legislature passed the largest state Tax increase in U.S. history, which now has California competing for the highest tax burden of all 50 states.

And the #1 Worst Tax Scheme of 2009:

#1: Proposition 1A, the massive $16 billion Tax increase -- more than double the February tax increase – was placed on the ballot by the governor and Legislature, funded to the tune of $28 Million by special interests, and described as "budget reform" without the promoters once uttering the word “Tax increase.” (Their Initiative, by the way, failed by a landslide 2-to-1 margin.)

For more information on the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, visit www.HJTA.org.

A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge which is a project of the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). ATR works with taxpayer groups and activists around the country to ask all candidates and elected officials to make this important commitment to taxpayers.

This type of pledge is a "no brainer" for me, since my principles and views on politics revolve around limited government and limited taxes and how those things secure our freedom, create opportunity, and create prosperity. But it means even more to me now here in California because the political elite in Sacramento raised taxes recently and all that it did was push our state deeper into this bad economy. I challenge any and all of my opponents on the other side to at least make this pledge for the term they are running for, even though I know there is little chance of them doing that.

Below are some pictures of me signing the pledge, and here is the specific language from the pledge:

"I, P.J. MELLANA, PLEDGE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE 50TH DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE THAT I WILL OPPOSE AND VOTE AGAINST ANY AND ALL EFFORTS TO INCREASE TAXES."

 

Now, some of my detractors may say I’m not qualified to run for California's State Assembly. Here’s some of my qualifications: I’m a concerned citizen that understands that this state belongs to the people. I understand that when the people of this state say no more taxes they mean it. I understand that the true engine to our economy is businesses creating jobs not “big government”. I understand and think it’s kind of important to have a balanced budget. I am a lover of freedom. I have a little bit of common sense. And finally, I’m sure I can figure out where that “no” button is when I have to vote against nonsense being proposed. So what do you think, compared to the majority of our lawmakers in Sacramento, do I have the right qualifications?

I guarantee as we head into the 2010 election cycle my opponents are going to ask how I expect government to pay for tax cuts. This, as it has for many years now, will have me scratching my head in confusion. My confusion, and I guess my question is, "when did letting Californians and Americans keep their own money become a cost for government?" Think about it, they are making it sound as if the government is having to pay THE PEOPLE their own money.

Please help me out here, am I out of touch, am I not educated enough, is this concept really that confusing or difficult? In case you haven't caught on yet, some of my biggest priorities when elected will be tax reductions and reducing government waste. I'm over our government in California wanting to tax more and more, while they spend more and more. We will hear time and time again as the election gets closer that we need to tax the top percentage of earners, we need to tax big business....WHY?! Why would we tax successful people, successful businesses?  Why would anyone then want to succeed then?

All raising taxes will do is continue to keep California as one of the highest taxed states, continue to kill jobs, continue to drive businesses out of the state, and continue to assist our unemployment numbers to go higher.

Let me give you a few points to think about and then I will get off of my soap box (for now at least!):

1. If person A were to make $50,000 a year and be taxed at a 10% rate, they would be putting in $5,000 to fund government operations. If person B were to make $500,000 a year and be taxed at that same rate of 10%, they would be contributing $50,000 to fund government operations. So who is contributing more money to government operations? Why does this get so complicated for some? Why in the world would the percentage need to go up for higher earners? They are already giving more! My 4 year old son can figure that out, why can't these folks in Sacramento and Washington D.C.???
2. Businesses don't pay taxes. As politicians want to continue and punish businesses for success, what exactly happens. Answer - The taxes imposed on businesses as punishment get paid in 3 ways: 1) The cost is passed on to the consumer through higher prices 2) The cost is passed on to employees through lower wages and decreased benefits 3) The cost is passed on to share holders through decreased revenues.

Bottom line is that taxes continue to drown our economy. If you're like me, you are OVER EXCESSIVE TAXES!!! I am definitely fired up and it will just become more apparent as we through the 2010 election cycle.