California Rejects Higher Taxes—Obama, Reid and Pelosi Should Take Note
By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
California voters Tuesday put the truth to the lie that the tax rebellion has come to an end. Almost two-thirds of the electorate (65.4 percent) cast ballots against Proposition 1A, a measure which would have increased taxes in the cash-strapped "Golden State" by $16 billion.
Voters in the state that, in 1978, gave birth to the modern tax revolt proved once again that the political pundits who the Republicans need to give up their anti-tax stance in favor of a platform that acknowledges the need for expanded government services that appeal to constituencies like those that shop at "big box" commercial outlets are wrong.
The problem for California, indeed for many of the states whose budgets are currently in crisis, is their inability to maintain the spending brought about by years of increases over and above the rise in the rate of inflation and the growth in state population.
"California does not have a $21.3 billion deficit," said anti-tax activist Grover G. Norquist, "it has a $21.3 billion overspending problem. The voters of California have sent an unequivocal message to the politicians in Sacramento—the budget process is broken and taxpayers have been squeezed dry." A notion further underscored by the fact that the only ballot measure to carry the day—which Prop 1-A was losing in every region of the state—was a measure to deny pay increases to state lawmakers when the state is running a budget deficit.
Critics point to the light voter turnout statewide as a reason to ignore the results, but that flies in the face of common sense. Time and again we are presented with major media polls that purport to show voters are willing to pay more for government services, that they are willing to see more money directed at key issues like education. But the measure to increase taxes was accompanied by Proposition 1-B, which would have given schools $9.3 billion to compensate for past budget cuts—but only if the voters approved Prop 1-A. And they approved neither, despite a well-funded campaign in support of their passage. If tax hikes were popular or even seen as necessary, as relates to spending, voter turnout would have been high in support of these initiatives.
"The fiscal mess that California has become provides a preview of what will happen nationwide if the tax and spend policies of Obama, Reid and Pelosi are carried out," Norquist said. "In yesterday's special election voters sent a loud and clear message to politicians in Sacramento that business as usual can't continue." And, he might have added, to the politicians in Washington as well.
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Tags: California | taxes | Nancy Pelosi | Harry Reid
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Reader Comments
Our Government is Broken...are Americans tough enough?
We've been sliding for years but the last 4 months have been unprecedented. Unprecedented DEBT, uprecedented Executive Power, unprecedented attack of opposing opinion and unprecedented intrusion into the private sector.
The TeaParties were the first round. Now the Republicans are standing up on policy as well. If you listen to MSNBC AND CNN you would think America is behind this foolishness but I believe otherwise. 1000 random "adults"?
The votes in California support this hope.
The only excuse for MASSIVE Government DEBT is WAR or Natural Disaster. GWB had both.
So does Obama...WE ARE STILL AT WAR and...
we have Obama as "OUR" President who insists on continuing HIS "agenda" even though it's obvious WE cannot afford it.
53% chose this "Catastrophy" but we're all living with it.
It's time America came to it's senses.
Immigration Laws
Our Politicians keep telling us our Immigration laws are broken and we need an comprehensive solution, which are code words for Amnesty, our Immigration Laws are not broken, they just have not been enforced, what is broken is our Political system when we elect Corrupt/Pandering politicians that puts their desires ahead of the Constitution of USA and the Rule of Law!
Our government fails the most basic and primary task & duty of government, to protect this Nation and its Citizens from invasion and enforce its laws.
They refuse to abide by our Constitution, refuse to enforce our Immigration Laws and refuse to honor their Oath of Office!
Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 40 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution.
This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!
Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens at an rate the terrorist can only dream about.
Recent statements in Mexico from both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary something needs to be done. "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers, and civilians," she said.
But no mention, concern or care that their refusal to stop the Massive Invasion of Illegal Aliens pouring across our borders or enforce our immigration laws that causes an estimated 25 Americans deaths per day and 10,s of thousands victims of Assault, Robberies, Rapes, Identify thief, and other assorted crimes committed by the invading horde of Illegal Aliens from Mexico on American citizens each year!
Most of our Politicians in Wash. DC are wading knee deep in innocent American blood and suffering because they put Politics ahead of the welfare of American Citizens & the future of this Nation! The Welfare vote for the Democrats to further their Socialist Agenda and the Slave Labor for their Pay Masters in the Chamber of Commerce & Business for the Republicans is more important to our Corrupt power mad Politicians than the lives and safety of Americans citizens!
The Citizens of this great Nation have not sacrificed with blood, sweat & tears for over 200 years & obeyed the Laws of the land, paid the taxes, and fought the wars & built this Nation to see Corrupt politicians turn this Nation into the United States of Mexico without a shot being fired, to serve their demented, nefarious goals and lust for power!
Calif.
California the Golden state, is fast becoming the poster child for an bankrupt third world State!
An unholy alliance of Socialist Democrat politicians, Unions, and Illegal Aliens supporters are feasting at the trough of tax payers paid benefits while taxing & regulating business and the tax paying public into poverty.
The pandering of Left Wing Democrat Politicians to their constituency of Illegal Aliens, open border supporters, and unions are driving business and citizens to other states & countries, while leaving the parasites & welfare leeches in an increasing bankrupt, dysfunctional state!
For years California has ignored economics 101 and imported poverty, Criminals and uneducated Peons from Mexico, while exporting business and educated working tax payers.
Like all Socialist & Marxist States the results have been an lowing of living standards & bankruptcy.
Failure to abide by our Constitution against invasion & enforce our Immigration laws and constraints on wages and benefits for public employees will result in turning the Golden State into MexiCalif and the end of the California dream!
The policies of Obama and Wash. DC Democrats are intent on following Calif. policies and are resulting in the same creeping socialist process across American.
Amnesty & Citizenship as a reward for their invasion of the USA, will result in the rest of the USA turned into a Spanish speaking third world cesspool, modeled on Mexico and follow California into a polluted, over populated, Spanish speaking third world Nation of Crime, Corruption, Poverty, & Misery!
This will result in a population depending on Welfare and the Democrat party, thus assuring the lock on power for the Socialist Democrat party of the United States of Mexico!
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