2008 California Election Forum

By Craig Huey

On April 30, Californians will celebrate Tax Freedom Day. It’s the day the average Californian stops forking over hard-earned money to the federal, state and local government and starts taking it home.

Last year, California was the 7th highest-taxed state in the nation, but this year we’ve gotten even worse at 4th highest.

In fact, you spend more days working for the government (121 days) than you do for food, clothing and housing combined (108 days). It's no wonder entrepreneurs, businesses and over-taxed Californians are simply fed up and fleeing to nearby tax-friendly states like Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.

The federal government takes and takes

In 2008, Congress snuck 11,610 pet projects (or earmarks) into your federal budget—the second highest number ever and a whopping 337% increase over 2007.

Earmarks like $211,509 for fruit fly research—in France. $188,000 for the Lobster Institute of Maine. And $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.

Spending is so out of control, the total federal debt is now $9.4 trillion. Worse, liberals want the Bush tax cuts to expire. This means the largest tax increase in history is coming…with the child tax credit to be cut in half, the 55% death tax and the mortgage tax penalty returning—all totaling an average tax hike of $3,000 per household.

State government waste

Overspending in California is so out of control that Sacramento cannot even come close to overcoming the massive $14 billion deficit. This fiscal meltdown is because spending shot up $25 billion in 5 years.

The California business tax climate is 47th worst in the nation. If the state government keeps chasing businesses away to other states, state revenue will drop even further. When you raise state taxes on businesses, state revenues drop, unemployment rises, state welfare rolls increase, and on down the line.

But Sacramento politicians are proposing $25 billion in new taxes, fees and tax-credit elimination. By reducing dependent child tax credits and eliminating mortgage interest deductions and senior tax credits, they’re sneakily raising what you pay without raising your tax rate.

They also want new fees that increase the money you send to Sacramento every year. For example, new motor vehicle fees that include increases in registration fees, driver’s licenses, smog fees and identification plate fees.

And look out, proposed taxes include transportation taxes, Internet sales taxes, downloading taxes and split roll property taxes.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The California Performance Review found $32 billion in potential budget savings simply by eliminating unnecessary boards and commissions, combining overlapping agencies and selling unneeded state properties.

Local government excess

City and county school board spending is also out of control.

Despite historic revenue, there is always a financial crisis. Money is earmarked for politician pet projects and then a “crisis” magically occurs because there is none left over for essential services like police and fire departments. But pet projects are never cut.

Los Angeles faces a deficit of $400 million in the coming fiscal year, yet just 4 months ago, city council voted unanimously for a pay raise.

And the South Bay?

Unfortunately, most South Bay politicians would rather spend your money than let you spend it.

Assemblymembers Betty Karnette, Ted Lieu, Curren Price and state Senator Alan Lowenthal all received either a D or an F on the taxpayer report card from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

And U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman got an F, while Congressman Dana Rohrabacher was the best defender of the taxpayer with an A—86% approval rating.

Unfair hidden taxes everywhere

And let's not forget the hidden taxes you may not even know you are paying, like the utility users tax, license tax, Social Security, Medicare, Federal Communications Commission, sewer, cable, electricity, property, cell phone and trash.

These “hidden taxes” are all ways the government takes more and more of your paycheck every year.

Why does this happen?

Tax proponents are usually well organized and funded, with large contributions coming from special-interest groups (contractors, businesses, unions). And tax supporters often downplay the increase in taxes—“it’s only a few cents a day.”

The truth is, any new taxes will hurt our already floundering economy. The solution isn’t raising taxes. It’s lowering spending and waste.

Tax cuts allow people to freely decide how to spend their money, not a government bureaucrat…resulting in economic growth and more revenue for the government.

What can be done?

1. Vote against any elected politician who is not a taxpayer's friend. If the spend-happy politicians continue to be reelected, you can expect to work an extra few days next year to pay the growing tax burden.
2. Write your local, state and federal representatives and demand tax cuts that promote long-term economic growth instead of increasing the tax burden on hardworking Americans.

If voters would demand spending cuts and oppose tax increases from all levels of government, we could work fewer days for the government next year, allowing us to keep more of the money we earn.

About Craig Huey

Craig Huey is the president of ElectionForum.org, JudgeVoterGuide.com and Peninsula Residents for a Better Community. A resident of Rolling Hills Estates, he owns two local businesses. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it