California Recall and the Car Tax

[Samaka 3ajiba]

Article excerpt:

So why was Governor Davis recalled and why was Arnold elected governor of California? Two reasons that should come as no surprise. Californians just didn't like Governor Davis and the car tax bill came in the mail at the absolute worst political moment for Governor Davis.

Post mortem polling will shed light on this theory, but it seems reasonable to assume that the car tax bill hit the mailboxes right before the election and people became infuriated, including base Democratic voters who were plain mad that they were footing the bill while having to contend with a slow economy. It is doubtful this anger will last, as it was likely purged yesterday - unless the economy reverses its current trend going into the 2004 presidential election.

http://www.capitolgrilling.com/articles/2003_californiarecall.html

[soupkitchen]

1. Mary Carey was right. Tax optional plastic surgery

[radwriter0555]

2. Too bad no one can simply overturn that there car tax... so it's all moot.

See, it's a LAW. It'd be same thing as overturning a LAW on jaywalking or theft or smoking in a restaurant or murder.

See, a Governor can't overturn a LAW. Takes the cooperation of a state legislature to do that.

Arnold is going to FAIL to overturn the car tax.

[David__77]

4. The fee should be reversed, but only if revenues are protected.

I don't like the higher registration fees because they aren't progressive enough in nature. I would prefer that new revenues be raised from those with the greatest ability to pay. If the new guy wants to reverse this thing, then we have to also protect law enforcement and firefighters, etc. That means: tax the rich!

[DBoon]

6. This one is progressive

based on car's value. You drive an old cluker, you pay very little (abt $50).

You drive a Ferrari, you pay many thousands.


Sounds fair to me.

[Samaka 3ajiba]

5. Gilmore also failed in Virginia

And the car tax was a hot voter item there too that played a large part in getting him elected.

[David__77]

3. Fee should have been reduced this way...

From the beginning, some Democrats made a big mistake by paying to close of attention to what they thought the rules were. The auto registration fee could have been reduced to its previous levels and then the lost revenue replaced by closing tax loopholes on corporations and creating a new tax bracket for the 300,000+ range. They could have done it with a majority vote.

The GOP threatened to legally challenge such a move, but then at least we could have turned around and said, "The right-wing Republicans oppose tax relief for working families because they think tax relief is only for the very wealthy." It could have worked, and I think, though probably not decisive by itself, could have contributed to changing the dynamic of the election by "going on the offensive."

But failing to "go on the offensive" is a problem that has characterized the Davis administration from the start. Sometimes one has to risk in order to gain. But we learn our lessons and go one fighting.

[DBoon]

7. I think raising taxes in CA takes a super majority

So this may not be as simple as it looks - repubs could block it even though they are a minority.