Think Long panel proposes California tax overhaul

[xchrom]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/20/BABL1M1GN3.DTL&tsp=1

A well-funded team of top California political, business and civic leaders will propose a ballot measure that would overhaul the state's tax system by simultaneously cutting income taxes across the board while raising $10 billion a year by expanding the sales tax to include services.

The Think Long Committee for California also is ready to propose a ballot measure that would alter the state's initiative process by creating an independent, nonpartisan panel that would have the power to propose initiatives, according to a copy of the panel's 24-page plan that The Chronicle has obtained.

Ideas to reform California's dysfunctional government surface frequently, and just as often are ignored. What makes Think Long different is the bipartisan star power of its 17-member panel and the $20 million or more that its chairman, billionaire businessman Nicolas Berggruen, said he will spend in support of ballot measures.

Berggruen will be backed by committee members including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, Southern California billionaire developer Eli Broad, former San Francisco Mayor and Chronicle columnist Willie Brown and former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/19/BABL1M1GN3.DTL#ixzz1eFmjubzn




***sales taxes?!?!?! :mad: still asking people who 'broke it' to fix it.

[county worker]

1. If you replace income tax with sales tax, you put more of a burden on the poor

who will have to use what little income they have to not only purchase services but to add on tax so that it costs them even more of what cash they have. And cutting the total taxes paid buy those who can afford a tax on services.

[xchrom]

2. agreed. it's infuriating.

and this is a pretty influential group -- including who? -- willie brown.