Category Archives: California

Proposition 23: Suspension of AB32 (Global Warming Tax)

Back in 2006, the California legislature passed AB32. This measure, which was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, allows the state to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). The goal of AB32 is to reduce such gas emissions by 2020. … Continue reading

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We’re Number Two!

Congratulations, California! You have the second worst business climate in the country! Earlier today the Tax Foundation released its 2011 report on the Business Tax Climate Index. Here are the ten worst states: 50. New York 49. California 48. New … Continue reading

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Proposition 22: Transportation Funding

Proposition 22 on the California ballot would prohibit the raiding of transportation funding for anything. The measure, if approved, would stop the practice of the legislature of using transportation funds (including the gasoline tax) to fund anything and everything else. … Continue reading

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Proposition 21: State Parks Vehicle License Surcharge

Proposition 21 on the California ballot would add an $18 fee (err, tax) to vehicle license renewals to fund state parks. Shockingly, the California State Park Rangers Association is for the measure. The measure would help to fund the park … Continue reading

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Proposition 20: Congressional Redistricting & Proposition 27

Proposition 20 on the California ballot would take redistricting of Congressional districts out of the hands of the state legislature and give it to the Redistricting Commission. That commission was formed as a result of Proposition 11 on the 2008 … Continue reading

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Proposition 19: Marijuana “Legalization”

It’s time to begin our analysis of the ballot propositions that Californians will face in one week. There’s a lot on the ballot, and several of the measures have a direct impact on taxes. Let’s start with Proposition 19. This … Continue reading

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Shock! Government Agencies in California Forced to Lay Off Employees

The Los Angeles Times has a story today on how government agencies in California have been forced to lay off workers. The Times calls the cuts “ravaging.” I’d call them necessary and the tip of the iceberg. There’s a basic … Continue reading

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Uh Oh: Instead of My Tax Refund All I Got Was This Piece of Paper…

California is short of money, so according to Spidell, all California tax refunds have been suspended. The suspension is due to “cash flow difficulties.” California does have a budget so, in theory, refunds should resume soon. Of course, that depends … Continue reading

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Brother, Can You Spare $30 Billion?

The analysis is out and California has another Bad Budget™. Let’s see what’s in this “Let’s Defer to Tomorrow What We Don’t Want to Address Today” piece of cheese: The budget assumes $5.4 billion in federal funds.  That seems fine … Continue reading

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“Threatens to Bankrupt [California]”

That line was used by the Orange County Register to describe the California Center for Public Policy’s report on Pensions and Employee Compensation. That’s scary. Here’s a quote from the Register: The report says that the state’s tax-paid pensions have … Continue reading

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