Category Archives: California

Computer Notices Should be Reviewed

Tax agencies love computerized notices. The computer does the work, finds probable tax scofflaws, and the notices are mailed in an automated fashion. This saves the agencies money. Assuming the tax debt is real, it’s a good bargain for everyone. … Continue reading

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Election Day, Part 1 of 3

Today is the first of three election days in 2008 in California. If you’re in Orange County, you can find your precinct here. If you’re elsewhere in California, the Secretary of State’s website can direct you to your county’s registrar … Continue reading

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A Bad Idea Goes Down to Defeat

Governor Schwarzenegger’s health care plan has been defeated in a State Senate Committee. The Governator’s plan would have forced most individuals into purchasing health insurance. It would also have introduced three new taxes. The measure was rejected because even Democrats … Continue reading

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Propositions 94, 95, 96, and 97

It’s time to look at the last four propositions on the February 5, 2008 California ballot. Propositions 94 – 97 would allow four tribes to dramatically expand their Indian casinos in California (each proposition is for one of the four … Continue reading

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All Your Thermostats Are Not Belong To Us

Even bureaucrats can eventually be persuaded that a stupid idea is stupid. The California Energy Commission announced on Tuesday that they are dropping the requirements for radio-controlled thermostats from the Title 24 regulations. The public outcry was fairly intense; it … Continue reading

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Proposition 93: Term Limits

Proposition 93 on California’s February 5th ballot would change the current term limits structure. While it would lessen the overall amount of time a politician could stay in office, it would lengthen the amount of time one could spend in … Continue reading

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A Typo on Schedule CA

There’s a typographical error on Schedule CA for Form 540. This is the form used by Californians to adjust their income and deductions from their federal tax returns to California’s. The form mailed to California residents has an incorrect reference … Continue reading

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Proposition 92: Community College Funding

Proposition 92 is one of seven propositions on the February ballot. (I just received a supplemental voters guide from the Secretary of State and my sample ballot.) Proposition 92 limits fee hikes at community colleges (what used to be called … Continue reading

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All Your Thermostats Will Soon Be Ours!

The last time I checked I lived in a (relatively) free society. But California regulators are about to make this part of the old Soviet Union. The California Energy Commission has just issued its proposed 2008 regulations for Building Energy … Continue reading

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Domestic Partners Win Property Tax Benefit

The California Supreme Court ruled last week that registered domestic partners have the same property tax benefits as heterosexual spouses. This means that if registered domestic partners own a home, and one inherits the home from the other, they are … Continue reading

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