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February 18, 2009
Call Senators Maldonado and Cox and urge them to vote for tax increases!
Dear FCL Supporter,
You may remember this quote from anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform : "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."
The truth of the matter is that we cannot balance the state budget on spending cuts alone!
The California Legislature is on the verge of an agreement that would restore our state's fiscal solvency by closing a $40 billion shortfall. The State Senate is currently locked down, and is one vote shy of the necessary two-thirds supermajority.
Not surprisingly, the hang-up is over taxes. Every Republican legislator except one has signed Grover Norquist's "no new taxes pledge," and conservative bloggers and talk show hosts are threatening serious consequences for Republicans who vote for tax increases. In the wee hours of the morning, Senate Republicans ousted Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) and replaced him with Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Temecula) who has taken a very hard line against tax increases.
California's budget problems are so severe that we cannot cut or spend our way into fiscal solvency. For too many years, the Legislature has relied on borrowing and accounting gimmickry, which deferred tough decisions into the future. With the rapid and severe economic recession and a $30 billion decline in revenues, we can no longer postpone tough choices. This necessitates compromise, and there is much in this budget that FCL finds objectionable--everyone will feel the pain.
Further delay will result in severe economic consequences. In short, the state will begin shutting down. Public works projects will be halted and will result in thousands of layoffs. Payments to local government agencies which disburse funds and provide services to California residents who require assistance will be delayed. State income tax refunds, which many California households depend on to make ends meet, will be delayed as will payments to vendors who do business with the state. Our state's credit rating continues to be downgraded, and without a budget solution, investors are unwilling to buy California bonds. Without a budget that satisfies federal "maintenance of effort requirements, billions of federal stimulus dollars for California are at risk.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Two Senate Republicans have shown willingness to consider tax increases and could provide the much needed third vote.
Please take a moment and call Senator Abel Maldonado at (916) 651-4015 and Senator Dave Cox at (916) 651-4001 and urge them to support tax increases by voting for AB 3X 3.
Sincerely,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K Street, Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 443-3734
Fax: (916) 448-6109
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