California, Please Send A Message!

California citizens have a chance to tell the spendthrifts to go to hell. All it takes is an appropriate NO vote on 5 of 6 California 2009 ballot propositions.

California Ballot Propositions

Seven statewide ballot propositions will be on a special May 19, 2009 election ballot in California.



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Although the six ballot propositions (1A through 1F) are intended to close an approximately $42 billion budget gap, the California Legislative Analyst's Office, an agency of the state government, said in early March that tax revenues flowing into the state treasury are "well below" the projections it used earlier in the year, and that California's government now faces an additional $8 billion gap in addition to the earlier $42 billion gap.

Sentiment Is Changing

In Late February sentiment was in favor of passing these propositions now sentiment is against all but 1E which is pretty innocuous but deserves to go down, and 1F which deserves to pass.



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Propositions Face Tough Road

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) reports Special Election Ballot Propositions Face Tough Road.

California, March 25, 2009—California’s likely voters are divided on five of six propositions related to the state’s budget crisis that will appear on the May special election ballot, according to a survey released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) with funding from The James Irvine Foundation. Levels of support for Propositions 1A through 1E vary widely, but none has the approval of a majority of likely voters. However, in a signal of the mood of the electorate this year, an overwhelming 81 percent favor Proposition 1F, which would limit salary increases for state elected officials when the state faces a budget deficit.

Eight weeks before the special election—called as part of the 2009–2010 budget agreement between the governor and legislature—those Californians most likely to go to the polls are feeling grim about the state of their state: The vast majority (77%) say it is headed in the wrong direction and see its fiscal situation as a big problem (85%). They give record low ratings to the legislature (11%) and to their own legislators (29%). Their approval rating for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (33%) has dropped to a new low among likely voters. For the first time, a majority of Republican likely voters (54%) disapprove of the job performance of the Republican governor.

Shell Games

The idea that one can borrow money from lottery proceedings to balance the budget is of course preposterous. And anyone voting for $16 billion in higher taxes either has holes in their head or is a direct recipient of the money.

In Move is up to California voters the LA Times reported "An average family of four with an annual income of $75,000 would pay about $963 more a year in taxes, according to a legislative analysis."

Bear in mind $16 billion is not even enough as California's budget has deteriorated by $8 billion since the legislature worked out the compromise. To close the ever-growing gap solely with tax hikes, Californians ought to be prepared to pay $1800 more a year in taxes.

Moreover, the "rainy day" spending curbs in Proposition 1A can only be enacted if the tax hikes are extended from two to four years."

Propaganda Blasting

California voters should be prepared for a blast of propaganda from teachers unions, police unions, etc, all promising Armageddon if the measures do not pass. Indeed that has already started according to an email I recently received from "NJ" who writes:

"Today was the first day of advertising for the special, statewide May 19 ballot in California for the 2009-2010 fiscal year California state budget and tax increase agreement. The radio is blasting pro-Tax advertisements at us. My girlfriend, a teacher, had her email inbox full from endorsements by the California Teachers Association and coworkers."

Send A Message

It's time to cut spending, not raise taxes. California, please send a message to the legislature for other states to follow. Tell the spendthrifts to go to hell. It's easy to do. Just vote No on 1A through 1E and Yes on 1F. And I still want to see "Proposition Mish" to lower the pay of all government employees starting with the California legislature.

Enough Is Enough: Let The Tax Revolts Begin

Nationwide, we need to elect representatives who will cut spending, not raise taxes or play shell games to hide deficits.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
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