Submitted by: Mahendra
9:02 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
2. Stop paying the lawmakers over 100K... that is more then other states pay theirs. Take away Prop 13 for businesses. And if you have children, then you pay more, since your little pillow biters are the ones using the schools and parks...
Submitted by: LBCsurfgoddess
8:55 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
3. Skelton, find another topic, PLEASE. How many times do we have to read the same stuff, once a week? You continue writing to limit the voices that are tired of bankrolling the out-of-control government spending. The problem is many-fold. To start, get rid of politicians that pander to special interests that raid revenue from the system, like unbelievable pensions for govt workers, including those of the elected and their staffs! Skelton, try writing about cutting the far-reaching waste and abuse that continues, program inefficiencies and cutting salaries and benefits that aren't sustainable!
Submitted by: BizyLady
8:48 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
4. I'm more amazed at the partisan yelling and the attacks at Skelton than an attempt to solve California's problems. Read most of the responses to the article and you'll see why California is in the mess it's in. People aren't talking to each other. They're screaming past each other. Way to go readers. You're no better than the legislature and government.
Submitted by: Dick Dianond
8:44 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
5. A simple 10% tax surcharge would help a lot. That way everyone would be taxed and it would generally be fair. We are paying petty low taxes for all the services we try to provide. Keep the safety net for the most vulnerable in place.
Submitted by: Mikee
8:26 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
6. Let's also consider limiting the people who work in government from giving themselves far too much in the way of perks, pensions, etc. It is ridiculous that during times of plenty they give themselves generous packages that remain in place when the money is long gone.
Submitted by: Santa Barbara
8:20 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
7. The impact of indecision in Sacramento continues to make matters worse. The system is broken in so many ways only a clean sheet redesign has a chance of succeeding.
Submitted by: Gary in Fresno
8:16 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
8. Flat tax makes sense....so much sense for all.... And saving the California State Parks - something the Democrats have shown they are willing to do - but now the governor plans to veto and close the parks... http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/save-california-state-parks-from-closure
Submitted by: samuel
8:07 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
9. FACT: California has 12% of the nation's population. FACT: California has 32% of all the welfare recipients in the country. Of course we're going bankrupt. How can 12% of the popluation support 32% of the welfare recipients?
Submitted by: TD
7:42 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
10. Californa must live within it's budget We must expect less and provide better management of the resources we have you can write checks in future that there is no Money do cover. Mervin Evans
Submitted by: Mervin Evans
7:40 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
11. It gets tiring having liberals complain about Prob 13 which just protects those who actually contribute to the economy. Why not instead restrict voting to those who pay taxes and totally ignore all the thieving filth who have done nothing but bankrupt the state demanding services. If we are going to reorganize the state why not do it on a scheme of: If you need something earn it Jack
Submitted by: Jjack Perrine
7:40 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
12. Good article. The intent of the voters, first expressed in Prop. 13, was to hogtie the government. Just like a Reagan solution to reducing fuel expense by junking the motor. Mission accomplished. Extrapolating, imagine a government without legislators or executives.
Submitted by: David
7:34 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
13. Your statement that there’s little Sacramento can do about illegal immigration is simply false. The state would save billions if the federal government’s existing E-verify program was implemented in addition to enforcing existing law via the federally mandated 287g program. Thus nearly all of the costs associated with Washington’s rules would not be incurred simply because a large majority of illegal immigrants would not be here to partake of the state’s largesse. Effective enforcement does not require a massive roundups and deportations. E-verify would cause most illegal immigrants to self-deport because they would be unable to work.
Submitted by: Justthetruth
7:32 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
14. Taxes and fees. Fees and taxes. People in California pay taxes they don't even KNOW are taxes. Check your electricity bill. Did you know that in California you currently pay about a 25% tax on electricity for "public purpose programs" so the legislators can give free electricity to illegals? We have taxes here that are passed and people FORGET about them there are so many taxes. I hope (and I mirror opinion of many neighbors) that the state DOES explode come July. We pay a ton and see almost NO value.
Submitted by: Greg P
7:22 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
15. These are good thoughtful observations. I hope they can be a part of serious work in Sacramento to get us out of California's fiscal mess. However, I'm not encouraged by many of the comments posted here. They often reflect the dominance of ideology over information and thought. That in turn seems to drive those sent to Sacramento to "solve" problems. Your column is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
Submitted by: Kent
7:21 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
16. Dear Los Angeles Times: Please stop using headlines like "6 Simples Rules", it makes your articles sound like internet advertising. Thanks.
Submitted by: Ken
7:18 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
17. George is wrong. The problem is that legislators are incompetent & they have no incentive to fix any problem because there are no penalities for incompetence or for violating our State Constitution. Want to fix the problem? Then make not passing a balanced budget by July 1st a CRIMINAL offense. July 1-7 w/o balanced budget - every legislator pays a $50,000 fine or forfeits their seat. If no balanced budget by 7/9, then the entire legislature forfeits their seats and many not run for state office for 10 years.
Submitted by: ernie1241
7:14 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
18. Make EVERBODY - rich and poor - pay income taxes. That way everybody will share the status of "taxpyer" and taxpayers and their representatives will be more reflective before they vote for money-spending measures. When a money spending bill or initiative is proposed, it should accompanied by a statement of how much it will cost each income taxpayer in each tax bracket. For example, if a taxpayer is told that an initiative to build a pointless high-speed train from LA to SF is going to cost him $2,000 personally, he might say "If I have to pay for that I won;t be able to buy my kids Christmas presents or pay college tuition," and vote "no."
Submitted by: John
7:07 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
19. Let's see- we should do-away with the 2/3s rule to make it easier for our legislators and governor to pass budgets with even higher deficits, right? And that nasty Prop. 13-that's got to go too, so we can pay higher taxes for non-functioning schools and illegal alien scofflaws. Sounds like vintage George Skelton to me.
Submitted by: Jack
6:59 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
20. With respect to an independent commission drawing legistlative districts, why not do something more radical. Randomly select an address from a list of addresses in a comprehensive data base - Google Earth for instance. Once you have selected an address start drawing an ever wider circle around that address until you have enough residents to comprise a district. Then select another address. Rinse and repeat. This should remove partianship from the process while maintaining a contiguous district.
Submitted by: Mark
6:58 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
21. Legalize it!... Then get rid of the democrats... and get rid of programs that benefit special interest. oh...and hire more mexicans...cheap labor is good for the economy.
Submitted by: Spanky
6:31 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
22. A very large number of these costly propositions that get passed are pushed by your goverment workers unions and the democrats... Anything that makes sense they generally take the other side of... and you want them to have a free power to raise taxes at will? Are you daft? That 2/3s majority is the only thing keeping us out of the toilet. They just raised taxes and now they want more. The fiscally responsible among us generally vote NO on anything requiring a bond. Look at vote breakdowns, the more liberal the area the more likely they are to vote for loser propositions.
Submitted by: Scott
6:29 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
23. Whatever happens, don't allow our schools to lose out. We don't want illiterate people here like Don in Colorado.
Submitted by: Inland Empire
6:29 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
24. George Skelton has nailed down the problems and solutions faced by California clearly and succinctly. Now, the challenge is for real leaders to push aside the stone age thinking that has dominated California government since the 1960s and rebuild the structure.
Submitted by: Gayle Montgomery
6:27 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
25. On July 1st we will become the third highest taxed state in the nation including: highest sales taxes, second highest personal income taxes, sixth highest corporate taxes, etc. California is ranked 48th in the country as a place to to business because of high taxes and a maze of regulations that not even the regulators understand. The company my wife works for is moving to Texas and taking 450 jobs with it. California is dead. Taxed to death. Regulated to death. Stangled by the politicians.
Submitted by: Tommy D
6:25 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
26. Would someone at the L.A. Times PLEASE do a bit of historical research --- on what the tax rates were between, say, 1955-65? State income, sales, and property taxes? The state seemed to have plenty of money to build new schools, universities, roads, money for state parks, services for the mentally ill (today's homeless), education, etc. But what were the actual tax rates? Were Californians paying higher or lower rates 40-50 years ago? The services certainly seemed a whole lot better then. But what were the actual sales, state income, and property taxes?
Submitted by: David in Los Angeles
6:22 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
27. after one reads the comments written about the opinion piece, it is easy to see what some of the problem is; the crazy ideas and misinformation held by a large part of the public. getting any agreement for anything from them would be nearly impossible, and the legislature reflects their opinions.
Submitted by: ellis
6:18 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
28. The "rich" are going to solve your problem with the tax structure. Soon those with taxable income will have left and the rest will be living on tax exempt income. It's no surprise to see the old canard about Prop 13. You need a new script. Why not just print a graphic showing state spending and population growth ? Paul Gann had it fixed until Willie Brown undid the Gann Initiative. Give me another year and I'll be gone, too.
Submitted by: Mike K
6:03 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
29. Best solution, ban public employee unions at state and local levels. They buy elections -buy politicians,take money(dues) from members that employees could keep as salary.
Submitted by: ted
5:50 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
30. the federal mandates,cause the majority of our ability to govern.Even now county government laments their inability to save needed services.Due to mandates and threat of fines and denial of federal funds.
Submitted by: j black
5:40 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
31. The usual liberal solutions. Don't spread the pain during hard times but rather make sure tax collections remain high so the consumers of services don't feel the pain, but taxpayers do. If liberals want higher taxes let them pay them.
Submitted by: John
4:20 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
32. Paul Duron #31 has it right: "Everybody should pay the same PERCENTAGE of taxes." It's high time we got rid of the crazy outcomes of Prop 13, where companies that hold on to property pay 0.1% or less, while new companies and homebuyers pay 1%. 1% property tax for ALL!
Submitted by: PQuincy
4:07 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
33. Slash spending to the bone. Period. That is the only way to force everyone, ruled and rulers alike, to put on their grownup pants and decide what they are willing to pay for. Yes this will hit the youngest and poorest the hardest. And yes it will hurt but California is a mess because everybody their lunch for free.
Submitted by: JAIMIE
3:56 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
34. george is at it again. He forgets that fantasy island is no longer on tv.If you were to change prop 13, do you really think that the mess in california would not exist? The budget would be 3 to 4 times larger with all the revenue. The bottom line is that 95% of the people pay little or no taxes. There is your problem. Nuff Said!
Submitted by: joe markota
3:51 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
35. Yeah,I hear that also,the same old worn out line that the rich people are over taxed,same old tired Republican line of scare tatics.The same thing is going on about health care reform,the dammed Republicns are screaming that a public option will put the greedy health care providers out of business.More scare tatics.
Submitted by: D.Woodward,Van Nuys
3:01 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
36. The Marxist Democrats answer to everything is to raise taxes, consolidate power and make it structurally easier to raise taxes and consolidate power. What is the end game here? Serfdom and servitude.
Submitted by: Windfall
2:42 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
37. Running a bit low on cash? Raise taxes. See some shiney new thing you want to run? Raise taxes. Is it a little bit warm outside today? Raise taxes. Your dog keeps messing up the rug? Raise taxes. You wife left you? Raise taxes. Your car won't start? Raise taxes. Your state is loosing jobs every day? Raise taxes. Business hates being here? Raise taxes. You've driven out so many people and jobs that the whole state is collapsing? Raise taxes. It's pretty easy to see that's been our strategy. How's that been workin' out for you?
Submitted by: Jeff Viar
2:32 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
38. what a looser you are...people like you are the reason we are in this mess...How about other ways to bring in money..businesses are moving out of the state at an alarming rate, so are working people. I will be moving out next year, and taking my retirement income/taxes with me, as many others are doing.At one time this state had a huge lumber/logging industry in northern California..GONE..Where is our oil/gas industry-gone. Why do we have over 1,000,000 acres of prime ag land in the valley with no water, while the Sacramento river runs bank to bank full,,,,straight out the delta into the Pacific. 10,000 jobs go by-by...
Submitted by: Jim Melo
1:37 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
39. The POINT is the State has to STOP SPENDING! Not realign tax burdens, find areas of compromise, etc. The State can not continue to SPEND. Prop 13 is a blessing...what percentage of people have not moved in the last 20+ years, very few! Without Prop 13, our wonderful legislature would keep pressing for MORE. Skelton...get some COMMON SENSE....
Submitted by: sstaff
12:13 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
40. A solution. Liberals want higher taxes, conservatives don't. Thus, identify every tax return as liberal or conservitive. The cons. pay the current rate, the libs. pay double. Everyone happy and more money for goverenment!
Submitted by: Don in Colorado
12:00 AM PDT, June 29, 2009
41. Some of the statements in this article are too facile, e.g., the state's outdated tax machine "has been leaning too heavily on rich people." This reads like the usual Republican line. The "rich people" are never identified. Is it comprised of those who pay a fraction of what their clerical staff pay in taxes? This article appears to be a hurried rewrite of something that the RNC or its surrogates may have sent the "author."
Submitted by: Douglas Parker
11:23 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
42. With the two thirds requirement we are already over taxed. Prop 13 was a blessing. Heaven forbid that the Democrats and the Unions eliminate the two thirds requirement to raise taxes.
Submitted by: Alberto Marrero
10:46 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
43. All sounds like good ideas. I think it would towards fixing part of the problem. But I could see these problems years ago, and move to another state. My family still lives there and I hope for their sake the things can be fixed
Submitted by: Mark
10:40 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
44. Your proposals are the same tired old dogs that get trotted out every time there is a desire or perceived need for more money in Sacramento. The state budget has been balanced in years gone by. The problem is a government that spends too much money. I'd suggest the governor and legislature build from the bottom up, defining what roles various levels of government should bear and deciding what is absolute priority. Let the rest go. Frankly, I don't like your "kill the initiative process" proposal. I'm hoping to see a part time legislature initiative on the ballot soon that takes incentives away from all the useless legislators in California.
Submitted by: Thomas Hibbard
10:33 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
45. the solution is quite simple. even an idiot can figure it out but the liberal media keep trying to propose taxes as the solution. californians already pay far more state taxes than other states. the solution is to eliminate all welfare in calif. that includes food stamps, cal grants, free school lunches, senior housing assistance and all the free stuff to illegal aliens. end of story. all those freeloaders that want welfare will be forced move to another state stupid enough to give out all the welfare and finally calif will be rid of the freeloader problem in a few years. budget problem solved. so simple.
Submitted by: joe
10:09 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
46. Duh, my favorite right wing radio host told me to write in and let you know that you and your liberal newspaper deserve to go broke, and that illegal aliens and state employees cause all the budget problems, along with their tax-and-spend democrat friends. It's all just too simple for you socialists to understand...
Submitted by: guity
10:04 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
47. Since the wealthy obviously are not creating jobs, let's tax 90 percent of their incomes over $250,000. Anyone can live on that amount, no? This would take care of our deficit, build a nice reserve and allow government to give viable new business ideas some seed money loans to get going.
Submitted by: SlimWallet
10:03 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
48. Public Defined Benefit Pensions assume those covered can work for a relatively short time and live on the dole for a long time. The rest of the world has realized entitlements for 30+ years are not sustainable. While many dabble with pensions, no one says increase the retirement age, even though people live much longer. The issue of increasing the retirement age, that would correct the problem, will not even be mentioned as a solution because those who shape the issues would be personally affected. If you are 25, should you be laid off, or social programs be cut, so a 50 year old can play golf for another 40 years on your tab?
Submitted by: Rob P
9:56 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
49. I'm curious---what would that "grand finale" look like? I have heard a lot of talk about how awful things will be, but I'd like to see a story that lays out in detail what this would look like. Maybe then, people will take it seriously---I think that now, a lot of people think it's crying wolf.
Submitted by: LKitsch
9:55 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
50. The problem with the state deficit is simple to fix, at least by half. The illegal immigrant population received free healthcare to the tune of 20 billion dollars paid by the taxpayer in 2008, As the costs incresed this year, this care is not available or limited to actual citizens. Only life emergency care is mandated by federal law, not elective care.
Submitted by: Mick Marcino
9:53 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
51. Personally I have acquired a retirement home in another state.....and....I'm gonna escape w/a small pittance of what I once had. I remember 30 years back when the mantra was "Close the tax loopholes" on those rich people. I think we have about ran out of "Rich" People.
Submitted by: Myron Christopherson
9:53 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
52. Sounds like what the lib's at the Times have advocated for years. "TAX AND SPEND"
Submitted by: Myron Christopherson
9:47 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
53. Mr.Skelton, in what way illegal immigration is a drain on the state treasury? Because they are poor and using state resources where ever they can? Oh, so Legal Americans who are also poor they don't? Illegals work as hard-if not harder-as legal US folks do! They buy goods and services where they pay applicable taxes the same way legals do! Well many of them don't pay income taxes, but it was nicely explained by Aaron Russo that not one cent from income taxes is returned to the US infrastructure! Please enlighten us in what practical way illegals are strikingly different than legals and why are they a significant drag to the state treasury?
Submitted by: tipo
9:46 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
54. Until we stop giving free money in the form of pensions at 100% to government workers, there will never be a balanced budget. The pensions are the problem, why doesn't anybody talk about them?
Submitted by: BillyB
9:46 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
55. Interesting what you are saying about the term limits, hadn't seen them that way before.
Submitted by: Sirene
9:39 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
56. We truly need some technocrats in positions to fix problems using reason and data. I'm sick of the partisan politics and the cute sound bites. Where do we start?
Submitted by: John Gulsby
9:36 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
57. Add to the list public financing of elections. Who is looking out for the common good in Sacramento? No one. We get the government we pay for. Most persons contribute nothing to candidates running for office so we end up decade after decade with leaders responsive to special interests, not the general public. Problems are not resolved, just pushed off to be addressed another day.
Submitted by: Stephen Cassidy
9:35 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
58. Are you kidding,ilegal immigration only a fifth of of the 24 billion-deficit. Ask Mexico for a bailout. The people of California have elected time after time politicians that have supported the open border policy.Now you will have to dig very deep in your pockets try to get out of it.
Submitted by: John
9:31 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
59. What needs is not new taxes or higher property taxes as you suggest, but rather chaning the laws so that you dont have 171000 prisoners, dont push out businesess becuase of the regulations, but since you people at LA times are so smart at running a business into the ground, (in CH 11) your suggestions will do the same to the state. Good luck
Submitted by: Tariq
9:31 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
60. Skelton does not discuss the largest problem facing California -- too many people. What we are witnessing is the exponential power function as it applies too many people outstripping the resource base. The absence of understanding and appreciation of exponential affects is the greatest of all ignorance.
Submitted by: tarwater
9:26 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
61. Great article. I think the most important part is to return control of most issues to local governments. The citizens of California are very diverse, and I think each community should be able to decide at what level they want to fund their schools, roads, etc.
Submitted by: OC CPA dude
9:19 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
62. Leave Prop. 13 alone! The number of homeowners that benefit from Prop. 13 is now less than 5%. Rather re-do the state, county and local government employee retirement formula / system to which those employees contribute nothing - an outdated and overgenerous system that cost the California state taxpayers tens of billion of dollars each year.
Submitted by: Paul
9:14 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
63. "* Elect more pragmatists and fewer ideologues. Bring in some centrists." Here's your fatal flaw George, and this is really the only thing that matters out of all that hot air. California politics revolves around showmanship, ideology and strong people winning elections by pandering to niche voters. That is why term limits and 2/3's majority must stay.
Submitted by: Keith
9:13 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
64. Funny, Skelton used to blame the car tax cut as the problem, that is until the progressives tripled the tax. Skelton ignores the basic, fundamental problem: there is a complete disconnect between the use of services and their cost. The solution: privatize all healthcare and education services. Make people pay a non-profit rate for the services they use. This would more than solve the "dysfunction" and whatever excuse of the day is in fad.
Submitted by: Calvin
9:10 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
65. 1-The Governor, must check the benefits for people who claim social services after been ill, and they continue receiving benefits after they are healthy and sometimes they have a living partner in their houses. Also check benefits for elderly immigrants who never work in this country and receive a monthly check. I am an American citizen by naturalization and work very hard for my family and never apply for benefits in this country (thank God)even when I had little money to raise my two kids.
Submitted by: Rosa
9:00 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
66. Well we agree on most things. About the illegals, though. The state could just tell the Feds to go stuff it and sue Washington. We could go back and quote the old "taxation without representation", as we are forced to spend our own tax dollars to do what we are powerless to change. Or, we could let the Feds sue us and then join with most of the states all the way to the Supreme Court. I think it's time for the Feds to be responsible.
Submitted by: tonyE
8:54 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
67. I have an idea, if a politician pushes for a tax increase the people in that person's district should pay a 5% surcharge on that tax. If the voters in that district have no problem voting in someone who raises taxes, they should pay alittle more for taxing the rest of us. I think this would be fair.
Submitted by: JohnB
8:52 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
68. Any blue ribbon tax "reform" commission should note that poor and middle class individuals pay 11%+ of their income for state taxes while the rich pay 7%+. Any tax "reform" that makes this even more inequitable is out of the question. I would suggest a flat tax on wealth to pay for state government--this would tend to be very stable.
Submitted by: publius
8:47 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
69. By undoing Prop 13, you're saying lets give the politicians more money. They can't even budget what they have now. By raising property taxes you're taking money from people who can least afford the loss. You will see more home foreclosures. Go back and look at the reasons for the passage of Prop 13.
Submitted by: JohnB
8:42 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
70. Everybody should pay the same PERCENTAGE of taxes. Just like when you go to the store. I like a flat tax rate. I would LOVE it for the fed's too, but that will not happen as there are too many special interests groups that would be against it. Namely, my accountant!!!!
Submitted by: paul duron
8:25 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
71. Mr Skelton, I wish we could put you in charge in of Sacto. And I'm not being facetious. Arnold is so out of touch with us commoners. And to think at one time I was hoping that he could become president. What a disappointment.
Submitted by: paulderouin
8:14 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
72. Levy a well head tax on oil being pumped into world supply from California oil wells. California is the only state without such a tax. Alaska has one of the highest tax in US via Shara Palin. Pays too run the state of Alaska. Raise Capital gains on stock trades in the year purchased as apposed to one or two year holding. Add twenty dollars to car tax. Twenty percent cut in all legislators pay and ten percent all staff.No matching fund retirement or paid medical. There's lots more but who's listening ?
Submitted by: Enid
8:10 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
73. "More power has seeped to the special interests." At this juncture, the most significant special interest as regards the budget is the public employees' unions. Nothing will move until we break their power.
Submitted by: Schigolch
8:08 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
74. The "top-two" election system won't change the makeup of the legislature. Washington state tried it in 2008 for the first time. Out of 124 legislative races, only one incumbent lost a primary. Those Republican "ideologues" who won't vote for tax increases are reflecting majority sentiment in their districts. If that weren't true, there would be recall petitions aimed at them, because in recall elections, a replacement is elected simultaneously in a non-partisan election. But people know in their hearts that those anti-tax Republicans reflect popular opinion in their districts, so no one tries to recall them.
Submitted by: Richard Winger
7:37 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
75. Look to entitlements that's where the real money is. Separate the truly needy from the voluntary unemployed.
Submitted by: Michael Goetz
7:30 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
76. The parasite has officially killed the host in CA. Now the parasite has hunger pains and is about to go on a multi year crash diet. Good job liberals.
Submitted by: buz
7:25 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
77. Excuse me, but the State dumping of the mentally disabled onto the streets pre-dates proposition 13--a proposition that prevented even more homeless then would have otherwise happened without proposition 13's halting of extravagant property tax increases. Further, proposition 13 can't be blamed for the states inability to develop off shore and on shore energy resources and taxable revenue there from; you can blame that on Hollywood and the movie China Syndrome, staring Jane Fonda. The current Beverly Hills written energy bill is just more of the same balderdash.
Submitted by: don
7:24 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
78. Excellent ideas. Why don't YOU run and win politcal office and help turn things around. Kibbitzing from the peanut gallery is really easy.
Submitted by: RLee
7:11 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
79. Ah, yes. More taxes. That's always the solution, isn't it? As for initiatives identifying a revenue source, let's take it a step further and do away with all initiatives that rely on bonds. And as for the 2/3's rule, it doesn't seem like the state has had much trouble putting us in the top 5 in tax burden as a percentage of income.
Submitted by: Jeff Viar
7:07 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
80. Just as I expected- Mr. Skelton is parroting Democrat Assembly Leader Karen Bass. She has been everywhere since the special election whining about the 2/3 requirement. Well, guess what? Voters in several states are now CONSIDERING instituting the 2/3 majority because they are being hammered with tax increase after tax increase. Soon we won't be just one of the three states with it; we'll be one of 50! But the real solution to the budgetary morass is easy: require a 2/3 supermajority for ALL spending bills. Those idiots would then have to come together and compromise before spending a dollar.
Submitted by: LJ Pelfrey
6:56 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
81. when need better choices for govenor also, brown and newsome will hurt california. They are terrible choices.
Submitted by: bill
6:45 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
82. Bottom line.... Where is the money to come from if entitlement services and other tax eaters are not reduced? If the people speak and demand no new taxes, do you think the sly left handed tax increase subtly listed in the article will work? The problem there is California is too smart to be fooled into paying higher taxes they do now want to pay. And the real problem causing everything is, the politicians who are backed by the entitlement folks and other welfare services and Unions, want no reduction in services and, to say it plainly,...would like to make the rich pay even more, they need their tax money to give to the non-tax payers.
Submitted by: wodstock1969
6:43 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
83. another raise the taxes or make it easier to raise the taxes article by the LA Times, WHAT A SURPRISE! The FACTS are they have increased spending over the last four years by over 70%. Inflation and population growth EVEN with the immigration influx has not been anywhere near that. Simply cut the size of government back to 2004 levels and we have a balanced budget. As a home owner I'm so glad that prop 13 is there. We are #4 on the all time taxed list as a state now, can you imagine if every homeowner was forking out 3-5 times the taxes they are now. We would all be loosing our houses, not just the poor saps that took out sub-prime loans.
Submitted by: thomas klein
6:29 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
84. This list ignores the central problem in California's revenue stream: Prop 13. This state is only 17th highest in taxes (despite widespread belief its number 1, a lie even the Economist repeated in its Letters page recently). For a start, split the commercial and residential rolls: take business property out of Prop 13. Its bad economics to make the property tax burden much higher on new businesses, and subsidize old ones. Even better, get rid of it entirely, which would free up people to make rational decisions without the distortions of frozen tax assessments. Let markets work without government imposed distortions.
Submitted by: Boraxo
6:28 PM PDT, June 28, 2009
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