In case you were wondering if the Democrats in Sacramento are out to reach further into the pockets of every taxpayer in California, here’s a list of tax hike measures introduced by Democrats, moving forward in the legislature right now…

Paving the Way for Higher Car Taxes for California Motorists
Democrats have introduced several bills to raise the car tax on California motorists, who already are struggling to pay high gas prices. 

• Senate Bill 240, by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, would allow an unelected body in the Central Valley to increase the car tax on Valley motorists to as high as $30 – without a vote of the people.  They would also be able to impose a new $300-a-year tax on “stationary” sources of air pollution, such as homes, businesses, and farm equipment. 
• Assembly Bill 444, by Asm. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, enables two governing bodies in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to increase the car tax by $10 by a majority vote.  This would undermine important taxpayer protections in the California Constitution requiring a two-thirds vote.
• Assembly Bill 493, by Asm. Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City, would impose a new car tax as high as $2,500 on Californians who buy new cars that emit high levels of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. 

Pouring a Stiffer Alcohol Tax on California Consumers
Democrats are pushing several measures to raise taxes or impose new ones on alcoholic beverages sold in California, to pay for new government programs and increased spending.

• Senate Bill 297, by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, would enable counties to impose a new tax, as high as five percent, on the sales of beer, wine and distilled spirits served at bars and taverns in their communities.
• Assembly Bill 345, by Asm. Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, would impose even higher taxes on liquor stores and bars just for the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages, on top of the high tax rates they already pay to the state.

Lighting Up Higher Cigarette Taxes for More Government Spending
Senate Bill 24, by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, would increase the cigarette tax by an additional $1.90 per pack, to fund new programs and increased government spending determined by Sacramento politicians.

Imposing New Property Taxes Without a Vote of the People
Senate Bill 34, by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, would allow unelected governing boards at the local level to impose new property taxes on California homeowners – without a vote of the people.

Putting California Ports at a Competitive Disadvantage
Senate Bill 974, by Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would increase the price of transporting goods throughout California by imposing a container tax on goods shipped through Oakland, Long Beach or Los Angeles harbors. 

Making Real Estate Even More Expensive in Bay Area
Assembly Bill 239, by Asm. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, would make real estate costs for homebuyers in already-expensive Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties even pricier by imposing a new fee on every real estate transaction – without a vote of the people.

Undermining Constitutional Protections for California Taxpayers
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8, by Asm. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, would undermine the requirement in the California Constitution that local tax increases be approved by a two-thirds vote of the people, letting local governments push through new taxes subject to just a 55 percent approval vote, putting taxpayers at risk of massive tax increases being imposed in their communities.

(h/t to Morgan Crinklaw, the Communications Director for the Assembly Republican Caucus, for sending this along…)

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.