"Everything is on the table," said Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday, when asked whether he would support a statewide sales tax, in this case, as part of a massive government intervention into health care in California. The Governor said that he could support placing a tax hike on the ballot on which Californians can vote. Presumably the Republican Governor, after negotiating such a "deal" for California taxpayers, would then advocate its passage as well.
Shame on Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I don’t know how to sugar coat this, so I will just say it like it is — he lied. He lied to me, he lied to his supporters and he lied to all Californians. When he campaigned for re-election last year, he said he was "moderate on social issues, progressive on environmental issues, and conservative on fiscal issues."
I cannot remember a stump speech that the Governor delivered to Republican activists, and I heard quite a few as a grassroots supporter of his campaign, where he did not flat out state his opposition to raising taxes, period. There was no audible "asterisk" qualifying his opposition to new taxes. Schwarzenegger’s firm opposition to increasing taxes, in contrast to billions in tax hikes being promoted by Democrat Phil Angelides, helped to keep the Republican base fired up for the Governor while he reached out to Democrat voters with his social and environmental views.
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September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Once again Jon has gone off half cocked. The Governor is not proposing to impose a tax increase (in marked contrast to what Democrats do – just raise taxes without a vote of the people). The Governor says that if the people vote to raise their taxes, he will go along with it. To me that is just good Republican policy. Let the voters decide. But Jon doesn’t trust the voters. Jon knows best. Hummmm… kind of sounds like Jon is a Democrat in Republican dress, doesn’t it?
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
The whole campaign promise and pact last year with Republican voters was that Arnold would be a backstop on tax hikes and increased spending. What a joke that turned out to be.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I see Bob Evans’ point: Let the voters decide. For that reason, I am sure he will help organize a recall campaign. We need to let the voters decide if they want to keep a lying, tax-loving, Big Government RINO in the Governor’s Office.
I suspect that the voters are ready to send Arnold Schwarzenegger back to Santa Monica.
Oh, and the voters will kill his tax increase scheme, too. Thank God!
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Tax increases should never be “left for the voters to decide.” Our Founding Fathers gave us a republic rather than a direct democracy because they feared tyranny of the majority.
Ballot initiatives – a form of direct democracy – are a perfect way for “the voters” to “punish” unpopular groups (the rich, cigarette smokers, alcoholic beverage consumers) by imposing taxes of them. It is unfortunate that the initiative process is so often abused in this manner in California.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
As I recall, the Governor rolled back the car tax (a tax beloved by the Democrats because they used the money to pay off the favored few). He rolled back the tax on business that took the form of insurance premiums for “job related” injuries. I think the Governor has a great record on holding the line on taxes. And I trust the voters. I trusted the voters when they voted for Prop 22 and against lowering the threshold for passing the budget. As far as the recall is concerned I would vote to recall the Governor if, as Jon said, the “lied” but he didn’t. The Governor rightly said he will support what the voters decide and so do I. As for taxes on booze and tobacco, I voted yes on these along with the majority. If you don’t want to pay these taxes, stop smoking and drinking booze.