If you have been involved in multiple battles, statewide or local, to oppose taxes on the ballot, then you know that it is significantly more difficult to defeat measures that “seek to extend the life of an existing tax” than it is to stop the creation of a new tax.
Legislators flirting with the idea of voting to increase taxes “temporarily” (my good friend Assemblyman Martin Garrick can remind any legislators of the fallacy of raising taxes now, temporary or not) need to keep in mind that once it is created, there is a very good likelyhood that it will eventually become permanent.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Temporary taxes – was it not just a few years ago that Congress repealed the tax on phones to pay for the Spanish-American War. The tax was put on the books in 1898. I guess with politicians that is temporary.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Temporary taxes….LOL!
February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
There is nothing “temporary” on taxes.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I’m going to play along and pretend that all of these taxes are temporary. (work with me on this)
Of all the times to raise taxes, the worst time is during such economic distress that we are in right now.
I’ve got a better idea. Let’s go to the unions and say, “We are going to have a temporary pay cut. As soon as we can afford your currect pay and benefits, we will bring you back up.”
They shouldn’t have a problem with that…its just temporary.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I love that idea George. I think we need some “temporary spending cuts and some temporary reduction in gov”.