- This November, you will have a ton of opportunities to vote to raise your taxes. We’ll be looking more closely at all of these in the coming weeks and months. Today’s issue of USA Today has a story on the effort to raise the state’s cigarette tax by 300%! While most of us don’t smoke, it is important that we all stand tall against this heinous attempt to raise taxes. If you don’t stand up to this tax hike, then who will stand up when the next tax hike hits YOU? Of course, I think it is important to remember that the biggest ‘tax hike’ on the November ballot isn’t a measure, it is a person. Democrat Gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides has promised to raise taxes all over the map. There is not one Californian who would be immune from his quest to grow the size and scope of state government. Clearly this is someone who thinks that the liberals and bureaucrats in Sacramento can spend your money better than you can. Vote no on the tax hikes (including the bonds) and vote no on Phil Angelides!
- Today in the Orange County Register’s Weekly "Buzz" column, he makes mention of my move to the private sector (thanks for the shout-out Martin). It’s true. After nearly six years of working as a spokesperson for Orange County Sheriff’s Mike Carona, I have decided to start up my own public affairs consulting firm. I’m a bit nervous about the move, but feel that it is the right time for me to do this. Martin makes a brief mention in his column that there are ‘rumors’ that I am leaving not because of my desire to have success in business, but because I may have some issue with Sheriff Carona. Let me just kill that rumor right here, right now. I have known Mike Carona for nearly fifteen years, and in addition to being a great friend for all of that time, he has been a great boss for the past six years. I hold him in the highest regard, and have tremendous respect for him as a person, and as a law-enforcement leader. While I am leaving my paying job with Carona, I will still be volunteering time as a uniformed Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the department, and hope to spend some of those hours directly assisting the Sheriff.
- Will you mind having to go down to the DMV this coming year to renew your license in person? I won’t. You see, under federal guidelines (because, of course, the liberals in the STATE legislature would never actually place real requirements on obtaining a license), you now have to demonstrate proof of who you are in order to get a driver’s license. It may mean long lines at a state office — but that is aok with me. I’m willing to do my part to keep illegal foreign nationals from using a California license to cross a border or get onto an airplane. If only we could actually get the laws changed so that we could get illegal foreign nationals out from behind the wheel of a car.
Don’t miss four great columns today:
- I usually agree with the WSJ’s John Fund on most things. In his column today, he talks about the need to have some method of guest-worker program. To his credit, his position is definitely to the right of the President Bush/Ted Kennedy plan.
- Townhall.com Chairman Douglas Wilson pens a thoughtful piece about something he feels is wrong in America today — the ability for people across the isle to get along socially and civilly, even as they disagree on policy issues.
- In the Golden Pen, State Assemblyman Ray Haynes hammers on Phil "The Sheriff of Nottingham" Angelides.
- Over at California Political News and Views, State Senator George Runner calls for us to stop subsidizing Hollywood. No kidding.
Have a great day!
Jon
Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?
Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.