Last night the Alameda County Dem Party voted unanimously to approve the following statement:
Californians deserve real solutions to the budget deficit. Responding to our economic crisis with an all-cuts budget will only make the state’s problems worse. Deep cuts to vital programs undermine our economic recovery and President Obama’s investment in economic stimulus, disproportionately harm the most vulnerable Californians, and go against our core values.
More than 70 percent of voters sat out the May 19 special election because it is the Governor and Legislature’s job to fix the budget. Polls show the defeat of the initiatives was neither an endorsement of an all-cuts approach nor a rejection of raising revenues.
Under Governor Schwarzenegger, California has seen $12.5 billion in tax cuts. Drastic spending cuts will irrevocably change the state we love. Californians support and deserve a state that provides for the common good and the needs of our residents, and we have the resources to make that possible. Cuts are not the only option!
Our state needs courageous leadership. We will support those who stand against an all-cuts budget, speak out for fair ways of raising revenue, and work to deliver a budget that invests in our future and protects all the people of our state. True leaders get their strength from the people they represent. We pledge to be that strength, and mobilize to support a sensible budget solution.
Please let us know if your organizations are organizing, lobbying, etc. on the budget too.
Join the statewide “Fix the CA Budget Now!” effort on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group….
Janet Stromberg
14th AD CDP Executive Board Rep
This is it? This is the solution? We fix the CA Budget problem by opposing an all-cuts budget?
Methinks a little more meat is required for these bones.
So here are the current large revenue streams:
Income tax: $55 Billion (highest rate in the nation)
Sales tax: $29 Billion (highest rate in the nation)
Corporate tax: $12 Billion (10th highest in the nation)
How much higher do you want taxes to go? Do you want to raise corporate taxes now? Do you think that might have some impact on job creation?
You don’t want cuts only, but where are the revenues going to come from? We have a $24 Billion hole and extremely high taxes. We need more than slogans now.
and yes we need large corporations and wealthy individuals to to pay their fair share. As a result of the January budget deal, Alameda County residents now pay 9.75% in sales taxes. This is regressive taxation to the extreme.