Contributor

John Campbell

John Campbell (R-Irvine) is an Assemblyman representing the 70th District in Orange County. Mr. Campbell is the Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee. He is the only CPA in the California State legislature and recently received a national award as Freshman Republican Legislator of the Year. He represents the cities of Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Lake Forest. He can be reached through his Assembly website and through the website for his California Senate campaign.

A 4% Solution
We propose no new taxes
[John Campbell] 7/04/03

Budget: This week, Assembly Republicans introduced an updated version of our budget proposal that we first made about 2 months ago. The salient point of our proposal is that it contains absolutely no new taxes including the illegally raised car tax. You will no doubt hear from Democrats how our proposal will result in "people dying" and "the end of life in California as we know it."

But let's analyze that. Our proposal cuts state spending by a whopping 4% from last year. 4%!! So, spending 96% of what we did last year will result in death and destruction, according to the opposition. Is there anyone who really believes that? Is there anyone who thinks that the worst fiscal crisis in the history of this or any state shouldn't result in a spending reduction of at least 4%. Does anyone think that there isn't at least 4% waste in government? Some of you probably think we should be cutting more. And you are right. But we are trying to offer a compromise to which some Democrats who have not completely lost their minds can subscribe.

Car Tax: The lawsuit was filed this week by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association to overturn the Governor's illegal tripling of the car tax. I am one of the plaintiffs in this suit. The tax is scheduled to go into effect for car registrations October 1st and later, according to Davis' office. You will have to pay the tax for now. But you should receive a refund once the lawsuit is resolved. More about that next week.

Independence Day: Today is the 4th of July. Many of you have sent me e-mails to thank me for the work I am doing. I would like to thank you all for those comments. But there are so many people who have done a lot more to secure our freedom. From the foot soldier in Iraq to the President's leadership on the world stage to those who pledged their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" over 200 years ago, we are the beneficiaries and inheritors of a great legacy. Let us cherish that legacy tomorrow. Let us thank those whose sacrifice has given us that legacy. And let us pledge to carry it forward and to make it even better for those that will follow us.Have a Happy and Memorable 4th of July