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.

Car Tax Redux
With a recall breathing down their necks liberals concoct a tax fraud
[John Campbell] 8/15/03

Isn't it fascinating. Suddenly, now that Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante is running for Governor, he and many of his Democratic allies in the Legislature, now believe that the car tax is an unfair tax. Where have they been for the last 2 years!! As many of us were fighting this illegal tax increase over the past year, most of these Democrats were speaking in favor of it! Every Democrat in the Legislature actually voted to increase the tax legislatively even before the Governor raised the tax administratively. Now that the collective voice of your anger has been raised, they appear to be backing down.

But they only appear to be doing so. In fact, their proposal is part of another elaborate scheme to raise taxes without getting the constitutionally required 2/3rds vote.

What they did, was to administratively (and illegally) triple the car tax. Then they propose to trade that car tax increase straight across for an increase in the income tax and tobacco taxes. This straight across trade is not a net tax increase (since the car tax has already been raised) and therefore they believe that it does not need a 2/3rds vote either. The net result is a $4 Billion annual tax increase on you without the constitutionally required 2/3rds vote.

This would be akin to someone coming into your house and stealing $100. Then that person turns around and wants to use the $100 they just stole from you for a straight across trade for something you still own. You would say, "I don't think so!" and rightly so. But this group has never cared about what is fair or effective or legal. They only care about accomplishing their special interest, government-centered agenda any way they can. Be assured that we will continue the fight against the car tax and against this ridiculous swap both legislatively, legally and at the ballot box.

The bottom line is that Cruz Bustamante and his colleagues are hell bent to increase any tax, any time by any amount. Whatever they can get away with they will do. They have already increased taxes by about 10% in the last 3 years (look at how well that solved the deficit) and they would increase them by another 25% if they could. They will try any way they can, legal or
illegal to do so. Don't fall for it. Insist that the car tax go back down and no other tax go up. Insist that the 2/3rds vote threshold for all tax and fee increases be maintained and affirmed.

And beware of Lieutenant Governors bearing gifts.