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user warning: Table 'hjta_prod.cache_similarterms' doesn't exist query: UPDATE cache_similarterms SET data = 'a:3:{i:0;O:8:\"stdClass\":28:{s:3:\"nid\";s:4:\"1087\";s:3:\"vid\";s:4:\"1087\";s:4:\"type\";s:10:\"news_story\";s:6:\"status\";s:1:\"1\";s:7:\"created\";s:10:\"1263230133\";s:7:\"changed\";s:10:\"1263230359\";s:7:\"comment\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"promote\";s:1:\"0\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"0\";s:18:\"revision_timestamp\";s:10:\"1263230359\";s:5:\"title\";s:49:\"ARTICLE: Schwarzenegger Declares Budget Emergency\";s:4:\"body\";s:308:\"As the Sacramento Bee reports, Schwarzenegger has declared a \"budget emergency\" for California. His plan of action includes no tax hikes, but substantial cuts to state employee salaries.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/2448258.html\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a> to read the article.\";s:6:\"teaser\";s:308:\"As the Sacramento Bee reports, Schwarzenegger has declared a \"budget emergency\" for California. His plan of action includes no tax hikes, but substantial cuts to state employee salaries.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/2448258.html\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a> to read the article.\";s:3:\"log\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"format\";s:1:\"3\";s:3:\"uid\";s:2:\"10\";s:4:\"name\";s:5:\"tgaul\";s:7:\"picture\";s:0:\"\";s:4:\"data\";s:111:\"a:4:{s:7:\"contact\";i:1;s:17:\"mimemail_textonly\";i:0;s:14:\"picture_delete\";s:0:\"\";s:14:\"picture_upload\";s:0:\"\";}\";s:4:\"path\";s:53:\"news/article-schwarzenegger-declares-budget-emergency\";s:12:\"field_byline\";a:1:{i:0;a:1:{s:5:\"value\";s:0:\"\";}}s:22:\"field_featured_content\";a:1:{i:0;a:1:{s:5:\"value\";s:2:\"no\";}}s:4:\"tags\";a:1:{i:1;a:2:{i:95;O:8:\"stdClass\":5:{s:3:\"tid\";s:2:\"95\";s:3:\"vid\";s:1:\"1\";s:4:\"name\";s:23:\"Governor Schwarzenegger\";s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"weight\";s:1:\"0\";}i:64;O:8:\"stdClass\":5:{s:3:\"tid\";s:2:\"64\";s:3:\"vid\";s:1:\"1\";s:4:\"name\";s:12:\"State Budget\";s:11:\"description\";s:0:\"\";s:6:\"weight\";s:1:\"0\";}}}s:22:\"last_comment_timestamp\";s:10:\"1263230359\";s:17:\"last_comment_name\";N;s:13:\"comment_count\";s:1:\"0\";s:8:\"taxonomy\";a:3:{i:5;O:8:\"stdClass\":5:{s:3:\"tid\";s:1:\"5\";s:3:\"vid\";s:1:\"2\";s:4:\"name\";s:4:\"News\";s:11:\"description\";s:4:\"News\";s:6:\"weight\";s:1:\"0\";}i:95;r:31;i:64;r:37;}s:10:\"page_title\";b:0;}i:1;O:8:\"stdClass\":28:{s:3:\"nid\";s:4:\"1066\";s:3:\"vid\";s:4:\"1066\";s:4:\"type\";s:10:\"news_story\";s:6:\"status\";s:1:\"1\";s:7:\"created\";s:10:\"1261631285\";s:7:\"changed\";s:10:\"1261631330\";s:7:\"comment\";s:1:\"0\";s:7:\"promote\";s:1:\"0\";s:6:\"sticky\";s:1:\"0\";s:18:\"revision_timestamp\";s:10:\"1261631330\";s:5:\"title\";s:68:\"ARTICLE: Schwarzenegger Gives Ultimatum to Washington to Provide Aid\";s:4:\"body\";s:493:\"The L.A. Times has released a report on Governor Schwarzenegger\'s final plea for $8 billion dollars in aid from the federal government. He has threaten massive cuts to social programs across the state, including canceling the state\'s main welfare program. These cuts would come into effect in 2010 if Washington does not respond.\r\n<a href= \"http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget23-2009dec23,0,7164018.story\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here</a> to read the article.\";s:6:\"teaser\";s:493:\"The L.A. Times has released a report on Governor Schwarzenegger\'s final plea for $8 billion dollars in aid from the federal government. He has threaten massive cuts to social programs across the state, including canceling the state\'s main welfare program. 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Despite a very busy 2009 (one consumed by a special election, revenue shortfalls, and two budget debates so far!) HJTA was still there faithfully representing you in the halls and committee rooms of the State Capitol. \r\nThe Association took positions on 80 bills this year, about 25 of which are still active. Many of these bills do damage to Proposition 13, either through watering down its 1% property tax cap or through tax-like fees that are not required to get two-thirds voter approval. Here are some examples.\r\nAssembly Constitutional Amendment 9, by Marin County Assemblyman Jared Huffman would lower the required vote to pass bonds and special taxes to 55% in order to fund public safety improvements. These local government bonds are “below the line” exactions that do not count against Proposition 13’s cap. This bond debt is placed on your property tax bill for up to 30 years, and is one of the reasons that, even with Proposition 13, California only ranks 22nd in per capita property tax collections according to the Tax Foundation. By making it easier to increase your property taxes, all homeowners suffer. It is not a good message to be sending in the worst housing market of a generation. Further, non-homeowners and renters who don’t pay property taxes have more of a say with a lower vote threshold, and they care much less about protecting your property from higher taxes.\r\nAnother bill is Senate Constitutional Amendment 6, by Bay Area State Senator Joe Simitian. This measure would lower the threshold to pass school facility parcel taxes to 55%. Like ACA 9, this represents another below the line reduction that waters down Proposition 13 by not counting against its cap. It is important to note though just how regressive parcel taxes are because each house gets hit with the same tax, whether you live in a mansion or a bungalow. Both measures are on their respective legislative floors, awaiting an unlikely two-thirds vote to move to the other house. Currently, there are six of these constitutional amendments in the Legislature. \r\nAn example of a “tax-like fee” that waters down Proposition 13 is AB 73 by Bay Area Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi. Hayashi’s bill would allow a municipality like a city or county to charge $2 more for marriage licenses and other certified certificates to fund domestic violence programs. In HJTA’s view, this does not meet the definition of a true fee. A fee is supposed to be paid in order to mitigate harm caused by the fee-payer, or to establish a regulatory program. By funding a program that has nothing to do with marriage, AB 73 fails to meet that standard and violates the Constitution. Therefore, it should be keyed as a special tax, requiring a two-thirds vote of the local electorate.\r\nA complete list of our bill positions can be found by clicking on the appropriate tab within the “Legislative Action” section on the right side of the screen.\r\nFinally, a brief word on the state budget that was passed by the Legislature in August. HJTA is pleased that this budget, unlike the last one passed in February, does not include any tax increases. It is a major victory that demonstrates that the Legislature heard loud and clear the message that was sent during the May 19th special election: voters do not want any more taxes! Also, despite a growing number of attacks in the media and elsewhere, Propositions 13 and 218 were also protected and remain in place. This is a budget deal that made billions in real cuts, and brings California somewhat down the path toward fiscal stability. \r\nHowever, we are under no illusions that this is a budget that will be sufficient to see California through its current fiscal decline. At least $17 billion will have to be repaid back to the state in within the next five years. Among the most egregious of these ‘revenue deferral’ proposals includes paying state employees salaries in June one day later. By making this $1.3 billion payment on July 1, this payment does not need to be counted as an expense in the current fiscal year. We are also concerned that $2 billion in local government borrowing will lead to increased pressure to pass more local bonds and special taxes, watering down Proposition 13 and placing more long term burdens on you, the taxpayer. We firmly believe that this budget will have to be revised yet again, (the third time this year) sometime in October or November. This represents another opportunity for the Legislature to increase taxes, something we will obviously continue to be vigilant against.\r\n\";s:6:\"teaser\";s:470:\"By: David Wolfe, HJTA Legislative Director\r\nAnother September is upon us, which means that the Legislature is once again wrapping up its business by sending hundreds of bills to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature or veto. Despite a very busy 2009 (one consumed by a special election, revenue shortfalls, and two budget debates so far!) 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ARTICLE: Desperation Bid

April 9, 2009

This article in The San Diego Union-Tribune describes how the May 19 special election ballot is a futile attempt to fix the same budget deficit that Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget deal purported to solve. As the article states, both pieces of legislation are merely “products of a corrupt political establishment in Sacramento.” Which is the bigger sham? You decide.

Click Here to Read the Article.