Tag "tax increases"
Back to homepage‘Big three’ budget talks behind closed doors
June 11, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — This is budget deadline week in California. Which explains why every known special interest group in the state is at the Capitol, protesting against the looming proposed spending cuts. Hundreds of home
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Moonbeamasaurus and giant labor lizards
June 11, 2012 Katy Grimes: Politics in 2012 California feels more like the Mesozoic age. Around every corner is a predator, waiting to pounce in search of its next meal. Predatory labor lizard unions, public employee unions, politicians, special interest
Read MoreCalifornia voters OK 63% of tax measures
June 8, 2012 By Chriss Street Local voters approved 63 percent — or 55 of the 87 — local tax, bond or fee measures on the June 5, 2012 California primary ballot, according to Michael Coleman, the creator of CaliforniaCityFinance.com.
Read MoreSacramento redevelopment repackaged?
Katy Grimes: John Shirey, Sacramento’s latest city manager and former director of California’s defunct Redevelopment Agency, sent out an email this evening promoting local business “opportunities” connecting with “resources.” Only those “resources” are being repackaged as opportunities for small businesses as
Read MoreIllegal tax pays for new state employees
June 7, 2012 Katy Grimes: California lawmakers apparently didn’t get the message voters sent on Tuesday night. Earlier today, the Sen. Budget Committee approved Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to spend another $6.4 million collecting the State Responsibility Area fire tax,
Read MoreLegislating ‘justice for janitors’
June 7, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — California legislators are routinely approached by special interest groups to carry legislation—this is not news. The news is what that legislation is, and who it benefits. An Assembly Concurrent Resolution was in
Read MoreProp 29 tobacco tax defeated
June 6, 2012 Katy Grimes: Ballotpedia just reported that Proposition 29, the Tobacco tax, was defeated 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent. Whew! That was close. But in the end, I think voters are just distrustful of another tax, and particularly
Read MoreWalker win a repudiation of big labor
June 5, 2012 By Katy Grimes Commentary When the big news outlets called the Wisconsin election for Gov. Scott Walker early, it was apparent that blue is going to be the new red in November. Despite the Associated Press announcing
Read MoreSan Diego says ‘no’ to unions
June 5, 2012 Katy Grimes: Early ballots are showing that San Diego’s Proposition A, which would stop the city from requiring Project Labor Agreements on municipal construction contracts, is leading with 59.8 percent of the vote. In another big anti-union
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