How many of us seen this coming?  It was just a matter of time. Democrats are taking away our 2nd Amend rights and taxing us to the hilt under the guise of the fight against terrorism, when Bill C. was responsible for this debacle.  Calif's sales tax is scheduled to go to 8.75% on Jan 1,02 because their revenue is projected to fall below a certain threshold, and will probably raise another 0.5% if the demos get their tax increase.  Between our electricity debacle(we/Calif are going to be paying an extra $10 BILLION over 10 years because of Davis' eneptness) and tax increases, Calif should be out of business in 2 years.
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[url]http://www.kfwb.com/news/local/l121913.html[/url]

Sales Tax Increase Eyed as California Considers Terrorism Costs

(AP) 12.19.01, 3:05p -- California may need a quarter-cent sales tax increase to help pay the cost of responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, legislators said Wednesday, even as they called on the federal government to cover the bulk of the new precautions.
Police, fire and medical groups already are drafting a November 2002 ballot measure that would boost the sales tax and provide more than $1 billion a year.

"We're not adequately prepared because we're not adequately funded," said Assembly Transportation Chair John Dutra, D-Fremont, as the Assembly's Task Force on the Impact of Terrorism in California drafted recommendations for legislation and spending to be considered next year.

The money should go to "first responders" like police, fire and emergency workers, suggested Assembly Public Safety Committee Chairman Carl Washington, D-Paramount.

But other lawmakers quickly added to the possible beneficiaries. The state's public health system is "woefully underfunded" and unprepared for possible bioterrorism attacks, and should be first in line for more money, said Health Committee Chairwoman Helen Thomson, D-Davis. Trauma centers that would likely handle injuries from terror attacks also are financially strapped, she said.

California must combat drivers' license fraud with high-tech -- and costly -- methods to cut counterfeiting, said Labor and Employment Chairman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood. He also wondered if the state should be doing more to increase security at the state Capitol.

There is an urgent need to improve radio communications between law enforcement and emergency response agencies, and increase bioterrorism training for emergency responders, said Governmental Organization Chairman George Nakano, D-Torrance.

It would cost about $300 million just to safeguard the most vulnerable state waterways, offered water committee Chairman Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

Los Angeles-area transit systems need terrorism safety training, surveillance equipment and financial help because of decreased ridership, said Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach.

And tourism, travel, manufacturing and other industries are calling for tax incentives and other subsidies to help them recover from business downturns they blame on the terror attacks, said Revenue and Taxation Chairwoman Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro.

Since Sept. 11, the state has beefed up security at bridges, highways, nuclear plants, airports, aqueducts, and other potential targets at an estimated cost of $1 million a day. Law enforcement "is spending at levels that cannot be sustained without additional resources," said Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys.

Early versions of the proposed sales tax initiative give 28 percent of new income to fire agencies and 20 percent each to city police, county sheriffs and hospital and trauma centers.

Tax opponents said the money should come from the state's existing budget, already hard hit by the economic downturn and a dispute over repaying the money the state has spent to buy electricity on behalf of three cash-strapped utilities.

Hertzberg and other lawmakers said they must put bipartisan pressure on Congress to pay the bulk of states' costs.

Gov. Gray Davis told U.S. homeland security director Tom Ridge a week ago that California had spent $143 million directly attributable to the attacks. Ridge said the federal government hopes to make a "substantial contribution" in the next federal budget year, though he offered no specific proportion.

"We are putting an enormous financial burden this state and on this country," Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, said Wednesday. "We need federal funding desperately."

Californians can make suggestions to the Assembly task force by calling: 1-800-977-SAFE.

Sounds like the Gov ought to call up the "unorganized militia" to help out watching bridges and such.
I'd be curious how many of the patriots (is that a dirty word now?) would be willing to stand guard duty?

I'm there.  Just give me back my second Amendment rights so that I can stand guard with something other than my d!ck in my hand.

Why don't we all just work for the government and let them pay us $100 a week allowance.  Isn't that what these socialist democraps want anyway?  Some states don't even have sales tax or exclude certain items like clothes and food.  Why is it that these states can get by ok, but the PRK has to tax its citizens into submission?  Maybe it's because the state is being run by a bunch of idealist liberal democrats.  If Davis wins again god help us all because you know he will run for President.

The tax increase is predictable but 9/11 has nothing to do with it. The Kommiefornia democrats (governor and legislature) have increased spending by 37% in 2 years. They blew a $10 Billion surplus and have run up a $14 Billion deficit (that's $24 Billion in addition to the "normal" budget in 2 years - more than most states spend in 10 years). The tax increase is another way to dip into the working man's pocketbook to pay for democratic freeloaders.

Sad thing is we can't get rid of the democrats because of the open borders policy. There are 9 million illegal aliens in Kommiefornia who vote democrat because democrats promise them welfare, AFDC, food stamps, housing subsidy, bus passes, free medical and free education. It's a felony for illegals to vote but the Democrats will not prosecute.

This is complete idiocy. The solution would be to pull the NG off of the bridges. I guess that they symbolize the bridges being guarded but in reality the NG does not do a damn thing.

I drive over the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate almost daily and you know what the guard is doing...They're reading a friggin' newspaper every single time I see them. Oh but I forgot they have CHP as backup. You wnat to know what the CHP is doing...they're talking on a cell phone each and everytime I pass them.

If I were a terrorist and wanted to drive a carbomb onto the bridge the NG and CHP would only know after the fact that there had been an event in which many innocent people could be hurt.

Sorry for the rant but this has been bugging me from day one!

Alex

Maybe the "terrorists" will plant charges along the San Andreas Fault and make Kalifornia sink (I can imagine all the democraps running like rats fon a drowning ship ala Titanic)
Hey all you AZ members, start buying your soon to be beach front property while you can get it cheap!!!

[smoke]

Man, I already buy almost everything of substance on-line. Can't buy appliances that way because of the weight, but I pay CA as little in sales taxes as possible. Screw 'em!

[url]http://www.kfwb.com/news/local/l122011.html[/url]

Audit Finds Major Shortcomings, Billions in Hidden Costs in Power Contracts

(AP) 12.20.01, 1:30p -- The first major analysis of California's reaction to 2001's power crisis says "significant risks" still abound for the state's electricity supply.

State Auditor Elaine Howle reported Thursday that hurried decisions made during the energy crisis can't guarantee power during times of tight supplies nor assure construction of new power plants. The state is also locked into buying power whether or not it's needed, and at costs that may be higher than market prices.

Taxpayers may end up paying for hidden costs into the billions of dollars, she said. "We certainly think that attempts should be made to renegotiate some of these contracts," the auditor said.

Howle saluted the Department of Water Resources for doing its job -- buying $10.7 billion worth of power in nine months and contracting 10 years worth of power for $42.6 billion. But the audit team's months long study found that DWR can't end contracts with suppliers who don't deliver and it didn't seek contract terms standard in the energy industry.

The state's water department -- an agency thrust into the power crisis early this year with little experience -- mainly threw large amounts of money to suppliers to assure 10 years of electricity, the 258-page audit stated. Auditors said the mission "dwarfed the department's capabilities."

Gov. Gray Davis' office referred calls to DWR, which responded to the criticism, saying it did its best under trying circumstances.

"Where we're at here is some very serious Monday morning quarterbacking," said DWR spokesman Oscar Hidalgo. "It's easy to look back and say you should have, could have done that. The options were limited, the times were difficult. We haven't forgotten that, but a lot of people have."

Thomas Hannigan, DWR director, said the agency successfully stabilized power prices and kept lights on despite dire forecasts of summer blackouts. He added that 70 percent of the long-term energy contracted by the agency will come from new power plants, an achievement "not even conceivable in the first half of this year."

The report provided an inside look at days of crisis following the state of emergency Davis declared Jan. 17. During winter and spring, the state spent $60 million to $100 million a day for power and asked numerous times for $500 million from the state's general fund within 10 days. From Feb. 2 to March 2 alone, DWR hurriedly negotiated $35.9 billion in long-term power contacts with experienced energy firms.

Those are the problem contracts, Howle said, adding that one contract saddles the state with the new costs of emission controls. Another makes the state pay future property tax hikes on its power plants.

"Certainly, the state was in a difficult position, leverage wise, because we were in a crisis situation," said Howle. "But things happened very quickly and there were cost consequences for that."

Hidalgo said DWR will try to reach new deals with long-term energy suppliers.

"We've had some dialogue with the counter-parties. I can't speak too much for the negotiations, he said. "They are under way. We are looking at all options, every aspect of the contracts, each and every contract."

Read the auditor's report:"California Energy Markets"
[url]http://www.bsa.ca.gov/bsa[/url]