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.