The following is a press release issued Monday by the office of state Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D- Fremont:
Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) today to give Alameda County the option to put a November 2012 measure on the ballot to fund transportation infrastructure improvements.
“The county is updating its transportation plan and this legislation gives it the option to ask voters to invest in long-term improvements in Alameda County,” Wieckowski said. “The potential is there to create jobs to repair our roads and maintain our infrastructure to meet the needs of local residents and businesses.”
AB 1086 provides a one-time exemption from the existing 2 percent cap on local sales taxes. Recent sales tax measures approved in San Leandro and Union City would otherwise have prevented a countywide measure because it would exceed the 2 percent cap. Wieckowski’s bill would allow a November 2012 measure to take effect if it receives the required two-thirds support from county voters.
“We appreciate Assemblymember Wieckowski’s leadership in authoring AB 1086, which allows Alameda County residents a choice to improve transportation throughout Alameda County,” said Union City Mayor Mark Green, chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission. “Governor Brown did the right thing in signing AB 1086 today since it supports his ideas of government reorganization throughout the state. It is now up to the elected officials in Alameda County to forge the creation of a new transportation expenditure plan that voters will approve in November 2012.”
The Alameda County Transportation Commission is holding community meetings throughout the county as it prepares to update its long-term plan.
AB 1086 is the second Wieckowski bill signed by Governor Brown. On Sept. 6, he signed AB 255, to make it easier and less expensive for businesses to manage latex paint waste and to encourage proper disposal. Studies suggest up to half of leftover paint is illegally discarded in landfills. Wieckowski has seven bills remaining on the governor’s desk.
Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia, N. + S. Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, N+S. Dakotas, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming States with worsened employment (6): Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Idaho, Florida. Reliably Democratic states with improved employment (12): Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island With worsened employment (4): California, Arkansas, Connecticut, New Jersey Unchanged (but still Dem) (4): Pennsylvania, W. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware. So, just counting up states doesn't mesh with your interpretation of that article.
West Coast states with improvements since 2009: Washington and Oregon, with California worse. States of the original confederacy with improvements since 2009: Tennessee, Alabama, N., S. Carolinas, VIrginia (5). States of the original confederacy with worsening: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas (6). Kind of split, and if you throw in Missouri, it evens it out.
2) Everyone pays property taxes. Either you pay them as a homeowner or business owner, or you pay them through increased rent as a renter or increased prices for 'stuff' if you buy things at a store (that passes along the property taxes to you in the form of prices). Stop ranting and learn Econ 101.
People on the left also believe that that we are collecting less and less taxes from the rich and corporations.Authors like David Cay Johnston do a good job of detailing this trend in books like Perfectly Legal and Free Lunch. Also www.CTJ.org Citizens for Tax Justice is very good on this issue. I wrote an article which is worth looking at regarding California commercial property taxes "California Silence of the Scams." Also sales taxes are a very regressive form of taxation since they end up taxing the poor and middle class at a much higher rate than the rich since a much higher part of poor and middle class income goes to cover sales tax related essentials. It is Often referred to as "nickle and diming the poor."
is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board. Investigative journalism definition: is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism is a primary source of information. Most investigative journalism is done by newspapers, wire services and freelance journalists. Practitioners sometimes use the terms "watchdog journalism" or "accountability reporting." It is my general understanding that investigative journalists do not have the freedoms of an op-ed contributor (much less a Patch comments community contributor like you or myself). The editorial board of distinguished newspapers, such as the WSJ and the NY Times scrutinize journalistic reports for relevancy, balance, errors, etc.
I know it is a hard concept to grasp. But I also know that you can do it! Buddy thanks you for your support. :)