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Cal-Tax
In The News
Cal-Tax's policy experts are often sought
by news reporters for comment and insight on stories about political
events that affect taxpayers or government. Read some of those
articles here:
- 7-10-01: The
tax man casts his eyes to heavens: Los Angeles County is leading an
effort to have satellites subject to land-based tax law.
-
For years orbiting satellites have escaped
California tax rolls, but a team of lawyers is working to tax the final
frontier. The Sacramento Bee.
Larry McCarthy quoted.
-
For years orbiting satellites have escaped
California tax rolls, but a team of lawyers is working to tax the final
frontier. The Sacramento Bee.
Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 6-14-01:
Senate ponders property tax appeals.
-
Under current law, taxpayers who can't agree with their county assessor on
the value of their property can appeal the decision to a three-member
assessment appeals board. The members are appointed by the county's
board of supervisors; the panel has the final say on property valuation. Contra
Costa Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
-
Under current law, taxpayers who can't agree with their county assessor on
the value of their property can appeal the decision to a three-member
assessment appeals board. The members are appointed by the county's
board of supervisors; the panel has the final say on property valuation. Contra
Costa Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 1-19-01: It's back: Talk of higher business property tax
- Recent developments should warn California taxpayers of a growing risk of
higher taxes, costlier consumer products and a less competitive climate for
California industry to expand and create jobs. Sacramento Business Journal.
Larry McCarthy guest editorial.
- Recent developments should warn California taxpayers of a growing risk of
higher taxes, costlier consumer products and a less competitive climate for
California industry to expand and create jobs. Sacramento Business Journal.
Larry McCarthy guest editorial.
- 1-11-01: Tax
gain for city as energy costs rise: Call for rebates to residents
- The city of Sacramento collected $43.8
million in utility user taxes during the last fiscal year. About 10
percent of that amount was from a tax on natural gas. So what's bad
for consumers -- higher utility costs -- could be good for a
government that collects taxes based on those soaring rates. Sacramento
Bee. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- The city of Sacramento collected $43.8
million in utility user taxes during the last fiscal year. About 10
percent of that amount was from a tax on natural gas. So what's bad
for consumers -- higher utility costs -- could be good for a
government that collects taxes based on those soaring rates. Sacramento
Bee. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 10-30-00: Industries
backing Proposition 37
- No
city has placed a fee on your potato chips. And you don't pay a surcharge for
that slice of fat-oozing bacon. But some of California's biggest businesses say special fees for such unhealthy
vices might be in your future if government regulators have their way. That's
why, business interests say, they wrote Proposition 37, which would make it
harder to institute such fees. Orange County
Register. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- No
city has placed a fee on your potato chips. And you don't pay a surcharge for
that slice of fat-oozing bacon. But some of California's biggest businesses say special fees for such unhealthy
vices might be in your future if government regulators have their way. That's
why, business interests say, they wrote Proposition 37, which would make it
harder to institute such fees. Orange County
Register. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 10-27-00: Proposition
37 born of liquor store fee in Oakland
- Proposition 37 would classify fees like Oakland's liquor store assessment -- and any number of other fees that do not pay for direct regulation of an industry -- as taxes and therefore subject to a vote of the people at the local level. Sacramento Bee. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 10-24-00: Ballot
measure targets product-related fees
- Business groups supporting Proposition 37 say it would avoid "hidden taxes.'' Associated Press. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 10-16-00: Backers Say Measure Will Head Off
'Hidden Taxes'
- Tobacco,
oil and liquor industries say it is too easy for the state to impose fees that
really are taxes. Opponents say the initiative is a bid by its backers to shirk
responsibility. Los Angeles Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- Tobacco,
oil and liquor industries say it is too easy for the state to impose fees that
really are taxes. Opponents say the initiative is a bid by its backers to shirk
responsibility. Los Angeles Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 9-6-00: Tax
Fever
- Governments around the state are
proposing record tax increases even though cities are pulling in
record amounts of revenue. Orange County Register.
David Doerr and Ron Roach
quoted.
- Governments around the state are
proposing record tax increases even though cities are pulling in
record amounts of revenue. Orange County Register.
David Doerr and Ron Roach
quoted.
- 8-22-00:
Committee rejects cigarette fire safety bill
- A state Assembly
committee defeated a bill to force tobacco companies to sell
cigarettes that burn cooler or put themselves out when left unattended too
long.
Sacramento Bee. Carol Evans
quoted.
- A state Assembly
committee defeated a bill to force tobacco companies to sell
cigarettes that burn cooler or put themselves out when left unattended too
long.
Sacramento Bee. Carol Evans
quoted.
- 7-14-00: Jarvis
taxpayer group turns against Prop. 35: Contractor provisions raise
concerns
- A number of other taxpayer groups
remain committed to the proposal. Larry McCarthy, president of the
business- oriented California Taxpayers Association, said
contracting will speed up public projects, particularly state
highway efforts.
Sacramento Bee.
Larry McCarthy quoted.
- A number of other taxpayer groups
remain committed to the proposal. Larry McCarthy, president of the
business- oriented California Taxpayers Association, said
contracting will speed up public projects, particularly state
highway efforts.
Sacramento Bee.
Larry McCarthy quoted.
-
6-21-00:
Effort to
give parents vouchers for private schooling moves to ballot
-
An initiative that would give parents $4,000 to spend on
their child's education qualified for the state's November ballot yesterday, the
Secretary of State's office said.
San Francisco
Chronicle. Larry McCarthy quoted.
-
An initiative that would give parents $4,000 to spend on
their child's education qualified for the state's November ballot yesterday, the
Secretary of State's office said.
San Francisco
Chronicle. Larry McCarthy quoted.
-
6-21-00: Tax measure gets ballot spot:
Initiative would reclassify some fees
- California voters will be asked in November to reverse a decision by the state Supreme Court allowing the Legislature and local governments to impose certain fees by a simple majority vote, rather than the two-thirds majority required for increasing taxes. Sacramento Bee. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 6-20-00: Business groups qualify tougher approval requirements for some fees
- The proposal targets "tax-like
fees" that provide a "general benefit to the entire
community." Associated Press. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- The proposal targets "tax-like
fees" that provide a "general benefit to the entire
community." Associated Press. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 5-22-00: Corporations
suing L.A. over taxes
- Several major corporations sue Los
Angeles, claiming that the city's tax system is unfair.
Los Angeles Daily News. Greg Turner quoted.
- Several major corporations sue Los
Angeles, claiming that the city's tax system is unfair.
- 4-10-00: Economic boom shines spotlight on Gann
limit
- The booming California economy,
which continues to pile up tax revenue at a surprising rate,
may put the Gann spending limit back in play.
San Diego Union Tribune. David Doerr quoted.
- The booming California economy,
which continues to pile up tax revenue at a surprising rate,
may put the Gann spending limit back in play.
- 2-22-00: Budget
Surplus Could Aid Bonds
- California voters will have
a chance March 7 to borrow $4.6 billion to protect parkland,
boost the water supply and pay for new libraries, crime labs
and veterans' homes. The question is, are taxpayers willing to
incur the debt interest? Orange County Register. Steve
Kroes quoted.
- California voters will have
a chance March 7 to borrow $4.6 billion to protect parkland,
boost the water supply and pay for new libraries, crime labs
and veterans' homes. The question is, are taxpayers willing to
incur the debt interest? Orange County Register. Steve
Kroes quoted.
- 2-7-00: Commentary:
State budget moving in the right direction
- The 2000-01 state budget proposed
by Gov. Gray Davis is prudent and pragmatic--and it correctly
judges and respects a number of taxpayer issues. San Jose
Business Journal. Larry McCarthy guest editorial.
- The 2000-01 state budget proposed
by Gov. Gray Davis is prudent and pragmatic--and it correctly
judges and respects a number of taxpayer issues. San Jose
Business Journal. Larry McCarthy guest editorial.
- 2-3-00: Tax
reform: Top of the 2000 agenda
- Tax reform seems be mid-range
on most political agendas - either despite of or because of a
booming economy. Orange County Register Editorial.
Steve Kroes quoted.
- Tax reform seems be mid-range
on most political agendas - either despite of or because of a
booming economy. Orange County Register Editorial.
Steve Kroes quoted.
- 1-9-00: Officials
Join Bandwagon for $2.1 Billion Park Bond
- Area park officials will play
lead roles in the effort to win voter approval of Proposition
12 on the March ballot -- a $2.1 billion bond, the largest park
bond measure ever attempted in the United States. The Sacramento
Bee. Steve Kroes quoted.
- Area park officials will play
lead roles in the effort to win voter approval of Proposition
12 on the March ballot -- a $2.1 billion bond, the largest park
bond measure ever attempted in the United States. The Sacramento
Bee. Steve Kroes quoted.
- 9-10-99: FTB
Shakeup Bill Dies
- Stockton Record reports lawmakers were working behind
the scenes to pass 11th-hour legislation that would give Gov.
Gray Davis more control over the Franchise Tax Board, a panel
that oversees the collection of $30 billion in annual income
taxes. Larry McCarthy and Ron Roach quoted.
- Stockton Record reports lawmakers were working behind
the scenes to pass 11th-hour legislation that would give Gov.
Gray Davis more control over the Franchise Tax Board, a panel
that oversees the collection of $30 billion in annual income
taxes. Larry McCarthy and Ron Roach quoted.
- 9-6-99:
Honk
if You're Sick of the Traffic
- Cal-Tax
supports raising local sales taxes to help pay for road projects.
Larry McCarthy is quoted in a Sept. 6, 1999 George Skelton column (Los
Angeles Times). The Capitol Journal column headline is "Honk if
You're Sick of the Traffic."
- Cal-Tax
supports raising local sales taxes to help pay for road projects.
Larry McCarthy is quoted in a Sept. 6, 1999 George Skelton column (Los
Angeles Times). The Capitol Journal column headline is "Honk if
You're Sick of the Traffic."
- 8-22-99: Will
Ventura Harbor sink Proposition 13?
- In April 1990 a handful of California
investors pooled together about $100,000 to purchase an asset
of a bankrupt company. Nearly a decade later, the company is
still in business. Its lawsuit is still alive, pending before
the California Supreme Court and heading toward a decision that
could ultimately cost every Ventura homeowner $100 and blow a
hole through the tax-limiting protections of Proposition 13.
Ventura County Star. Greg Turner quoted.
- In April 1990 a handful of California
investors pooled together about $100,000 to purchase an asset
of a bankrupt company. Nearly a decade later, the company is
still in business. Its lawsuit is still alive, pending before
the California Supreme Court and heading toward a decision that
could ultimately cost every Ventura homeowner $100 and blow a
hole through the tax-limiting protections of Proposition 13.
Ventura County Star. Greg Turner quoted.
- 8-16-99: Bill
on workers' comp is halted
- Gov. Gray Davis has intervened
to put the brakes on legislation that could increase taxes by
$1 billion and cost employers an extra $2.7 billion in workers'
compensation premiums, but a bill that would increase state disability
payroll deductions is still on the table. Stockton Record. Steve
Kroes quoted.
- Gov. Gray Davis has intervened
to put the brakes on legislation that could increase taxes by
$1 billion and cost employers an extra $2.7 billion in workers'
compensation premiums, but a bill that would increase state disability
payroll deductions is still on the table. Stockton Record. Steve
Kroes quoted.
- 8-15-99: California
Seeks a Way to Enforce Child Support
- A legislative fix may be just
around the corner for California's beleaguered child support
enforcement system, a festering example of bureaucratic breakdown
that is hurting countless children and costing taxpayers. San Diego Union-Tribune. Lisa Martin guest editorial.
- A legislative fix may be just
around the corner for California's beleaguered child support
enforcement system, a festering example of bureaucratic breakdown
that is hurting countless children and costing taxpayers. San Diego Union-Tribune. Lisa Martin guest editorial.
- 8-2-99: State
Agency Rivals IRS in Toughness
- Franchise Tax Board is ruthless,
critics say. Officials say they're doing jobs, have gotten friendlier.
Los Angeles Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- Franchise Tax Board is ruthless,
critics say. Officials say they're doing jobs, have gotten friendlier.
Los Angeles Times. Larry McCarthy quoted.
- 7-31-99: Governments
Now Tops in Lobbying
- Local agencies spend more on
influence in Sacramento than private interests. Orange County
Register. Greg Turner quoted.
- Local agencies spend more on
influence in Sacramento than private interests. Orange County
Register. Greg Turner quoted.
- 7-23-99 : In
the Money
- Good times have left many cities
with budget surpluses. Officials are funding projects and services
slashed amid recession, but--fearing another slump--also building
reserves. That prompts calls for tax cuts. Los Angeles Times.
Steve Kroes quoted.
- Good times have left many cities
with budget surpluses. Officials are funding projects and services
slashed amid recession, but--fearing another slump--also building
reserves. That prompts calls for tax cuts. Los Angeles Times.
Steve Kroes quoted.
- 6-28-99: Dealing
With Deadbeats
- There is a critical need for effective child-support enforcement as parents fail to meet their obligations and millions of California children suffer. And taxpayers are left holding the bag for a broken system. San Diego Daily Transcript. Lisa Martin guest editorial.