Is California Dreaming, or Will a New Governor Bring Change to the Failing State?
by Dariel ColellaSep 5, 2003 On October 7, 2003, California voters will decide whether or not to give Governor Gray Davis another chance to turn things around. If they choose to oust Davis, they will then be selecting a new Governor with the expectation that there will be significant changes made. With a $100 billion budget and a shortfall as high as $38 billion, things do not look bright for Governor Davis. Despite this bleak picture, there is hope for California, but not until the Governor and the Legislature learn that tax increases are not a panacea for their yearly budget crisis. Why Higher Taxes Would Be a Mistake The California Legislature continues to contemplate increasing taxes, as if that will solve all the states woes. In fact, a group of Democrats were recently caught on tape arguing over whether or not to prolong resolving the budget crisis. Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg reasoned that the longer the crisis continued, the better their chances would be of raising taxes. 1 H
