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California Taxes Aren't Too High....Really!?!

From Patrick Gleason & Brian M. Johnson on Friday, May 1, 2009 5:43 PM
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Jerry Houseman, Ed. D., of the Sacramento City Unified School District, took the opportunity at an April 16th Sacramento City School Board meeting to tee off on the April 15 tea parties. Apparently, Mr. Houseman was none too happy with the fact that ordinary Americans took time out of their day to express concern and disagreement with the astronomical tax and spending bills coming out of Washington.

Houseman lashed out at the hundreds of thousands of tea party protesters that believe their onerous tax burden need not rise any higher.

In light of his cranky tirade, we at ATR have a few questions for Houseman:

So in your state of California, taxes aren't too high?

Really? You know you have the highest state sales tax in the country, right? In fact, in many California cities the sales tax rate is in the double digits. But this isn't high enough? Really!?!

Also, you know California has the highest state marginal income tax rate in the country, right? You know that such a progressively lopsided tax structure has been one of the main causes of your state's fiscal instability, right?  But you think taxes are still too low? Really!?!

Mr. Houseman, do you know that your state has the 48th ranked business tax climate? This means that, except for 2 other states, California is the worst place to move to, invest, or start a business in the country. Further tax increases will only make matters worse. Yet you deride those who want to make California once again a leader in economic growth and entrepreneurship through a more competitive tax code? Really!?!

Californians spend 204 days out of the year, well over half the year, just paying for the cost of their government. But you, Mr. Houseman, don't think this is enough? Really!?!

Unlike your leftist ilk, conservatives and libertarians tend to be a rather pleasant and content bunch. And unlike your comrade Keith Olbermann, we don't spend everyday making lists of the worst people in the world. But if, hypothetically, we did, you, Mr. Houseman, would certainly make a case for such a list. Have a great weekend and again, really!?!

Mr. Houseman's temper tantrum can be viewed below. Enjoy: 

Permalink | Email | Print | Tags: TAXES, California

Comments

Wow - this guy is the epitome of the grandparent that you always dreaded visiting.
>> Roy MacAvoy Saturday, May 2, 2009 11:01 AM Report Comment

Dr. Houseman is for Education not taxes. If you listen to all he had to say rather then the tea party stuff, you might understand that he is speaking for the children of this state. We might be number 48 in business climate but we are dead last in education. Continue to rant about taxes and continue to drink your tea or koolaide and you too can live in the banana republic of California.
>> Michael Simpson Sunday, May 3, 2009 10:32 AM Report Comment

Taxes aren't too high, says the person who recieved his livelyhood from those taxes! Forgive me if I am NOT impressed! -George
>> GEJ Sunday, May 3, 2009 6:02 PM Report Comment

California is not last in education because of a lack of spending. It's last because every stupid, half-baked theory that becomes a fad in education gets "tested" on Califonia's students. Our tax rates have nothing to do with California's educational crisis, and everything to do with keeping a corrupt bureaucracy in power. If Houseman were really speaking for the children, he wouldn't be fallaciously equating opposition to higher taxes with unwillingness to pay for services.
>> John Sunday, May 3, 2009 6:07 PM Report Comment

I graduated from SJS in 1969 and at that time CA had the best school system in the world! We also had very low taxes, too. Boy, have those who stayed in CA blown it! Now, they are so ignorant that they cannot see how taxes have messed things up and why their education system has gone into the toilette. Cut the benefits Mr. Houseman if you want to save education!
>> Rich Sunday, May 3, 2009 6:50 PM Report Comment

Is this man for real? I'm tired of paying for lazy people.
>> KansasGirl Sunday, May 3, 2009 7:46 PM Report Comment

Check out the raucous applause he got at the end - hahaha - Houseman = FAIL
>> FanofRand Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:21 PM Report Comment

The blame for sky high taxes never gets put on the legislature where it belongs. The same liberal spendaholics are re-elected again and again,until term limited out, and then run for a different office. The schools have too much money as it is and produce students who can't read their own diplomas. The school districts always want more tax money to solve their problems. There's a parcel tax on the May 19 ballot in my school district, and I'm voting NO.
>> SR Malone Monday, May 4, 2009 10:48 AM Report Comment

Houseman is an ass, without question. But to be fair to Californians, a significant part of their fiscal pathology stems from the vast number of illegal aliens entering the state every day, almost all requiring expensive social services. And that is mostly (but not completely) the fault of the federal government.
>> Barry E Lerner Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:35 PM Report Comment

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