SSI Governor's budget 2010 proposes another cut

[Phil306]

Originally Posted by lark20mkm

What else was he supposed to do? Plenty!

Lottery Tax

The state lottery had $2,BILLION 954 MILLION,839 THOUSAND,094 in sales from all scratchers and lottery draws for the year. If you put a 25 cent 'budget balance' tax on each one sold, that would bring in a revenue of $738,MILLION,709,Thousand,774.

A tax increase on all alcohol sales.
2 Options

A Dime-A-Drink.
[SIZE=2]Current taxes: beer, $0.02 per drink; wine, $0.01; and liquor, $0.04. Were the tax rates increased to the equivalent of a dime per drink, state revenue would rise to approximately $1.5 billion, or an estimated increase of $1.2 billion. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]In this option, the current beer tax would increase from $0.20 to $1.27 per gallon; wine from $0.20 to $2.92; and liquor from $3.30 to $11.83. These amounts would exceed the national averages ($0.25 per gallon for beer, $0.77 for wine, and $3.84 for liquor) and the inflation-adjusted rates discussed above.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE]

A Quarter-A-Drink"
Current taxes: beer, $0.02 per drink; wine, $0.01; and liquor, $0.04. If the tax increased to $0.25 per drink, state revenue would rise to approximately $3.2 billion, or an estimated increase of $3.0 billion.
In this option, the current beer tax would increase from $0.20 to $2.87 per gallon; wine from $0.20 to $7.01; and liquor from $3.30 to $24.63.

This is a lot more humane than taking funds away from the Blind, Elderly and Disabled who, beyond their control, are the most needy and can do nothing to change their position in society.

These cuts that seem minor to you are far from it. The SSI payments were $907 per month for elderly and disabled, $972 for the blind. They are now receiving $845. That's a $62 cut for the first two groups and $127 for blind.
When you figure living costs, which are RISING that's not much money to begin with. And where do people have to take that $62 cut. FOOD! Personal hygienes, household products are a luxury but if your careful and thrifty you can eke out these items periodically.

These people are already 'sucking it up' as you so elegantly state, and have been for quite some time

It is my opinion that the ca gov, were it in his power, would exterminate all those not actively contributing to society other than just being good, but very unfortunate citizens

Great plan. Won't work though. Remember, this state is FULL OF LIBERALS who WANT THEIR SOCIAL PROGRAMS. If any more income was raised, it wouldn't go to pay down the debt, it would go for MORE SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

At one time, in California, there was surplus. The government wanted to give that money back to us. But, greedy liberal/socialists wanted MORE PROGRAMS and they got it.

When there is money, every group in the world wants more of it.

[lark20mkm]

Originally Posted by Phil306

Great plan. Won't work though. Remember, this state is FULL OF LIBERALS who WANT THEIR SOCIAL PROGRAMS. If any more income was raised, it wouldn't go to pay down the debt, it would go for MORE SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

At one time, in California, there was surplus. The government wanted to give that money back to us. But, greedy liberal/socialists wanted MORE PROGRAMS and they got it.

When there is money, every group in the world wants more of it.

Hi Phil, My point was to tax the lottery and alcohol INSTEAD of taking away from the blind, elderly and disabled and RESTORING the money they took from them so the can survive.