California goes bust: Tax refunds to be delayed
posted at 4:40 pm on January 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
Not just refunds, either. Welfare checks and student grants will be held back, too. Let it be a lesson to those of us who pay estimated tax, me most of all: In these trying times, don’t overpay.
Instead, ask yourself, “What would Tim Geithner do?”
The controller said the suspended payments could be rolled into IOUs if California still lacked sufficient cash to pay its bills come March or April.
“I take this action with great reluctance,” Chiang said at a news conference in his office. But he said that without action to close the deficit, “there is no way to make it through February unscathed.”
There’s a hitch with the IOUs, though:
In 1992, banks honored the state’s IOUs, cashing them on demand, and then receiving an additional 5% from the state when it made good on the obligations. In effect, the IOUs served the state as unsecured bridge loans from banks. But this time around, with credit tight and banks still feeling the impact of the fall meltdown in the financial services industry, it is not yet clear how banks will respond.
“Nobody’s making any decision whether ‘Bank X’ will take the IOUs as money or not,” said Brian Tobin, a Culver City based tax preparer.
I hereby formally open the pool on guessing which date California will be bailed out. I’ll take February 28. Exit question: Where’s the recall petition for Arnold?
Blowback
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upinak on January 16, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Well that may be but at least they reached out to me since I blog about energy issues fairly often
goat on January 16, 2009 at 8:31 PM
james23 on January 16, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Stop giving them an interest free loan by overpaying your taxes then. Too many people overpay instead of working it so that they break even or have to pay a little bit in April. The idiots in gov’t will spend the overpayment like its theirs.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 8:36 PM
No matter how hard you try you can not push a string.
Murphy9 on January 16, 2009 at 8:50 PM
State out of money but still spending like hell.More people are now leaving California than are moving there so the state is raising taxes on the people who are left there.More and more new rules and cost to bussiness trying to stay afloat.The late great Golden state is now the land of Libs and P.C. gone wild.All of you fools who voted for Obama.Welcome to Obama World.The state is out of money and the Gov & state Led. just anounce a 9 Billion $ spending increase for next year.The state will now spend over 100 billion$ a year.
thmcbb on January 16, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Things are tightening up significantly in Texas too. The indigent health care programs are being flushed down the financial toilet faster than I can type this comment. Austin’s MAPS (Medical Assistance Program Services) is now reporting it is financially unable to provide the entitlement services they provide at the expense of taxpayers. It’s the same with Houston’s Gold Card indigent health care program. Governor Perry has a reason to be nervous. Texas has more than it’s share of entitlement programs that foster laziness and dependence upon big government, liberal politicians and ultra liberal advocacy groups.
If your faith is in the government you are going to get hurt no matter what state you are in.
Yet, people here are beginning to party hearty in preparation for O-messiah’s coronation on Tuesday.
Larry L. Sharp on January 16, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Arnold should be fired.
How can CA go bust? Ludicrous state government spending left unchecked yet again.
It is not just CA, or the US – everyone seems to believe in the free lunch these days. Of course these so-called ‘bail-outs’ (deferred taxes more like) don’t help, but honestly? Has the world gone socialist? That only ends one way…
I despair.
Empires are almost never defeated from without – they collapse from within. The US might not be a traditional empire but it is starting to weaken and the pressure is all internal…
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Could we get a tax revolt started by changing W4s to maximum number so that very little or zero is withheld? I already claim myself so I have to pay some in April because on principle I will not give the Fed govt a interest free loan. It wouldn’t bother me to pay more in April if it was to starve the government.
I’d always wondered what it would be like if paycheck withholding was done away with and each taxpayer had to write a check for their tax liability in April.
burnitup on January 16, 2009 at 9:11 PM
His Austrian is really starting to show.
pc on January 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM
So we don’t have any money to pay tax refunds, but we still have plenty of money to pay for education, healthcare, and every social program for illegal aliens who pay little or no taxes at all?? What’s wrong with this picture?
And whoever mentioned that embryonic stem cell debacle was right. Three BILLION dollars to pay off a few scientists all in the name of political correctness. Idiocy!
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 9:19 PM
ROFL….if I didn’t laugh I’d cry.
Michigan, Californeeya, Taxachusetts, all the big socialist freak states taking it on the chin.
Seriously: can a state Constitutionally bail out of the coming Federal Government meltdown, maybe by NOT taking Federal funds? It’d be worth it.
ex-Democrat on January 16, 2009 at 9:21 PM
A girl friend who visited Alaska for a summer says there’s a saying:
“The odds are good, but the goods are odd.”
True?
ex-Democrat on January 16, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I really believe that there are those people in the CA legislature and probably in the US congress who would actually LOVE to see a total financial collapse of the US economic system. When that happens, they think they can restructure the government to the socialist model that they really want. People are a lot easier to manipulate and put something over on when there is a common sense of desperation. Once thought outrageous actions such as confiscating peoples retirement funds, establishing a civilian “national security force” or nationalizing the money system suddenly become actions “for the overall good of the people”. From each according to his means, to each according to his need. I really believe Omama is going to institute a very marxist form of government. It’s what he has associated himself with all of his life, it shouldn’t surprise us. Did any of you catch the socialist Carol Browner, Omama’s pick for Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, being a member of “Socialists International” and having her name scrubbed from the site immediately after she was picked? We are in for some very bad times people. California is only a preview.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Actually, California is failing for exactly the same reason that the big 3 auto makers are: unions.
Just as the UAW is bleeding the auto industry, the public service unions are bleeding CA. All it would take to balance the budget is some judicious union busting.
Count to 10 on January 16, 2009 at 9:42 PM
I agree.
We are assuming that the New Dems (aka marxists/socialists) want the economy to do well.
They don’t!
Chaos equal the CHANGE they want…..let’s roll!
ex-Democrat on January 16, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Very true Count. There has been a system of local politicians courting police and fireman’s unions for large campaign contributions then getting into office and voting hugh payraises and pensions for them. They are scratching eachothers back whilst crapping on the rest of us. And this happens all over the state.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 9:46 PM
And now for a rousing rendition of our new national anthem, sing everybody,…..”Deutcshland Uber Ales”!
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Hey Arnold – keep on listening to Maria…. Dumb ass
suzyk on January 16, 2009 at 9:53 PM
How quick the MSM seems to forget this 3 Billion in wasted tax funds http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/us/27stem.html and stupid moves like this are exactly the reason the Feds should say NO to any type of bailout for CA. What will it take for the federal state and local governments to figure out that they cant keep spending like fools. They seem to think that my pocket is a bottomless well of cash….but the lint between my fingers says otherwise.
If the voters of CA. want stem cell research then let them fund it,but if your state goes broke on such foolish ventures….Dont come crying to me
Paco on January 16, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Arnold has actually done a fair job holding the line against the liberal legislature and by extension the unions that support them. He has been a whole lot better than what we would have had Gray Davis been left in charge. He has vetoed all kinds of liberal agenda items and some were over ridden or voted in through referendom that he could not control. Even if we had a staunch conservative in the Gov seat he/she would still be hamstrung by Dem majorities and union influence over them. This state is run by the unions and their allies in the Dem party not Arnold and there is little he can do about it. His attempts at reform failed at the ballot box and a lot of the spending has come from the ballot box as well. I don’t blame Arnold, I blame the Democrats that run Sacramento.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:11 PM
I thought Arnie was supposed to be good with money…
beatcanvas on January 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Paco on January 16, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I believe that was also a ballot initiative
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM
beatcanvas on January 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM
He can’t control the ballot box or the Dem majority in the legislature. Like I said even if Tom McLintock had won the recall he would still be hamstrung by them.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:20 PM
I think Kaleefornia is wondering what a day without illegals would look like.
Maybe the state would be solvent.
Mojave Mark on January 16, 2009 at 10:24 PM
A lot of the overspending we are hampered with has come from ballot initiatives through the sale of bonds but the state can’t sell those bonds because noone wants them any more. I know I have voted NO on all of them since I have lived here and Yes on reform only to lose everytime.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Mojave Mark on January 16, 2009 at 10:24 PM
We spend about 10 billion a year for that problem of illegals whether its medical care, schooling, jailing or numerous other things.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Just another reason to pack up and leave this god-foresaken crapper called California. Replace good, honest, tax-paying AMERICAN citizens with illegals, and gitmo terrorists.
What a nice place to raise a family…..
jbh45 on January 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Probably the same dozen or so who frequent Ace :)
Bob's Kid on January 16, 2009 at 10:39 PM
jbh45 on January 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM
It really depends on what part of Ca you live in, outside the LA metro or the Bay area its still a great place to live if you leave aside the tax issue.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:42 PM
At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if the legislature passed a “moving out of California tax”
El_Terrible on January 16, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Bikerken
I agree but it won’t be forced on people. It almost never is.
People *buy into it*. The idea of the free lunch. That is how European Socialism got off the ground and you can see how that will end.
When the charlatans say ‘Here is your “free” healthcare system’ the only problem is when people say ‘yes please’. Once they get hooked on entitlements it is a downward spiral.
Obama won’t force anything at all. If the US goes socialist, it will be the fault of its citizens.
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Hey! Same thing happening here in Michigan. I just moved back here from New Orleans where everybody was leaving also. Where are all these displaced people going?
highhopes on January 16, 2009 at 10:47 PM
I love the crazy let’s blame the libs for this but Arnold is a Republican.
You all get that don’t you….I mean it’s pretty simple for the Dems to deflect this one.
harry on January 16, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Bob’s Kid on January 16, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I know you too.
I’ve run into a couple I don’t know through AoSHQ. Maybe we need a joint moron airhead meetup.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 10:50 PM
If so then NY and NJ would immediately impose a moving in tax.
highhopes on January 16, 2009 at 10:54 PM
And there’s little difference between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to fiscal responsibility these days.
Bush’s legacy? No bailout left behind.
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 10:59 PM
harry on January 16, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Arnold is a moderate Republican and he does not have control over the majority liberal Democrats in the legislature or the voters that approve nutty ballot initiatives. What the liberals don’t get is the more you spend and raise taxes the more business you drive away thus reducing the tax base even further, basic economics 101. It seems the state with zero or very low income taxes and a positive business environement are in the black and run by conservatives but the high tax states are in the red and they are run by liberals.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Ares, If I could wax Clintonesque here for just a second, It depends on the what the meaning of ‘force’ is. The thing about socialism is that it is form of government that neccessarily eliminates all else. There is no country that has half of it’s people under socialism and the other half choose not to participate in it. Some of the economic advisors that Omama is bringing on have already proposed the idea of the government ‘taking over’ everyones 401k’s and essentially repaying them with IOU’s to be claimed when they retire. But nobody is going to be given a choice about it. That’s where the trouble starts. When 70% of the country gives up and the other 30% refuse to go along, well, that’s what the “Civilian National Defense Force” comes in, another Omama idea that he has brought up on more than one occaision, including his election night victory speech. By the way, I’m getting tired of people who say, it’s all our fault or the infamous,”We only have ourselves to blame.” The fact is there is someone to blame. It is the idiotic left in this country that has for years thought that the govt can just give everyone everything they need, as if money just magically appears. You mentioned “Free Healthcare”, I don’t think a lot of us realize that the only way healthcare is going to become ‘free’ is that it has to be taken away from those who are paying for it and ration it out to everyone. Again, you are not going to have a choice about it, so I really don’t think it’s the fault of ALL the people.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Ca is a perfect example of how wrong you are, the GOP here has to fight everyday for fiscal sanity yet the voters keep voting for more insane spending. Some of the strongest fiscal conservatives in DC are from Ca.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
I hate to break this to you Harry, but Arnold is a LIB. He used to be a bit conservative but that’s been blown to the wind. It is liberal policies that caused this economic meltdown, no matter who, including RINO Bush, is responsible for them.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
If Federal Government, and California itself, would lift regulations on drilling for offshore oil. California could make good revenue with God given resources right off the coast. The country could have cheaper energy to combat global cooling, and we wouldn’t be sending billions to the Middle East and Venezuela every year!
Naw. Makes too much sense. Never mind.
Ordinary1 on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Ahhh come on you can’t pick and choose Republican’s.
I mean it’s like stating Barney Frank stands for all Democrats.
Who smelt it dealt it….and all that LOL
To try and blame this on Dems when the present Repub in chief has been nationalizing as fast as possible is ridiculous.
Where is that third party again.
harry on January 16, 2009 at 11:09 PM
You call Bush a RINO now after 8 years when real conservatives cried out…….bit late don’t ya think.
harry on January 16, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Ordinary1 on January 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Hear hear!
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:13 PM
If conservatives could have kicked Bushes dumb ass out of the republican party, they would have years ago. You can chat all day about him being a republican, but the stupid things he has done on his watch are all LEFISTS ideas. He made hugh mistakes when he did what the democrats wanted. And I still think this whole bailout mess was one big October surprise intended to get the dems into office. But again, look who the Reps ran, the BIGGEST RINO of them all. McCain has been a democrat for years, but gets away with calling himself a republican. They all suck. But it is true that the few conservative states are the ones that are doing well. I lived in Michigan when Romneys father ran it and it was one of the top ten most properous states with a great quality of life. Look at it now, after thirty years of democrat rule, it’s a dung heap!
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:16 PM
And we still have plenty of timber, gold and silver beside the oil and natural gas that the liberals want to keep off limits.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Evidently you heard about the Senates land grab they voted for this last SUNDAY to keep it under the radar of the public.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:19 PM
No, it is an example of how right I am. They’ve been fighting and losing for years. Given that, it is about time for an adjustment don’t you think?
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Yeah, I did. They locked up lots of oil and natural gas in the Green river formation and are aiming at ANWR now, effing nuts.
Ares the only reason libs control the state is because they dominate the population centers in La and the Bay, the rest of the state is conservative and we are the ones that provide the food and wealth.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Amen! I wonder if at some people will wake up. We can take care of people first and still have a responsible plan to take care of the environment. The saddest thing is the way we are absolutely killing this great country. Borrowing from China to buy oil from the Middle East is not a good plan for survival. Drill, mine and harvest here and now to bailout California with natural resource revenue! At least it should be a big part of the comprehensive solution.
Ordinary1 on January 16, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Note – my comments are based on what I have seen happen to the UK since 1997 when a socialist government took over from a conservative one.
Agreed.
This happened in the UK with the abolition of tax relief on pensions and a raft of new regulations – in addition to numerous other measures designed to squeeze cash out of private retirement provision.
No, people just lay down if the UK model applies here. No need for force.
Sorry you are tired of it, but if we vote for it that is how it stacks up.
Correct. This is the state of affairs in european socialist countries today. It is worse than that – the government defines what treatments are affordable, and that varies by location and bureaucratic organisation, and of course it is not free at all as you pay a huge amount of tax for it. The UK National Health Service, a public sector body, is the EU’s biggest employer. You can imagine how efficient it is.
It really is if you live in a democracy and vote for a free lunch. I’ve followed the UK’s decline quite closely and the one thing you cannot deny is that they voted the socialists in 3 times in a row. That was their democratic right. And they will reap what they have sewn.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Ares on January 16, 2009 at 11:40 PM
You couldn’t be more right, but I’m afraid that’s not going to happen for a while. The libtards are going to be in power and that’s generally like a kid having a gun. They are already lining up anti gun legislation,(and believe me, If I were going to do what they are attempting to do, I wouldn’t want people to have guns either). They are going to attempt to change this country into something that we won’t recognize because they really aren’t that smart. When all you can do is cater to a myriad of special interests, the REAL good of all the people is no longer a consideration, and that’s whose going to suffer. These people are technically insane. For forty years, they have been trying to tax and spend us into prosperity and all they have done is to bankrupt one state after another. Then they reason that they didn’t spend enought money so lets do it even harder.
Heres a bit of irony. The same people who lambasted Bush for giving in to the Dems and spending money like a drunken sailor, are cheering Omama’s proposal to spend ten times as much! Hmmmm. Insane? I think so.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Ordinary1 on January 16, 2009 at 11:32 PM
As I pointed out earlier there are natural oil seepages leaking hundreds of barrels of oil into our coastal water but the environuts can’t tolerate an oil rig that doesn’t leak and provides an artificial reef for bountiful marine life. Exploitinf those resources would provide lots of good jobs and revenue for the state and national government but the libs would rather us live in caves and eat nuts or go extinct.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:43 PM
I know what you’re saying about the majority of voters Ares and you are right about that, I just choose not to own it. That’s my own way of protesting it.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Have a vitual high five!
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Dang beer is getting to my typing , sorry for the typos.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:49 PM
In other news, I was shocked to see a subscription advertisement for the New York Times as the banner when I just browsed to Hot Air. Sacrilege! (or is it – is Allah taking sweet blog money out of the NYT’s pocket?)
Jim62sch on January 16, 2009 at 11:50 PM
California is on its way to becoming the North American version of the Sudan. Of course, Michigan is already there and Minnesota is also off to a flying start.
Percy_Peabody on January 16, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Sure!
Don’t let anyone get your…..goat.
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:52 PM
I won’t, I am armed and able to head for the hills to survive if need be.
goat on January 16, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Bikerken on January 16, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Let me guess, you ride a Harley.
goat on January 17, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Snort… The University of California (i.e., taxpayer-funded public university) will be paying its staff to sit on their a**es for a few hours and watch The Messiah’s inauguration next Tuesday. Some departments will even be buying refreshments.
Kalifornia Kafir on January 17, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I have three. Capitalism rocks!
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Kalifornia Kafir on January 17, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I’m sure there won’t be a dry eye in the place. It’s disturbing how people are worshipping this guy and looking up to him more like a god and saviour than a cheesy Chicago community organizer who essentially won his earlier elections by getting his opponents kicked off the ticket. These people are really weak minded and are likely to see nothing wrong with anything he ever does.
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 12:18 AM
The only morons who deserve this more than the leftist liberal moonbats of California are the idiots of Al Franken’s state. May they all suffer the consequences of their socialist beliefs.
csdeven on January 17, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 12:13 AM
When you make it up to the Sacto area let me know, we’ll have some beer and BBQ, goats_barnyard at msn
goat on January 17, 2009 at 12:24 AM
csdeven on January 17, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Yeah but conservative small business owners like me suffer the fall out more than the liberals do.
goat on January 17, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Cool, Thanks for the offer. I don’t get that far north often. I live in San Diego near the beach. Tomorrow I’m riding up the coast to Santa Barbara for a couple nights, got monday off.
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Stay in touch any way
goat on January 17, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Arnold will need to get to work on Taxanitor 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and donate all the profits to Kalifornia. I think he will be 70 by then. He can hit the speaking tour and donate all those profits to Kalifornia. Kalifornia is in a death spiral and it should just be sold to Mexico for 2 bean burritos and a a Baja Blast.
izoneguy on January 17, 2009 at 12:49 AM
I prefer “In Texas Kneipe”.
Johan Klaus on January 17, 2009 at 12:53 AM
All Republicans are not conservative and all Democrats are not liberal.
Johan Klaus on January 17, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Motorcycles are freedom, until the government gets involved.
Johan Klaus on January 17, 2009 at 1:00 AM
You’re exactly right Johan. And when I ride down the road on my big red American hog with the little american flag on the back, it symbolizes everything the bumper sticker covered mini-van drivin, tofu sucking, fat-assed pretentious stabucks addicted annoying libtards hate, fearless unabashed patriotism. They can’t stand it.
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 1:07 AM
Bikerken on January 17, 2009 at 1:07 AM
I used to ride till idiot drivers made me decide that sticking to my lifted 4×4 truck was a lot safer. I don’t get the milage but I can run over a libtard in a beer can if they pull out in front of me. I had to lay my bike down more than once and got tired of fixing it.
goat on January 17, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Arnuld is not a Republican! He is a frikking Rhino! Always has been and always will be. Look who he is married too…..He is up against some selfish self centered DemocRATS. Greedy Legislators.
BTW: Not yelling at you or refuting what you said.
sheebe on January 17, 2009 at 1:27 AM
Direct hit!
Benjamin9 on January 17, 2009 at 1:50 AM
Arnuld has his back against a wall. He isn’t the brightest, but he has done some good things. He is way better than Davis was by far.
sheebe on January 17, 2009 at 1:57 AM
I live in CA, and the
rulescam here is that if you under-withhold almost at all, you are penalized, so you are forced to over withhold. That’s what I do, or I pay a penalty for not giving my money to them sooner even if I don’t ultimately owe it! Hey, we are run by Dems! They are very adept at separating taxpayers from their money. Oh, wait, Arnie is a Republican…isn’t he?PattyJ on January 17, 2009 at 2:28 AM
Yep. My daughter is a middle class single mom (yes her hubby is/was landfill material) of two living in L.A. county. Her state taxes are witheld at the zero rate and she ends up a few bucks under, or a few bucks over, year to year. Kalifornian politicians score a perfect “10″ on the hand in your back pocket trick.
Limerick on January 17, 2009 at 2:33 AM
Leave it to an actor to screw up our once great state…
MC Hammer could of done a better job!
Cr4sh Dummy on January 17, 2009 at 3:41 AM
Government thought 9/11 was bad, I think the real attack will be 4/15…at the IRS.
Coronagold on January 17, 2009 at 6:19 AM
+1
harry on January 17, 2009 at 7:44 AM
“He’s to divisive, he needs to be more moderate, bipartisan and inclusive, that’ll save the economy”
the_nile on January 17, 2009 at 8:11 AM
First, I resent all the attention California’s getting. New York is just as deep in debt and we have 15 million fewer people. NJ will have to wait, no one cares ;-).
Ann NY on January 17, 2009 at 8:30 AM
The tax refund has to be one of the biggest scams ever. There is a segment of the population that thinks if they get a tax refund that means they pay $0 taxes.
It also is a clever device to encourage reckless consumption. Look at all the HR Block commercials running. They don’t sell their services as making minimizing the taxes YOU SEND. They sell it as a way to maximize the REFUND YOU EARN. And with that refund, which is like free money don’t you know, you can go buy that new TV or take that vacation.
angryed on January 17, 2009 at 8:52 AM
HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT
51 MICHIGAN 9.6
50 RHODE ISLAND 9.3
48 CALIFORNIA 8.4
LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT
3 SOUTH DAKOTA 3.4
2 NORTH DAKOTA 3.3
1 WYOMING 3.2
Lowest 3, redder than red states.
Highest 3 bluer than blue states.
Just a coincidence I’m sure.
angryed on January 17, 2009 at 8:59 AM
The new national anthem wont be “Deutchland Uber Alles” but this.
abcurtis on January 17, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Isn’t there allot of rich movie stars in California..?
Let Hanks, Streisand, glover, and anyone else that voted or supported Obama set the example by contributing 1/2 their wealth to bail the state out. Isn’t that what they expect of the common man? Doesn’t our new leader expect all of us to make a sacrifice now that he is in office? Isn’t it time those of us who live below our means in order to keep our debt low, pay our bills and taxes, take care of our own families out of our own pockets, isn’t it time to stand up and revolt against this madness.
Badbrucskie on January 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM
It’ll be implemented the same way the socialist/liberal agenda has always been enacted – through liberal activist courts who interpret the Constitution in a manner to the liking of the socialists. Re: the “right” to abortion.
We already have a socialist republic when you stop and think about it, so I guess now we’re just haggling over the price.
And yes, the citizenry will play their part by electing politicians like Obama.
We are Captain Ahab, tied securely to the Moby Dick that is socialism and big government and all we can do is hang on for the ride.
abcurtis on January 17, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Ya gotta have some before you can be good with it.
abcurtis on January 17, 2009 at 9:36 AM
One of the most interesting things about the UK, and a bitter lesson to us all, is what the country was like before Thatcher was in office. The 1970s were a horrible time for the UK. The unions controlled the country and drove it into a deep recession. I lived in London in the 80s and while it wasn’t the boomtown it was to become, you could see that Thatcher’s policies were working. By the time Blair got in, like Clinton, he inherited a growing economy that’s seeds were sown in the Reagan/Thatcher period. It was a perfect storm of a tech revolution, lower taxes, deregulation, and open and emerging markets because of the end of the Cold War. The people of the UK have forgotten what it was like, just like the people here have forgotten what the Carter years were like.
Ann NY on January 17, 2009 at 9:37 AM
This is a good thing, I think. I’m all for taxation of the stupid, and what better way to achieve that, than keeping their voluntary over payments.
The greatest thing since the lottery was implemented!
MNHawk on January 17, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Wondering if RI might be next? Wouldn’t surprise me. Beginning to look as if a lot of the people on the dole are becoming un-affordable. Also, all those who fall beneath the federal income tax level, but never seem to be going without–need to start paying a percentage, even if a very small one. RI has an economy dependent on small business and this is the hardest hurt segment. But, they always function ‘on the edge’ and so, are often hit harder by times like these.
jeanie on January 17, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Let it fall into the ocean.
anybody who hasn’t moved out yet deserves what they get.
notagool on January 17, 2009 at 10:56 AM
The cost of doing practically nothing about illegal immigration had what impact on these numbers I wonder?
Yakko77 on January 17, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Despite its reputation there are a lot of good people in California, not all of whom are in the position to just pack up and leave.
Disturb the Universe on January 17, 2009 at 11:28 AM
smallest state population out of the bottom 5…
South Dakota
North Dakota
Wyoming
States with the smallest GDP (of the bottom 5)
South Dakota
North Dakota
Wyoming
right2bright on January 17, 2009 at 11:40 AM
True that! I am also thankful that we moved from L.A. to Oregon in 1972. I still have family and friends in California and I love the beaches of San Diego. I say we keep California and pray/work for change… the good kind!
Ordinary1 on January 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Tim Burton on January 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM
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