One thing never changes about politicians in their far-away capitol offices. Some of them are usually out of touch with the needs of working families. While parents across the state are wondering where to get a couple hundred dollars for badly needed car repairs or new school clothes for the kids, some folks up in Sacramento refuse to let go of any extra money they collect from our taxes.

Two months ago these same folks were dancing in the aisles in the State Capitol. The Legislative Analyst released the revised figures for the state budget – known in Sacramento as the “May Revise” – and the professional spenders had plenty to celebrate. When it’s all said and done, thanks to a booming economy, the State of California will have collected $4.4 billion more than is needed for the state budget this year.

While it would seem obvious to the average hardworking Californian that a budget surplus should result in a little something back for the people who earned it, the career politicians and big-government bureaucrats in Sacramento don’t think like you and I do. The way they see it, any money they can get their hands on--even yours, is theirs to spend. And this time, spend it they did.

We learned of the budget surplus on May 14th, but by May 26th the Democrats in the State Assembly had already squandered the money. That's $4.4 billion in just 12 days. They went on a spending spree averaging $367 million a day. Fortunately their plan to blow the budget surplus is on hold as budget negotiations are currently underway.

There are always two ways to deal with a budget surplus; you can give it back to the taxpayers, or you can spend it on the bottomless pit of more government. This year, Assembly Republicans want to give it back to California’s working families by abolishing the annual car tax we all pay when we renew our license plates at the DMV. At present, the average Californian pays about $185 per vehicle. That’s about $370 for a two-car family.

Keep in mind that little of the DMV earmarked money goes to road maintenance or anything directly related to driving. The dollars we spend on our vehicle registrations get poured into the general state coffers and pays for a myriad of state run programs and bureaucracies. While it is true that a significant portion of that money does go to useful services on the local level, such as police and fire departments, our bill to cut the car tax, AB 1776, directs a percentage of sales tax revenues to be used in replacing the lost car-tax dollars. Further, we also have proposed a constitutional amendment (ACA 45) to protect the local government funds in future budgets.

The State of California is looking at a budget surplus because the economy is doing well. But to hear them talk in the Legislature, we’re all rolling in cash. The simple fact is that in this day and age it is still difficult for a working family to make ends meet. A cut in the car tax may not mean much to people up in Beverly Hills driving $60,000 BMWs, but most of us in San Diego County can think of plenty of ways to spend a few hundred extra dollars every year.

The economy is doing better, but some of us are still trying to catch up from after the recession. Many of us had to put off repairs on our cars or houses when times were tough. Maybe you decided to wait for a new set of tires for the family car, or put off servicing the home air-conditioner. Maybe it’s time for some private tutoring for one of your kids whose grades are slipping.

This decade has been tough on working families who just barely make ends meet. If there is any extra money floating around the state capitol, it should go back to the taxpayers, period! Working families are sick and tired of hearing politicians whining about a couple hundred thousand for this and a million for that. You and I have scrimped and saved long enough. Now it's time for the government bureaucrats to cut back so the rest of us can keep a little more of our hard-earned money.

With over $4 billion in extra tax revenues this year the state can afford to eliminate the car tax. This has proven to be the most hotly debated issue in the State Legislature this summer. It’s your money. If you want it back, make your voice be heard. I need your help in making this a reality. Please write me a letter and send it to my office at 8419 La Mesa Blvd. Suite B, La Mesa, CA 91941 or e-mail me at steve.baldwin@asm.ca.gov. Let me know if you would like to keep more of your hard-earned Car Tax money.

Steve Baldwin represents the areas of Bonita, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Paradise Hills, Spring Valley, Encanto, National City and Santee in the 77th State Assembly District.


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