California State Lawmakers Proposed More Than $143 Billion in Higher Taxes During the 2015-2015 Legislative Session
California state lawmakers proposed more than $143 billion annually in higher taxes and fees during the second year of the 2015-16 legislative session, according to a new report from the nonpartisan California Tax Foundation.
“Although the Legislature adjourned its two-year session without enacting any major, broad-based tax increases, more than $143 billion in annual taxes and fees were on the table for consideration,” California Tax Foundation Director Robert Gutierrez said. “This would be on top of the $169 billion in total state revenue forecasted in the current state budget.”
The report also notes whether the proposals died in the Legislature or were sent to the governor, and whether the governor signed or vetoed those that reached his desk.
This is why it is crucial for the Republican minority to keep the 1/3 minority. With a 2/3 Super Majority in the Legislature, the Liberal Spenders in Sacramento have the ability to pass any tax increase or fee WITHOUT going to the voters for approval.
2016 California Voter’s Guide
Hello All,
It’s time again for my Voter Guide, this time it’s the 2016 election. And what an election cycle it has been. Since most of my friend / followers are in Southern California, I will stick with that region.
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES:
Congressional 23 Kevin McCarthy
Congressional 25 Steve Knight
Congressional 26 Rafael Dagnesses
Congressional 27 Jack Orswell
Congressional 28 Lenore Solis
Congressional 30 Mark Reed
Congressional 33 Kenneth Wright
Congressional 35 Tyler Fischella
Congressional 38 Ryan Downing
Congressional 39 Ed Royce
Congressional 43 Omar Navarro
Congressional 47 Andy Whallon
STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES:
State Assembly 36 Tom Lackey
State Assembly 38 Dante Acosta
State Assembly 41 Casey Higgins
State Assembly 44 Kerry Nelson
State Assembly 45 Jerry Kowal
State Assembly 48 Cory Ellenson
State Assembly 49 Peter Amundson
State Assembly 50 Matthew Craffey
State Assembly 54 Glen Ratcliff
State Assembly 55 Phillip Chen
State Assembly 57 Rita Topalian
State Assembly 58 Ramiro Alvarado
State Assembly 62 Marco “Tony” Leal
State Assembly 63 Adam Miller
State Assembly 64 Theresa Sanford
State Assembly 66 David Hadley
State Assembly 70 Martha Flores-Gibson
STATE SENATE CANDIDATES:
State Senate 21 Scott Wilk
State Senate 23 Mike Morrell
State Senate 25 Michael Antonovich
State Senate 27 Steve Fazio
State Senate 29 Ling Ling Chang
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CANDIDATES:
Board of Sups District 4 Steve Napolitano
Board of Sups District 5 Kathryn Barger
STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVES:
Prop 51 School Bond
WHAT IT SAYS: $9 billion general obligation bond to fund school construction projects. Potential increase in local taxes/developer fees if not passed. SUPPORT
Prop 52 Hospital Fees
WHAT IT SAYS: Protects the use of private hospital funds to draw down Federal revenue to support the Medi-Cal program. Requires 2/3rd vote of Legislature to eliminate the hospital fee transaction, or redirect revenue to the State General Fund”. SUPPORT
Prop 53 Voter Approval for Revenue Bonds
WHAT IT SAYS: Requires statewide voter approval on state revenue bond projects exceeding $2 billion. Measure does not impact local governments, school, college or special districts. Joint Power Authorities. SUPPORT
Prop 54 Legislative Transparency
WHAT IT SAYS: Requires a bill to be in print and published online for 72 hours before the Legislature can vote on it. Requires the Legislature to record and post video or audio online of all legislative proceedings, except closed session proceedings”. SUPPORT
Prop 55 Proposition 30 (2012) Extension
WHAT IT SAYS: extend the temporary personal income taxes an additional 12 years. The personal income tax increase applies to single fliers with an income > $250,000, to joint filers with an income >$500,000 and to heads of household with an income > $340,000. Generates $4 billion a year. OPPOSE
Prop 56 Cigarette Tax
WHAT IT SAYS: Would increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack and add an equivalent tax on other tobacco products including e-cigarettes. The majority of funds would be used for payments to health care providers”. OPPOSE
Prop 57 Prison Sentencing Reform
WHAT IT SAYS: would allow for prisoners convicted of nonviolent felonies to be given early release via parole based on their behavior, educational achievements and rehabilitation. OPPOSE
Prop 58 English Language Immersion Programs
WHAT IT SAYS: placed measure that would amend and repeal parts of Prop. 227 (June 1998) so that public schools would no longer be required to renew a waiver to continue multilingual programs. OPPOSE
Prop 59 Advisory Ballot Measure on ‘Citizens United’
WHAT IT SAYS: Legislatively placed advisory ballot measure that would ask voters whether there should be a federal constitutional amendment to overturn the ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission”. OPPOSE
Prop 60 Adult Film Use of Condoms
WHAT IT SAYS: the use of condoms for adult films. OPPOSE
Prop 61 Prescription Drug Pricing Bill
WHAT IT SAYS: pricing standards for state prescription drug purchases so state agencies would pay the same amount for prescription drugs as the Department of Veterans Affairs. OPPOSE
Prop 62 Death Penalty Repeal
WHAT IT SAYS: repeal the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. OPPOSE
Prop 63 Firearms
WHAT IT SAYS: a background check to purchase ammunition and bans large-capacity ammunition magazines. Prohibits individuals convicted of stealing a firearm from possessing firearms. OPPOSE
Prop 64 Marijuana Legalization
WHAT IT SAYS: a 15% excise tax on retail sales of marijuana. Imposes cultivation taxes on marijuana at $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana from taxation. OPPOSE
Prop 65 Carry Out Bags
WHAT IT SAYS: redirect bag tax funds to the Wildlife Conservation Board to support environmental projects. SUPPORT
Prop 66 Death Penalty Reform
WHAT IT SAYS: reform the death penalty laws to expedite appeals and petitions challenging a death penalty convictions and sentences. SUPPORT
Prop 67 Referendum to Overturn Plastic Bags
WHAT IT SAYS: plastic bags and places a $.10 tax on paper bags goes to grocers. OPPOSE
Los Angeles County Ballot Measures
Measure M Traffic Improvement and Infrastructure
WHAT IT SAYS: “This measure will build new rail lines and highway improvement projects, enhance bus and rail service, fund local street, sidewalk, and signal improvements, keep fares affordable for seniors, students, and the disabled, maintain our growing transportation system, and better connect bike and pedestrian paths to transit facilities. This measure proposes a new 1/2 cent sales tax starting in 2017 that has no expiration date – a “forever tax.” If passed, this will be the county’s third transportation-related levy with no end date, and the fourth overall. This is estimated to generate an estimated $860 million a year in 2017 dollars.
WHAT IT DOES: This is the fourth tax going towards transportation improvement and little progress has been made. Funding from this tax will also go towards an unneeded metro. Existing funds should be used more responsibly in order to maintain and improve infrastructure. Imposing more taxes on hard-working Americans just works to slow down the economy and continue to allow the government to live outside of its means. OPPOSE
Measure A Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks & Beaches
WHAT IT SAYS: “This measure will replace expiring local funding for safe, clean neighborhood/city/county park, increase safe playgrounds, reduce gang activity, keep neighborhood recreation / senior centers, keep drinking water safe, protect beaches, rivers, water resources, remaining natural areas/open space. This measure proposes a 1.5 cent tax to be levied annually per square foot of improved property in Los Angeles County.”
WHAT IT DOES: Every voter should be dedicated to protecting the environment in economically responsible ways. Imposing more taxes on the development of land will slow down investment and result in a decreased rate of property improvement. OPPOSE
Los Angeles City Ballot Measures
Measure HHH Affordable Housing and Homelessness Bond
WHAT IT SAYS: “To provide safe, clean affordable housing for the homeless and for those in danger of becoming homeless, such as battered women and their children, veterans, seniors, foster youth, and the disabled; and provide facilities to increase access to mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment, and other services; shall the City of Los Angeles issue $1,200,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with citizen oversight and annual financial audits”.
WHAT IT DOES: City has no ability or infrastructure to manage the Homeless issue. Only a County-wide approach makes sense. They also seek to pay for the bond through property taxes.
OPPOSE
Measure JJJ Build a Better LA Affordable Housing
WHAT IT SAYS: “Shall an ordinance: 1) requiring that certain residential development projects provide for affordable housing and comply with prevailing wage, local hiring and other labor standards; 2) requiring the City to assess the impacts of community plan changes on affordable housing and local jobs; 3) creating an affordable housing incentive program for developments near major transit stops; and 4) making other changes.”
WHAT IT DOES: measure places more restrictions on development. The City of Los Angeles has a shortage of housing due to a lack of new residential building.
OPPOSE
Measure RRR Department of Water and Power Reform
WHAT IT SAYS: “Shall the Charter be amended to: (1) add qualification requirements, stipends and removal protections for DWP Board; (2) expand Board to seven members; (3) require DWP prepare four year Strategic Plans for Council and Mayoral approval; (4) modify DWP’s contracting, rate setting and other authority; (5) permit future alternatives to existing civil service standards for DWP employees through collective bargaining; and (6) require monthly billing?”
WHAT IT DOES: This measure brings much needed reform to the DWP. While we would all like to see more accountability built into the measure, there is enough to support.
SUPPORT
Measure SSS Pension Reform
WHAT IT SAYS: “Shall the Charter be amended to: (1) enroll new Airport peace officers into Tier 6 of the Fire and Police Pensions System; (2) allow current Airport peace officers to transfer into Tier 6 from the City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) at their own expense; and (3) permit new Airport Police Chiefs to enroll in LACERS”.
WHAT IT DOES: Shifting employees to a new tier does not appear to impact the City Budget.
SUPPORT
Judicial Candidates
Office 11 Steve Schreiner Well Qualified
Office 42 Efrain Matthew Aceves Well Qualified
Office 84 Javier Perez Qualified
Office 84 Susan Jung Townsend Qualified
Office 158 David A Berger Not Qualified
Captive Insurance Companies for Hedge Funds
Captive Insurance Companies for Hedge Funds. Read my new article here: http://ow.ly/E4yGz
I just posted my 2014 Voter Guide. I’d
I just posted my 2014 Voter Guide. I’d Love your feedback. Feel free to print it out and take with to the voter box!! http://ow.ly/DM6YN
MY 2014 Voter Guide
STATEWIDEﾠBALLOTﾠSUMMARIES
(Source:ﾠhttp://ballotpedia.org/California_2014_ballot_propositions)ﾠ
PROPﾠ1:ﾠWaterﾠQuality,ﾠSupply,ﾠandﾠInfrastructureﾠImprovementﾠActﾠofﾠ2014.ﾠ- YES
Authorizes $7.12ﾠbillionﾠinﾠgeneralﾠobligationﾠbondsﾠforﾠstateﾠwaterﾠsupplyﾠinfrastructureﾠprojects,ﾠsuchﾠasﾠsurfaceﾠandﾠ
groundwaterﾠstorage;ﾠecosystemﾠandﾠwatershedﾠprotectionﾠandﾠrestoration;ﾠdrinkingﾠwaterﾠprotection;ﾠ
waterﾠsupplyﾠmanagement;ﾠwaterﾠrecyclingﾠand advancedﾠwaterﾠtreatmentﾠtechnology;ﾠandﾠfloodﾠcontrol.ﾠ
Reallocatesﾠ$425ﾠmillionﾠofﾠunusedﾠbondﾠauthorityﾠfromﾠpriorﾠwaterﾠbondﾠacts,ﾠforﾠsameﾠpurposes.ﾠ
ﾠ
PROPﾠ2:ﾠStateﾠBudget.ﾠBudgetﾠStabilizationﾠAccount.ﾠLegislativeﾠConstitutionalﾠAmendment.ﾠ- YES
Requiresﾠannualﾠtransferﾠofﾠ1.5%ﾠofﾠgeneralﾠfundﾠrevenuesﾠtoﾠstateﾠbudgetﾠstabilizationﾠaccountﾠ(Rainyﾠ
DayﾠFund).ﾠRequiresﾠadditionalﾠtransferﾠofﾠpersonalﾠcapitalﾠgainsﾠtaxﾠrevenuesﾠexceedingﾠ8%ﾠofﾠgeneralﾠ
fundﾠrevenuesﾠtoﾠbudgetﾠstabilizationﾠaccountﾠand,ﾠunderﾠcertainﾠconditions,ﾠaﾠdedicatedﾠK–14ﾠschool
reserveﾠfundﾠ(PublicﾠSchoolﾠSystemﾠStabilizationﾠAccount).ﾠ
ﾠ
PROPﾠ45:ﾠHealthcareﾠInsurance.ﾠRateﾠChanges.ﾠInitiativeﾠStatute.ﾠ ﾠ- NO
Requiresﾠchangesﾠtoﾠhealthﾠinsuranceﾠrates,ﾠorﾠanythingﾠelseﾠaffectingﾠtheﾠchargesﾠassociatedﾠwithﾠ
healthﾠinsurance,ﾠtoﾠbeﾠapprovedﾠbyﾠInsuranceﾠCommissionerﾠbeforeﾠtakingﾠeffect.ﾠ
Prohibitsﾠhealth,ﾠauto,ﾠandﾠhomeownersﾠinsurersﾠfromﾠdeterminingﾠpolicyﾠeligibilityﾠorﾠratesﾠbasedﾠonﾠ
lackﾠofﾠpriorﾠcoverageﾠorﾠcreditﾠhistory.ﾠ
PROPﾠ46:ﾠDrugﾠandﾠAlcoholﾠTestingﾠofﾠDoctors.ﾠMedicalﾠNegligenceﾠLawsuits.ﾠInitiativeﾠStatute. – NOﾠ
RequiresﾠdrugﾠandﾠalcoholﾠtestingﾠofﾠdoctorsﾠandﾠreportingﾠofﾠpositiveﾠtestﾠtoﾠtheﾠCAﾠMedicalﾠBoard,ﾠalsoﾠ
doctorsﾠtoﾠreportﾠanyﾠotherﾠdoctorﾠsuspectedﾠofﾠdrugﾠorﾠalcoholﾠimpairmentﾠorﾠmedicalﾠnegligence.ﾠ
Increasesﾠ$250,000ﾠcapﾠonﾠpainﾠandﾠsufferingﾠdamagesﾠinﾠmedicalﾠnegligenceﾠlawsuitsﾠtoﾠaccountﾠforﾠinflation.ﾠ
ﾠ
PROPﾠ47:ﾠCriminalﾠSentences.ﾠMisdemeanorﾠPenalties.ﾠInitiativeﾠStatue. – NOﾠ
Reduceﾠtheﾠclassificationﾠofﾠmostﾠ”nonseriousﾠandﾠnonviolentﾠpropertyﾠandﾠdrugﾠcrimes”ﾠfromﾠaﾠfelonyﾠtoﾠ
aﾠmisdemeanor.ﾠ
CreateﾠaﾠSafeﾠNeighborhoodsﾠandﾠSchoolsﾠFund.ﾠAppliesﾠsavingsﾠtoﾠmentalﾠhealthﾠandﾠdrugﾠtreatmentﾠ
programs,ﾠK–12ﾠschools,ﾠandﾠcrimeﾠvictims.ﾠ
ﾠ
PROPﾠ48:ﾠIndianﾠGamingﾠCompact.ﾠReferendum. – NOﾠ
Aﾠ“Yes”ﾠvoteﾠapproves,ﾠandﾠaﾠ“No”ﾠvoteﾠrejects,ﾠaﾠstatuteﾠthat:ﾠ
RatifiesﾠtribalﾠgamingﾠcompactsﾠbetweenﾠtheﾠstateﾠandﾠtheﾠNorthﾠForkﾠRancheriaﾠofﾠMonoﾠIndiansﾠandﾠ
theﾠWiyotﾠTribe.ﾠ
Omitsﾠcertainﾠprojectsﾠrelatedﾠtoﾠexecutingﾠtheﾠcompactsﾠorﾠamendmentsﾠtoﾠtheﾠcompactsﾠfromﾠscopeﾠ
ofﾠtheﾠCaliforniaﾠEnvironmentalﾠQualityﾠAct.
STATEWIDEﾠCANDIDATESﾠ
Governorﾠ‐ﾠNeelﾠKashkariﾠ
LieutenantﾠGovernorﾠ‐ﾠRonﾠNehringﾠ
SecretaryﾠofﾠStateﾠ‐ﾠPeteﾠPetersonﾠ
AttorneyﾠGeneralﾠ‐ﾠRonﾠGoldﾠ
Controllerﾠ‐ﾠAshleyﾠSwearenginﾠ
Treasurerﾠ‐ﾠGregﾠConlonﾠ
InsuranceﾠCommissionerﾠ‐ﾠTedﾠGainesﾠ
SuperintendentﾠofﾠPublicﾠInstructionﾠ‐ﾠMarshallﾠTuckﾠ
ﾠ
BOARDﾠOFﾠEQUALIZATIONﾠCANDIDATESﾠ
BOEﾠ#3ﾠ‐ﾠG.ﾠRickﾠMarshallﾠ
CONGRESSIONALﾠCANDIDATESﾠ
CDﾠ33ﾠ‐ﾠElanﾠCarrﾠ
STATEﾠSENATEﾠCANDIDATESﾠ
SDﾠ18ﾠ‐ﾠRicardoﾠBenitezﾠ
SDﾠ20ﾠ‐ﾠMatthewﾠMunsonﾠ
SDﾠ22ﾠ‐ﾠMarcﾠRodriguezﾠ
SDﾠ32ﾠ‐ﾠMarioﾠGuerraﾠ
SDﾠ34ﾠ‐ﾠJanetﾠNguyenﾠ
STATEﾠASSEMBLYﾠCANDIDATESﾠ
ADﾠ66ﾠ‐ﾠDavidﾠHadleyﾠ
LOSﾠANGELESﾠCOUNTYﾠ
Sheriffﾠ‐ﾠJimﾠMcDonnellﾠ
CountyﾠAssessorﾠ‐ﾠJohnﾠMorrisﾠ
BoardﾠofﾠSupervisorﾠ#3ﾠ‐ﾠBobbyﾠShriverﾠ
(EndorsedﾠbyﾠLosﾠAngelesﾠCountyﾠBusinessﾠFederation)ﾠ
ﾠ
MeasureﾠPﾠ‐SafeﾠNeighborhoodﾠParks: NO
To ensureﾠcontinuedﾠfundingﾠfromﾠanﾠexpiringﾠvoter‐approvedﾠmeasureﾠforﾠimprovingﾠtheﾠ safetyﾠofﾠneighborhoodﾠparksﾠandﾠsenior/youthﾠrecreationﾠareas;ﾠassistingﾠinﾠgangﾠprevention;ﾠprotectingﾠrivers,ﾠbeaches,ﾠwaterﾠsources;ﾠrepairing,ﾠacquiring/preservingﾠparks/naturalﾠareas;ﾠmaintainingﾠzoos,ﾠmuseums;ﾠprovidingﾠyouthﾠjob‐training…ShallﾠLosﾠAngelesﾠCountyﾠlevyﾠanﾠannualﾠ$23/parcelﾠspecialﾠtax,ﾠrequiringﾠannualﾠindependentﾠfinancialﾠauditsﾠandﾠallﾠfundﾠusedﾠlocally.
JUDICIALﾠRECOMMENDATIONSﾠ
SupremeﾠCourtﾠ
GoodwinﾠLiu – NOﾠ
Mariano‐FlrentinoﾠCuellarﾠ- NO
KathrynﾠMickleﾠWerdegarﾠ- YES
ﾠﾠ
CourtﾠofﾠAppealﾠJusticeﾠ
FrancesﾠRothschildﾠ- NO
JeffreyﾠW.ﾠJohnsonﾠ- YES
BrianﾠHoffstadtﾠ – YESﾠ
LeeﾠAnneﾠEdmonﾠ- YES
AudreyﾠB.ﾠCollinsﾠ- NO
NoraﾠM.ﾠManellaﾠ- YES
PaulﾠA.ﾠTurnerﾠ- YESﾠ
KennethﾠR.ﾠYeganﾠ- YES
DennisﾠM.ﾠPerlussﾠ- NO
LaurenceﾠD.ﾠRubinﾠ- NO
MadeleineﾠI.ﾠFlierﾠ- NO
ﾠ
JudgeﾠofﾠtheﾠSuperiorﾠCourtﾠ
OfficeﾠNo.ﾠ61ﾠDayanﾠMathaiﾠ(#133)ﾠﾠ YESﾠ
OfficeﾠNo.ﾠ87ﾠAndrewﾠM.ﾠSteinﾠ(#135)ﾠﾠ YESﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠ
Creating a captive insurance company may
Creating a captive insurance company may be a great strategy for businesses that manage their insurance risks and profit from the tax advantages, premium discounts and portfolio management. Steve Savant, syndicated financial columnist and talk show host, interviews nationally recognized captive insurance expert and author Wes Sierk.
Creating a captive insurance company may
Creating a captive insurance company may be a great strategy for businesses that manage their insurance risks and profit from the tax advantages, premium discounts and portfolio management. Steve Savant, syndicated financial columnist and talk show host, interviews nationally recognized captive insurance expert and author Wes Sierk.
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What are the tax advantages of a captive
What are the tax advantages of a captive insurance company?
Many companies self-insure and don’t create captive insurance companies. They’re only allowed to deduct the actual claims. A captive insurance company can deduct the company funding, negotiate direct with reinsurance companies and profit from the difference between claims and premium. Steve Savant, syndicated financial columnist and talk show host of Let’s Get Down to Business, interviews nationally recognized captive insurance company expert, Wes Sierk, ChFC, ACI, ARM.
Why should advisers offer captive insura
Why should advisers offer captive insurance companies?
Advisers are always looking for a distinctive entre into the business market. Offering captive insurance strategies is not a mainstream financial area advisors cultivate. Captives offer tax advantages, premium discounts and portfolio management. Well-versed advisers can differentiation their practice from other financial professional business models. Steve Savant, syndicated financial columnist and talk show host of Let’s Get Down to Business, interviews nationally recognized captive insurance company expert, Wes Sierk, ChFC, ACI, ARM.
http://youtu.be/-9AfZOSUo34
Wesley Sierk's Blog 
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