IOU = YOU Owe the State By Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad)
While it's not necessarily bad that we don't have a budget, because that means Republicans are holding the line on taxes, the unfortunate consequence is that many private businesses are bracing for IOUs issued by the state. Even worse, the state refuses to give these entities a break, passing out IOUs, but not accepting IOUs in return. It’s a ridiculous double standard.
That is why I’m co-authoring Assembly Bill 1506, which would force the state to accept its own IOU as payment. It's only fair that government takes this small step to accept some of the responsibility for their overspending, and give IOU recipients a break.
I presented the bill to the Senate and was pleased to see it pass unanimously. But I need your help to ensure the Governor signs AB 1506. Please email your letters of support to me at Senator.Wyland@sen.ca.gov. I’ll make sure they’re delivered, and we implement this crucial taxpayer measure as soon as possible.
Sacramento Democrats Focus on the Frivolous By Assemblyman Martin Garrick
California’s budget is more than 50
days overdue, and the state is facing a
cash crisis. The Controller has
warned he may have to soon issue
IOU’s to vendors and taxpayers.
Republicans stand united behind a
responsible plan that sets priorities
and reduces spending through
reform.
Consider that Medi-Cal recipients
currently pay nothing for health care.
Adding a $3 to $5 co-pay for prescriptions,
and standard co-pays for
doctor visits, could save $300 million
annually.
Taxpayers also pay $5.7 billion to In-
Home Supportive Services providers
for basic care for low-income
Californians. This program is ripe
for fraud and abuse. Adding a doctor
certification could save $750 million
dollars.
Republicans have also proposed
reducing CalWORKS – the program
that provides cash benefits to welfare
recipients – by $1.6 billion. There
have been recent reports of welfare
recipients being caught using government-
issued debit cards at casinos
and strip clubs. Even in the face of
these abuses, Democrats have rejected
reform.
Instead, they are pushing the same
income, sales and car tax hikes rejected
by voters last year. If Democrats
don’t like our ideas, they must propose
their own. There is no excuse
to impose massive tax increases on
middle-class Californians, while
rejecting reform.
Senator
