Letters: California’s taxes are too high + Proposition 13 needs changes

California taxes

Re “Does tax bill help or hurt Californians? Republicans hearing it from both sides” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14): No one forces anyone to live in California. We choose to live here because of the state’s many attributes while weighing the downsides. But why should the rest of the country help pay our tax burden when we waste so much on so little? Our taxes are high and are the direct result of handouts and government programs. Perhaps if we are made to pay what the state demands of us, voters will go to the polls to stop waste and abuse in California. We are free to change the laws. But to make the rest of the country pay for our stupidity and greed in many cases does not seem fair.

Proposition 13

Re “California promises free community college tuition, but how will it pay?” (sacbee.com, Nov. 13): I am glad California has recognized the need to cut community college costs, and the Folsom Lake College Promise Program is an excellent example of the positive effects this can have. However, we don’t have to pay for community college fee waivers through regressive sales tax measures. Reforming the commercial side of Proposition 13 would give us local revenue that can help fund community college fee waivers, plus early childhood education, K-12 education, and the rest of the California college system. By making large corporations pay their fair share, we can send students to community college for free, and support them getting there by providing better funding for early childhood and K-12 education.

Jeff Sessions

Re “Sessions denies lying on Russia, pleads hazy memory” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14): It’s astounding to witness the top law enforcement official, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, perjure himself time and time again with impunity. Government corruption is beyond the pale and it’s going to get worse.

 

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This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Letters: California’s taxes are too high + Proposition 13 needs changes."