Today's Commentary: Taxpayer Action Day Proclaims: Don’t Tax California!

With summer budget battles looming, the liberal drumbeat for tax increases is starting to pound its way through the halls of the state capitol. The constant barrage of union and media attacks leaves Republicans committed to a balanced budget feeling isolated and beleaguered. But yesterday, reinforcements marched on Sacramento and their message was clear: hold the line and don’t tax California!

During this “Taxpayer Action Day,” hundreds of citizens from every corner of the Golden State descended on our state capitol to deliver thousands of petitions representing citizen opposition to “solving” the budget crisis through raising taxes. Sponsored by a coalition of California taxpayer advocates, including Americans for Prosperity and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, the event sent a strong message to state lawmakers that citizens are drawing a hard line against tax increases.

The gathering at the capitol was the culmination of a month-long statewide tour dubbed “Already Taxed to the Max!” From Chico to San Diego, dozens of rallies throughout the state have united taxpayers to hold their spendthrift lawmakers accountable. The “mascot” of each of these rallies was the 12-foot inflatable A.T.M., which symbolized the message to lawmakers that citizens are not A.T.M.s, pumping out money to finance Sacramento’s freewheeling habits.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_N_polnote09.3f3bcc3.html

-- Meredith Turney, State Capitol