In This Issue ILLEGAL CAR TAX SWAP END OF SESSION POLITICS ORANGE COUNTY UPDATE SATELLITE OFFICE HOURS CORONA-NORCO UPDATE

Welcome

Welcome to my electronic E-Newsletter! This newsletter is a very valuable tool that my staff and I will use to keep you informed of important issues that face the constituents of the 71st Assembly District. I look forward to your comments, opinions, and suggestions.

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ILLEGAL CAR TAX SWAP

Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg a Democrat, continues to float a trial balloon to swap out the $4.2 billion car tax in favor of $4.2 billion in new taxes, specifically tobacco and income taxes.

It’s nothing more than a cruel bait and switch that will threaten public safety and put California’s finances further out of balance.

When the majority party tripled your car tax, they generated $4 billion to continue their uncontrolled spending. They insist it was not a tax but an action over which they had no control. It was triggered anonymously by an invisible hand somewhere in bureaucracy – an “immaculate taxation” without the required two-thirds vote of the legislature. Republicans argued this was unconstitutional because it violated the two-thirds majority vote requirement for tax increases.

Now Democrats claim they want to repeal the car tax and replace it with a different set of taxes by invoking the so-called “revenue neutral” clause. They believe they can ignore the intent of the constitution with a simple majority vote.

The legislature’s lawyers have in the past allowed “revenue neutral” tax swaps on a simple majority vote provided one tax is raised and another is lowered by equal amounts. However, two months ago Governor Davis and Democrats insisted the car tax was not a tax but a fee that did not require a vote. Now they’re trying to rewrite their story. Democrats can’t have it both ways; either it is a tax, or it isn’t. If Democrats now call it a tax, then the enactment of the car tax was unconstitutional. If it is not a tax, but a fee, then the Democrats can not swap the car tax with another tax without a 2/3 vote.

Because Proposition 98 mandates that roughly 40% of each tax dollar go to education, their proposal will not generate enough revenue to offset the $4 billion they’ve already taken from California motorists. In order to keep the budget balanced; they must suspend Proposition 98.

Ignoring these concerns, Democrats intend to proceed because they believe the car tax is less popular than higher taxes on other constituencies. Democrats will have a tough time convincing working Californians they’ve had an epiphany on the car tax. Just last month, they were caught on tape discussing a plan to delay passing a budget to improve their party’s chance of passing a Proposition that will lower the threshold for passing the budget from 2/3 to a simple majority. Lowering and raising taxes are serious actions that are legally subject to checks and balances.

SATELLITE OFFICE HOURS

Corona–Norco Office hours:

For my Riverside County constituents, my staff will be holding office hours at the City of Corona Fire Station #4, located at 915 N. McKinley Street in Corona, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. This service is provided to assist constituents, who might not be able to make the trip to my Orange District Office, with any state-related issue. Feel free to contact my District Office at 909-737-1671 or 714-313-1658 to make an appointment or to receive additional information about this program. While appointments are not necessary, making an appointment will enable my staff to be better prepared to assist you. The next office hours will be from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 4th, 2003.

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY OFFICE HOURS

For my constituents in South Orange County, my staff will be holding office hours at the Mission Viejo City Hall, located at 200 Civic Center in Mission Viejo, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month. This service is provided to assist constituents, who might not be able to make the trip to my Orange District Office, with any state-related issue. Feel free to contact my District Office at 714-998-0980 to set an appointment or to receive additional information about this program. While appointments are not necessary, making an appointment will enable my staff to be better prepared to assist you. The next office hours will be from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25th, 2003.

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END OF SESSION POLITICS

The Assembly was back in session on Monday August 18th and will be in session until September 12th. The end of the legislative session is always hectic. In the upcoming weeks, the legislators will be attending floor session for approximately 10-12 hours a day in an effort to pass bills before the deadline of midnight, September 12th. There is even a rumor that the Assembly may try to adjourn before the deadline, but in order to do so, the Assembly must finish with all of the bills that are pending.

Many controversial bills will be coming to the Assembly Floor in the next couple of weeks. As we get closer to the end of the session, authors must bring forward their bills if they hope for them to become law. Examples of some of the more recent controversial bills are AB 205 (Goldberg) and SB 60 (Cedillo).

AB 205 (Goldberg), if passed, provides benefits for domestic partners. When AB 205 came before me for a vote in the Assembly Judiciary Committee and on the Assembly Floor, I voted against this legislation because this bill would undermine and circumvent the institution of marriage and its attendant rights. California voters expressed their beliefs on March 7th, 2000, when they passed Proposition 22 with 61 percent of the vote. AB 205 is now pending before the Senate Floor for a vote.

SB 60 (Cedillo), if passed, repeals existing law that requires an applicant for a driver’s license to submit satisfactory proof that the applicant’s presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. I voted against SB 60 on June 30th when it came before me in the Assembly Committee on Transportation. This bill is currently on the Assembly Floor awaiting a vote. Our nation is in the midst of a struggle against international terrorism that requires law enforcement and citizens alike to be at a heightened state of alert. Any effort that undermines the ability of law enforcement to identify potential threats to the public safety must be opposed. SB 60 opens the floodgates for widespread identity fraud by eliminating the social security number and proof of legal residence requirements of the driver’s license application process.

ORANGE COUNTY UPDATE

ORANGE COUNTY FORUM

I enjoyed participating in the Orange County Forum luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine on August 14th. As a freshman legislator, I spoke about my experiences so far in Sacramento. I expressed how appreciative and excited I am about serving in Sacramento. I also discussed the ongoing crisis in Workers’ Compensation, which is a significant concern to our business community.

DISTRICT EVENTS

My staff attended the OCTA legislative briefing about the recently proposed implementation plan for State Route 91 and the Express Lanes. The scheduled improvements are for the section between Interstate 15 and State Route 55.

On August 29th, the City of Orange begins its International Street Fair. The Street Fair will run from August 29th-31st in the Orange Circle and surrounding streets and will feature international foods and music.