State of California secondary Archives: on Tax Reform

Carly Fiorina: Tax burden is already too high

FIORINA: The tax burden is already too high. The tax burden must be cut, must be lowered. That is the only way we can get our economy growing again by creating jobs, and that means cutting taxes and w must actually cut federal spending. Now, once again, this is an area where Tom Campbell and I apparently disagree fundamentally. In 1989, when he was a congressman, he proposed a gas tax increase in congress. In 1997, he was the only Republican to vote against tax cuts. Last year, he proposed a $16 billion tax increase for California. He has said that he wants to increase the gasoline tax by 32 cents a gallon to close the California budget deficit. We already have the highest gas tax in the nation at 65 cents.

CAMPBELL: That's absolute inaccurate. The NTU in the 102nd Congress rated me #1 most fiscally responsible based on the amount of net cuts that I co-sponsored. I have never proposed that taxes be increased to close the federal budget.

Carly Fiorina: I will vote against every tax increase; cut waste instead

CAMPBELL: The reason is clear because, for example, suppose there is another airline crisis involving security and in order to beef up security we need to put a tax on airline tickets. Are you going to vote no if that money? Would you vote no on a special tax on airline tickets to beef up security on airlines?

FIORINA: I would, yes, and the reason I would vote no is because there is absolutely no reason that our federal government, which is now $12.5 trillion in debt, cannot trim spending from the waste bloat that sits in the federal government bureaucracy to deal with its most important priority, which is to protect the men and women of this country.

Q: Concluding remarks?

FIORINA: I will fight for every job; I will vote against every tax increase; I will champion reduced regulation, lower taxes and lower government spending. We must take our government back and make it work.

David Hadley: Oppose sales and income tax hikes in Proposition 30

A fiscal conservative, David Hadley has voted against raising our taxes and he opposed the sales and income tax hikes contained in Proposition 30. He's against the crony capitalists who receive subsidies, tax credits and carbon offsets at the expense of hard-working families.

And, it's no surprise David Hadley voted for an earned income tax credit for the working poor, supported a program that helps taxpayers who are overcharged by the Franchise Tax Board and voted against allowing local governments to raise the cap on sales tax hikes.

Elizabeth Emken: Protect the social safety net and entitlement programs

Congress must make the distinction on priority spending in government, work within a budget, and stop spending now the future taxes our children have yet to earn and pay. I will insist on Congressional oversight of bureaucratic spending and a renewed focus on results. The immediate answer is to reduce spending and regulatory burdens. There is no agency that cannot be reduced in some form. At the same time, economic growth is imperative. We cannot pay this debt down without robust growth that produces more revenue.

Gavin Newsom: Repealed taxes on diapers, menstrual products

Herman Cain: 9-9-9 economic plan: 9% income tax + 9% sales tax

I call it my 9-9-9 economic growth plan. Throw out the current tax code, a 9% tax on corporate income, a 9% tax on personal income and a 9% national sales tax. If 10% is good enough for God, 9% ought to be good enough for the federal government. This will replace all federal income taxes. It'll replace all federal income taxes.

It will also replace the payroll tax, so everybody gets some skin in the game. And it replaces the capital gains tax.

This economy is on life support. We do not need a solution that just trims around the edges. This is a bold plan and a bold solution. Additionally, with something as simple as 9-9-9, it gives us a easy mechanism to help those cities that are the most blighted in terms of empowerment zones.

Jay Obernolte: Failed notion that high taxes & big government improve life

From campaign website ElectJay.com: "Californians pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and our government wastes much of that money. Jay will fight taxes and hold government accountable."

From campaign website ElectJay.com: "In Congress, he will continue to hold government accountable and work to keep taxes low."

John Chiang: No gimmicks to balance budget on backs of taxpayers

John Cox: I will reduce California's sky-high sales taxes, gas taxes

Jon Huntsman: Let's take a pledge to not take any pledges, including taxes

HUNTSMAN: I'd love to get everybody to sign a pledge to take no pledges. I have a pledge to my wife, and I pledge allegiance to my country, but beyond that, no pledges. I think it diminishes the political discussion. I think it jeopardizes your ability to lead once you get there. And I started when I first ran for governor in 2004, as someone who wanted to pin me down on taxes, I said, no thanks, I'm not going to sign it. I didn't raise taxes. We had historic tax cuts in our state. So look at somebody's record. That's always a pretty good indicator and barometer of where they're likely to go.

Kevin Faulconer: He will veto any tax increase that comes to his desk

Kevin Faulconer: Helping Our Heroes: exempt military retirement from taxes

Rocky Chavez: Californians pay an overall tax rate near 50%: too high!

On the contrary, I will work to reduce your tax burden by introducing legislation that is aimed at reducing state income taxes across the board. I will also work to protect Proposition 13 from liberal politicians who seek to increase the property taxes that you pay on your home or business.

Tom Campbell: $600 billion to cut in Obama's budget; don't increase taxes

FIORINA: The tax burden is already too high. The tax burden must be cut, must be lowered. That is the only way we can get our economy growing again by creating jobs, and that means cutting taxes and w must actually cut federal spending. Now, once again, this is an area where Tom Campbell and I disagree fundamentally. In 1989, he proposed a gas tax increase. In 1997, he was the only Republican to vote against tax cuts. Last year, he proposed a $16 billion tax increase for the people of California.

CAMPBELL: That's absolute inaccurate. In the 102nd Congress, the National Taxpayer Union rated me #1 most fiscally responsible based on the amount of net cuts that I co-sponsored. Sen. Barbara Boxer was in congress with me and she was 412th when I was #1. I have never proposed that taxes be increased to close the federal budget. What I have proposed is that you go into Pres. Obama's proposed budget and you can find more than $600 billion to cut.

Tom Campbell: Won't sign taxpayer protection pledge; we need flexibility

CAMPBELL: The reason is clear because, for example, suppose there is another airline crisis involving security and in order to beef up security we need to put a tax on airline tickets. Are you going to vote no if that money? Would you vote no on a special tax on airline tickets to beef up security on airlines?

FIORINA: I would, yes, and the reason I would vote no is because there is absolutely no reason that our federal government, which is now $12.5 trillion in debt, cannot trim spending from the waste bloat that sits in the federal government bureaucracy to deal with its most important priority, which is to protect the men and women of this country.

Q: Concluding remarks?

FIORINA: I will fight for every job; I will vote against every tax increase; I will champion reduced regulation, lower taxes and lower government spending. We must take our government back and make it work.