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Cruz Bustamante on Tax Reform
Democratic Lt. Governor; former Candidate for CA Governor
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Tough Love for California: Raise sin tax & upper income tax
We clearly knew that there were certain incomes that were coming in and we spent more than we had. I've decided to face this realistically, to deal with it practically, to understand it and not to tell half truths about what we're likely be able to do.
We've done all the easy things and now it's time to do the tough things. That's why I submitted a plan, a plan that I called "Tough Love for California."
In that plan, I raised tobacco taxes, I raise alcohol taxes, I raise the upper income tax bracket on the largest and the highest 4 percent of all Californians. I do that, but in return, we close the budget gap.
We fully fund education. We put 123,000 community college students back into our colleges. And we relieve the car tax issue for all those vehicles that are under $20,000.
Source: Recall Debate, Cal. State Univ. at Sacramento
Sep 24, 2003
Repeal car tax by taxing alcohol & tobacco
Q [To Bustamante]: If you repeal the recent car tax increase, how would you make up the $4 billion in revenue? BUSTAMANTE: I think it is a good idea in terms of repealing. It is a unfair burden on working families. I would get rid of it by raising
alcohol and tobacco taxes.
HUFFINGTON: No, you would not.
BUSTAMANTE: If you see my plan, you will see that I did it.
HUFFINGTON: You got quite a bit of money from the tobacco companies.
BUSTAMANTE: I also sued them, Arianna.
Source: Recall debate in Walnut Creek
Sep 3, 2003