At a meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2009, the Mendocino County Republican Central Committee endorsed the annual $15 Park Vehicle Pass proposed by the Budget Conference Committee calling it “a common sense solution to funding State Parks”.

The $15 Park Vehicle Pass, paid at annual vehicle registration renewal, would allow the vehicle and all occupants free day use at any state park, beach or reserve operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The revenue generated by the Park Vehicle Pass would be used to fund State Parks operations and would provide a stable source of revenue independent from annual general fund budget deliberations.

The endorsement was in response to the Budget Conference Committee removing the Department of Parks and Recreation from the general fund budget. This would result in closing 220 of 279 state parks, beaches and reserves statewide and 19 of 20 State Parks facilities in Mendocino County unless another funding mechanism was adopted. To insure continued operation of State Parks facilities the Budget Conference Committee proposed the annual $15 Park Vehicle Pass.

In their letters to the Governor, the chairs of the Senate and Assembly Republican Caucuses and other Republican leaders around the state the County Central Committee described the potential economic impact of State Parks closures on coastal Mendocino County’s fragile economy and reminded them:

“Over many decades the state has purchased thousands of acres of land to hold in perpetuity for the preservation, protection and enjoyment of California residents. The proposed annual $15 Park Vehicle Pass would insure that goal could be attained. We believe that the Governor and all Republican legislators have a moral obligation to protect and enhance our State Park system for our children and grandchildren…” and urged their support for the $15 Park Vehicle Pass legislation.

The fireman on a television ad ominously says that unless Prop 1A passes $16 Billion will be lost resulting in reduction to firefighters and police. In another TV ad a teacher says that unless Prop 1A passes $16 Billion will result in cuts to education. The Governator threatens to cut firefighters immediately. NOT REALLY!

If Prop 1A fails on May 19 will $16 Billion immediately be lost to the state resulting in massive layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police? NO. Over the next two years the state will receive $16 Billion dollars from the sales tax hike, the Vehicle License Fee increases and the higher state income tax rates recently passed by our legislature. What Prop 1A does is extend those tax increases for another one or two years. So only starting in 2011 when the recent tax increases expire will the $16 Billion start being “lost”.

Our state legislators voted to stick us with higher taxes. We had no say in it. Before you vote on Prop 1A on May 19 ask yourself, “Who can handle my money more wisely, me or some faceless bureaucrats or, worse yet, the politicians in Sacramento?”

Vote No on Prop 1A.

Stan Anderson
Fort Bragg

The Wall Street Journal published this opinion piece by House Member Paul D. Ryan. The short version of the GOP plan is:

While our approach ensures a sturdy safety net for those facing chronic or temporary difficulties, it understands that the reliability of this protection and the other functions of government depend on a vibrant, free and growing private sector to generate the resources necessary for it.

Here's an outline of what we propose:

For more than 30 years the Democrat controlled California legislature has been spending money with careless abandon. Republicans tried with little success to limit the spending. Now the bill has come due. An analysis by the bipartisan California Budget Project shows what a travesty the recently passed budget is.

Gone is more than $8 Billion in K-14 education funds. All county First Five funding for preschoolers have been pulled back to the state for other uses through 2014. For those receiving SSI/SSP, the federal Cost of Living Allowance increase passed through by the state will be suspended and checks will drop from $907 to $870/month. Property tax assistance for seniors, the blind and disabled will be reduced by $6.5 million. The list goes on and on.

There are increases in sales tax, car registration and personal income tax and some tax credits for which few in Mendocino County will qualify. But the most outrageous tax credit is the $500 million Democrat payback to their wealthy friends in Hollywood for movie and television production in the form of tax credits – not deductions – tax credits.

So while the taxpayers in Mendocino County, the seniors, poor, disabled, school children, teachers, business owners and many others are scraping by, the Democrats and their Hollywood friends will be partying away with our tax money. Our Democrat legislature has turned Sacramento into ‘Wall Street West”.

Aren’t our elected representatives in Sacramento supposed to watch out for, not sell out, their constituents? How many Mendocino County movies did Mr. Chesbro and Senator Wiggins get in return for their votes? Don’t hold your breath waiting for the movie crews to roll in to the county. Hollywood $500 million, Mendocino County $0.

The sad thing is that the taxpayers of Mendocino County didn’t even get any free movie tickets.

Stan Anderson
Fort Bragg