Democrat lawmakers in the state legislature recently passed an $18 billion budget package to raise taxes without Republican support. State Senators John J. Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) took issue with the legislation, and specifically what they termed as an "illegitimate" $9.3 billion tax increase.

"The Democrats' multi-billion dollar tax increases on hard working families will punish taxpayers and cause even more Californians to lose their jobs. Raising the sales tax and Personal Income Taxes will not help stimulate the economy, but it will take money out of peoples' pockets when they need it most," said Senator Hollingsworth in a statement released by his office.

Benoit was similarly critical of the Democrat budget, stating that it ignores the state’s constitutional requirement for a 2/3 vote requirement for tax increases.

"I am disappointed that we have not been able to reach a bi-partisan compromise," commented Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] Benoit. "Today's action not only drives our state further from fiscal stability, it violates decades-old taxpayer protections that California voters overwhelmingly supported through the passage of Proposition 13."

Meanwhile Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to work with Democrats to reach a budget compromise, despite the refusal of his own party’s legislators to vote for any budget that includes a tax increase. The budget impasse has dragged on since last summer, with Republicans pushing for spending cuts. Democrats and Schwarzenegger say the size of the deficit is so large that spending cuts alone will not be enough.

The Democratic Club meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 P.M. The meetings are held at the B'Nai Chaim Synagogue, located at 29500 Via Princessa East in Murrieta, CA. For further details about any Democratic Club meeting, or to check on meeting locations, please call Bonita Connoley at (951) 600-0999.