Release History

Main

CaRLC News Release

01/14/2000 Immediate
Contact: William Westmiller
CaRLC Proposition Endorsements

REPUBLICANS SUPPORT ONLY TWO PROPS

The Republican Liberty Caucus has endorsed two propositions that will appear on the March 2000 primary ballot, but aren't impressed with any of the others. The activist libertarians in the Republican Party favor Prop 17, which would legalize charitable lotteries, and Prop 28, which would repeal the state tobacco tax.
The RLC favors the elimination of restrictions on any gambling activities which are free of fraud and misrepresentation, but believes that sanctioned monopolies on gambling ought to be avoided. While supporting the common non-profit fundraising proposed in Prop 17, the group took no position no Prop 1-A, which would grant Indian tribes exclusive rights to offer certain gaming opportunities. Restricting the right to offer or participate in games of chance solely on the basis of race is a form of reverse discrimination which ought to be opposed, but any small step toward more freedom should be encouraged. These conflicting considerations led the new Republican
group to withhold endorsement of the Indian Gaming proposition.

Eliminating the use of tax penalties for social objectives is just one facet of Republican opposition to excessive, fruitless and penury taxation that burdens every Californian. The cigarette tax is not just a huge burden on lower income residents, it is a tax based on feeble science, flawed sociology and bad government principles. Proceeds
from the tax support a propaganda effort which is short on facts and which enriches a few politically-connected advocacy groups. Responsibility for the ill consequences of
risky behavior should be borne by those who chose to take risks, in spite of well-known and disclosed hazards.

All Californians should think twice about the usual assortment of bond issues on every ballot. Contrary to common assumption, bonds are not free money for good
purposes and the Republican Liberty Caucus opposes all the propositions that would commit Californians to long-term tax and interest expenditures. Worthy programs ought to be incorporated into state capital budget priorities rather than
foisted off on the next generation with a decade of heavy interest. Bonds attempt to hide and entrench the tax burden that will be suffered most by those citizens who cannot benefit from the tax-exempt investment income granted to the wealthy buyers of state debt issues.

- End - 

William Westmiller
CaRLC Chair
44 Summerfield Street
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
westmiller@aol.com
(805) 493-4332 hm
(805) 373-0596 wk