Newsom’s COVID-19 response just adds to the high tax burden paid by Californians
Gov. Newsom’s policies are creating heavy burdens for the people of California. Instead of limiting the economic impact of the coronavirus shutdown, the governor with the Democrat majority Legislature is creating new and oppressive laws. These recent laws are increasing the financial strain on families and businesses.
California is facing a $54 billion budget deficit, yet the governor recently signed a new budget that raises taxes on businesses. How can employers continue to provide jobs when they are being taxed out of business? If the federal government hands over billions of taxpayers’ dollars to help California’s budget problems, the state should first solve the root of its financial insolvency — high taxes and anti-business policies promoted by the Democrats.
Alarmingly, the governor also formed a multiagency “strike force” whose sole purpose is to police businesses that might be out of compliance with the state’s cumbersome public health policies. While protecting the health of Californians is important, spending tax dollars to create a statewide strike-force team is not a wise use of funds.
Additionally, Gov. Newsom’s arbitrary policies allow some businesses to stay open while ordering others to close. Churches also have been forced to close, which is a violation of their religious freedom. National leaders, including U.S. Attorney General William Barr, have stated that many of these laws are unconstitutional.
The size and length of the shutdown we are under is unprecedented in the history of our country. There is an increasing divide among doctors, some who support stringent shutdown policies and others who believe the sanctions are much too severe. In fact, an increasing number of doctors and health care workers are suspicious of the COVID-19 testing numbers, the infinitesimal number of COVID-19 death rates, the stunning amount of money involved in the shutdown, and the problem of placing more restrictions on those who are healthy.
Having a repressive state government is bad enough, but some mayors are going a step further. Recently, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that businesses and homeowners will have their power and water turned off if they do not follow city shutdown policies. It is astounding that a threat like this has been issued against the citizens of a city in the United States!
This announcement, like many of the governor’s regulations, is evidence that a line has been crossed between the constitutional rights of the people and the government’s unconstitutional conduct. These actions are another reason that large numbers of people are moving to other states. Every year hundreds of thousands of people choose to leave California because of the state’s high cost of living and anti-business policies. In 2019 L.A. County had 98,608 people leave, marking the biggest net loss in the United States. With Garcetti and the L.A. City Council considering the defunding of police, and with the state ordering the release of felons, the result will lead to even more tax-paying citizens moving out of our state.
The devastating restrictions imposed by our governor and other elected officials during COVID-19 has caused major economic and societal change. In just a few weeks the voters will each make a crucial decision that will determine the future course of our country. Americans will choose either a socialistic government where elected officials grasp more power, or a government which allows individual liberty and constitutional rights to prevail.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin – “ours is a government of the people, by the people, for the people – if we can keep it.”
Fred Vanderhoof is chairman of the Fresno County Republican Party. Email: Vanderhoof7@comcast.net.