Tax The Golfers, The Stoners and The Boozers (The Final Solution)

[Trent Rock]

I was thinking of the TS community as I was driving to Solvang today
I drove by a nice golf course
It made me think of Arnold and his recent proposal

In a victory for California’s golf business and consumers, legislators rejected a proposed tax on golf-related activities that was intended to help reduce the state’s massive budget deficit. The California Alliance for Golf, a coalition of state industry leaders, played a key role in defeating the proposal, which was introduced by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The state is facing a budget deficit of more than $41 billion in the next 18 months.

The proposed golf tax targeted greens fees, practice balls, cart rentals, lessons and private-club membership fees and dues. The tax, which would have increased golf-related costs by as much as 10 percent, was scheduled to take effect April 1.

Course owners and operators – aside from complaining that the tax unfairly singled out golf – warned that the tax would do more harm than good. An increase in consumer costs would result in less play and lower revenues for courses, which in turn would lead to reduced facility and course maintenance and greater layoffs, they argued.

Formed in July 2007, the California Alliance for Golf includes participation from the Northern and Southern California golf associations, the PGA of America, private and public course owners, and course managers and superintendents.

From current zero to 10 percent


That's right
Arnold wanted to make the golfers pay for the tax woes in California
Next we get to The Stoners

Oakland residents overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to approve a first-of-its kind tax on medical marijuana sold at the city's four cannabis dispensaries. Preliminary election results showed the measure passing with 80 percent of the vote, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

The dispensary tax was one of four measures in a vote-by-mail special election aimed at raising money for the cash-strapped city. All four measures won, but Measure F had the highest level of support.

Scheduled to take effect on New Year's Day, the measure created a special business tax rate for the pot clubs, which now pay the same $1.20 for every $1,000 in gross sales applied to all retail businesses. The new rate will be $18.

Oakland's auditor estimates that based on annual sales of $17.5 million for the four clubs, it will generate an estimated $294,000 for city coffers in its first year.

Legal pot would bring $1.4B


Next Arnold tried to go after the deep, deep pockets of The Boozers

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed raising California's tax on alcohol by a nickel a drink earlier this week, part of an ongoing effort to close the state's $40 billion budget gap, California became the 27th state this year to consider raising taxes on beer, wine, and liquor to prop up its sagging budget. Schwarzenegger claimed the tax increase would generate nearly $900 million in new revenue over the next year and a half.
The measure was tabled yesterday during the latest round of budget negotiations, but experts say it is only a matter of time before another state picks up where California left off, turning to booze to solve its revenue problems.

And San Francisco too!! That is kind of a shocker to me..SF wants to tax BOOZE?...That city was founded on BOOZE!!!

Supervisor John Avalos has a plan to help fund cash-strapped San Francisco. He wants to tax alcohol. According to SF Examiner, Supervisor John Avalos plans to ask our city attorney to draft legislation today that would "impose a fee on alcohol," a small fee that could "offset city costs related to the consumption of alcohol in San Francisco." While he couldn't say what the exact amount would be, he's thinking of possibly tacking on "5 cents for a beer, a larger fee on a bottle of wine, and an even more for hard liquor."

Use this tool to estimate new annual revenue from an alcohol tax or...


Is this a trend?
Do you think with Obama's record high deficit the FEDERAL GOVT is gonna turn to sin taxes to "fix" the budget?
Is there gonna me a nation wide trend to tax porno movies? or soft drinks? or knives with a picture of Tupac on them? 9mm ammo? Camo pants?
Pick a vise. Any vise.

The green fee tax made me think about WHO decides what is bad
Was there a big brainstormin' session with Arnold at the head of the table?
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"OK..everyone give me ONE bad thing to tax..Jimmy..How about you?'
"Ummmm.....how about The Clove Cigarette Smokers?'
"Great great..that's good...keep em coming...Jenny..you're next..what is your pick"
"I'm gonna have to go with the Jenna Jameson Fans..her botox treatments disgust me"
"Nice nice!!....Carl...whatcha got?"
"The Golfers...they are filthy rich...lots of money to be had Arnold".......................