Capitol Alert: State GOP calls governor's tax stand 'injurious'

As The Bee reported in a Buzz item in today's newspaper, the California Republican Party's board of directors passed a resolution on Friday calling on GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to withdraw his support of higher taxes to balance the budget.

The party's resolution, which was drafted by Jon Fleischman, a regional vice chairman for the party and the publisher of the FlashReport, calls Schwarzenegger's support of higher taxes "not only injurious to our state's economy but to the Republican Party."

The party resolution says California has an "overspending problem and raising taxes on Californians is not an option to resolve the situation."

Read the full resolution after the jump, courtesy of Fleischman:

RESOLUTION CALLING ON GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TO WITHDRAW HIS PROPOSAL FOR $4.7 MILLION IN NEW TAXES

Whereas the State Budget is currently out of balance by at least $11.2 billion caused by massive overspending; and,

Whereas Legislative Republicans have uniformly made it clear that this is an overspending problem and raising taxes on Californians is not an option to resolve the situation; and,

Whereas in a previous resolution we have praised Legislative Republicans for their opposition to any new taxes; and,

Whereas in that same resolution we urged Governor Schwarzenegger to oppose any new taxes; and,

Whereas the Governor on November 6, 2008 proposed that the State Legislature increase taxes on Californians by $4.7 billion; and,

Whereas the proposed tax increases include an 1.5% increase in the state sales tax to last three years, a 9.9% oil severance tax, alcohol taxes by 5 cents a drink, and creating new sales and use taxes on appliance and furniture repair, vehicle repair, golf, and veterinary services, amusements parks and sporting events; and,

Whereas as a Republican elected official, we believe that it is not only injurious to our state's economy but to the Republican Party for the Governor to be proposing any tax increase let alone billions of dollars worth;

Whereas we believe that adding new taxes or increasing existing tax rates will actually lead to lower revenues;

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors opposes the Governor's proposed tax increases;

Be it further resolved that the Board of Directors calls upon Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to immediately withdraw his proposed tax increases; and,

Be it further resolved that we ask that the Governor honor the "no new taxes" pledge that he made during his campaign and oppose any future attempts by legislative Democrats to raise taxes; and,

Be it finally resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted in a timely manner to the Governor, all member of the California Legislature, all members of the State Central Committee, and the Capitol Press Corps.