California faces yet again a huge budget gap to the tune of $41.6 billion this year. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has a proposed a huge tax hike that unfairly singles out one California Industry, California Wine Makers an industry that has a $51.8 billion dollar impact on the State%u2019s economy and 125.3 billion impact to the US economy.
The Governor tried to increase wine tax on the ballot in 2008 by 8% and voters said NO. Now a year later with the state%u2019s fiscal situation Governor proposes a tax hike from the current 4 cents a bottle to 29.6 cents a bottle, as well as, a .05 cent tax increase on all alcohol sold in restaurants and bars. The Governor%u2019s plan also contains language that could potentially raise the wine %u201Cexcise tax%u201D from the current 20 cents a gallon to $1.48 a gallon, that%u2019s 640% tax increase that could potentially put a lot of small businesses in California out of business.
One industry should not be singled out to bear the brunt of California's budget shortfall. In a time where all California business are struggling to stay afloat the Governors plan will jeopardize thousands of jobs, increase the cost to the consumer and justify passing of unfair tax burdens for future budget shortfalls.
We need to Stop Unfair Taxation and protect local jobs! Urge your Representative not to support the Governers current wine and alcohol tax hikes.
Dear Senator/Assembymember
We the undersigned urge you to not support the Governors proposed Tax and Excise Tax increases on the Wine and Alcohol produced and distributed in the state.
It is unfair for one industry to be singled out to bear the burden of a $41 billion dollar budget gap.
In a time where all California industries are struggling to stay afloat the Governors plan will jeopardize hundreds of California small business and cost jobs to those employed by them. Consumers will also bear a huge increase the cost of their local product and seek to buy wine from other states and countries. Approving these kinds of tax increases only justifies unfair tax burdens for future budget shortfalls.
The voters have spoken in 2008 when similar tax proposals were defeated. Please keep the public's mandate intact and vote NO to these proposed tax increses.
We thank you for your time and for your service to our state.
