Unbelievable. Again, because the animals are viewed as property..needing 'repair'.

 I don't think appliance or furniture repair, vehicle repair and veterinarian services should be considered a 'luxury'. You need to keep appliances running, vehicles running to get to/from work, and animals NEED medical attention when necessary. These are not luxury services. I can see taxing things on luxury items SUCH AS doggie daycare, over-the-top grooming services, etc but not basic necessities such as medical care.

 A lot of new taxes were added to many things in Chicago recently, as well. They are trying to bridge a budget gap so are taxing everything they can think of.

Wow, this sounds like a joke.

I have two things to say...first of all, a "luxury" tax shouldn't be applied to anything that's a necessity.  And since state law says that you must provide medical care for your animals, it cannot be considered a luxury.

Secondly...is there any tax that people are going to welcome?  Of course not.  But we expect the government to fund schools and law enforcement and health care for the needy and the defense of our country and to maintain our roads and just a million other things...but no one wants to pay for it. 

Taxes suck...but so does paying the rent or paying for utilitlies, and we do that and expect to have to do it.  But somehow, we think our government should do the job we want them to do without any money.  That simply doesn't make sense.

Americans want their big houses and all the new toys and clothes and goodies, and we aren't willing to give any of that up to pay for our infrastructure.  Frankly, if they start funding schools correctly, I don't care if they triple my vehicle registration.  Yeah it'll suck, but it sucks even more that schools can't afford PE or music, or hell, even teachers and basic supplies.

Thanks, Pie. I signed.

 I understand that the government needs to charge taxes in order to be able to run things. But to charge MORE taxes on necessities is just not cool.

 I'm one of those that cringe when I see a "new school tax" on the break-down of my taxes. I have not had a child that would end up clogging the school system. I do not attend that school.  I do not feel I should have to pay for something I will personally never use.

-Melina

I just don't see how the Governator can simultaneously cut 2.5 Billion dollars from education AND raise taxes to fund it. I would not have a problem with paying higher taxes if it meant the schools got more money, but it won't. And as for calling veterinary care, auto repair, and appliance repair luxuries . . . I certainly don't see it. What would really be a luxury is if when an appliance or car broke down you just bought a new one. As for vet care, I agree with the poster who said since the laws in CA require you to provide necessary care for your animals, there is no way providing that care is a luxury.

I signed it and I really hope it doesn't pass.

I also wrote to Schwarzenegger and my representatives. I suggest anyone who lives in CA and opposes this write to the governor and your representatives as well. Messages to your officials will have more effect than online petitions.

This is the most ridiculous argument and I hear again and again..."I don't have kids in school, so I shouldn't pay taxes for school."  Um...but you attended public school yourself, did you not?  And I'm sure when you were in school you weren't paying taxes.  Furthermore, the education of the population is good for everyone in the population.  The kids in school today are the ones who will be running the country in the future, and do you really not want those people to have the very best education?

There are a gazillion government expenditures that don't impact me directly that our tax dollars go to.  The foster system, for instance.  I was not a foster kid, my kid will never be a foster kid, but I think we should fund it.

So, great...you made a choice not to have kids. Good for you, but that doesn't mean you don't benefit from the public school system.  The public school system creates jobs, and provides a base education for the next generation so that generation can use that education to take care of you in your old age.  It provides the base that allows students to go to college and get those medical degrees you need your doctor to have, to get those legal degrees you need your DAs and judges to have.  Funding schools is more than making sure your own child gets the education he or she needs. America cannot be a prosperous country without a properly educated population.

Nope, I did not go to public school. My children, if there are any, will not go to public school either. But that is a whole 'nother discussion. I should not have to pay NEW school taxes when the CURRENT schools are floundering, and as the previous poster mentioned, the money isnt going where it is needed.

Arnold has signed on for some really insane bills during his time in office. Cali is supposed to be the 'leader' when it comes to animals and guardianship and all that it entails. He will seriously stifle those efforts by taxing their very necessary health care.

Sure, no one likes paying taxes, but it is a necessity for the government to run. HOWEVER that does not mean anything and everything under the sun should be taxed! Veterinary care should NOT be taxed. I already know people who DO NOT take their animals to the vet unless the animal is near death. Do you think taxing veterinary care is going to change those people's mind? No, if anything it will make more people like them, because people just CANNOT afford it right now.

Some people WILL pay a tax on veterinary care. Others will not. Quite frankly, what is MORE likely to happen if this tax passes:
- More animals neglected and abused, denied necessary medical care.
- More animals abandoned.
- More animals surrendered to shelters.
- Fewer animals adopted from shelters.
- More animals euthanized in shelters -> more spending of our taxes.
- No net gain of money to pay off the budget.

Personally, I WOULD be willing to pay taxes (because taxes are necessary) on non-necessities. My computer, television, CD player, and DVD player are all luxuries. I WOULD be willing to pay a tax (nothing outrageous) on those. A luxury car or one with all the "add-ons" is non-essential compared to your basic car that will get you from A to B, add a tax to those. Add a small increase to vehicle registration (NOT tripling it). Add a tax to non-essential pet items, such as high-end pet boutiques and pet daycare. Add a tax to kennel services. There are SO MANY other things the government can add a tax to BESIDES veterinary care.

Another thing I cannot understand: This state has such a high deficit, WHY is it spending more money? Several propositions that passed during this last election that call for increased spending:
Prop 1A, Safe, reliable high-speed passenger train bond act - estimated $19.4 BILLION
Prop 3, Children's hospital bond act - estimated $2 BILLION
Prop 12, Veteran's bond act of 2008 - estimated $1.8 BILLION

So out of those three propositions that passed, that's over $20 BILLION in costs. Why were these propositions even allowed on the ballot??? If the state needs money so badly it has to tax ESSENTIALS such as veterinary care, WHY is it allowing more money to be spent?

And as far as public education and the taxes that pay for it - public education in this day and age is a joke. Children are NOT growing up with the education they should have, and it isn't because they aren't being taught, it's because it isn't even allowed on the curriculum! Children are getting burned out by tests, and learning to despise school. The quality of education has gone down since I went through public school. As far as I'm concerned, strip it all. Offer up private school and home schooling. Sure the education of our population is going to get worse for a time, but you know what? Public school hasn't helped that much either. That's just my personal opinion. Cutting out education from the state deficit means a lot more money that can be spent somewhere else.

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

Then the public needs to be better educated about these propositions and the current financial situation of the state.

Honestly, what happens when the state can't afford these propositions (and more in the future that may be passed), and the people can't afford to pay the taxes? How does that help the economy?

It's a downward spiral that won't get better unless drastic measures are taken. The economy needs stimulation, the most effective way to do that is by spending money, buying things. However when everyone is being taxed into oblivion, no one is going to be spending money. Maybe that state will be able to pay a small proportion of its debt, but in the mean time every other business is dying, because it can't survive without people spending money. What happens when people can no longer afford to feed themselves because their taxes are so high?

I guess California's population is just doomed.

BTW, Not saying this is what you support or are saying or anything of that nature. These are just my thoughts in response to what you said regarding the propositions.