For Immediate Release:
May 20th, 2009 |
Contact:
Katelyn Gimbel
Shirley & Banister Public Affairs
(703) 739-5920
kgimbel@sbpublicaffairs.com |
CFTR Hails Crushing Defeat of California Tax Increases
Group labored to defeat initiatives while National Republicans did nothing
Washington, D.C. — Citizens for the Republic (CFTR), a national conservative advocacy organization, is hailing yesterday’s decisive defeat of a series of statewide ballot measures in California. CFTR, which was originally founded by Ronald Reagan in 1977, had mounted a vigorous campaign to oppose Propositions 1A-1D—which were devised by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and leaders of the legislative assembly to close California’s $42 billion budget gap. California voters ultimately rejected the major ballot measures by large margins.
In its campaign, CFTR contended that the ballot measures constituted a massive $16 billion tax increase with virtually no spending controls imposed on Sacramento. The most controversial measure, Prop 1A, would have increased California’s income tax, state sales tax, and doubled the vehicle license fee. Prop 1B, which was being promoted by public sector unions and their lobbyists, would have transferred another $9.3 billion to California’s mismanaged school system at a time that the state faces fiscal insolvency. Prop 1C would have authorized the California Lottery to borrow $5 billion by selling notes that would be repaid with future lottery revenue. Each of these propositions was soundly defeated at the polls.
"The people of California have spoken, and they have spoken loudly and clearly," said Stephen Manfredi, Executive Director of Citizens for the Republic. "The voters have rejected years of fiscal recklessness by politicians who failed, time and time again, to make difficult decisions on behalf of their constituents."
"There is a growing dissatisfaction in California, and across our country, with elected officials who spend too much of the people’s money on things that we do not need, do not want, and cannot afford," said Mr. Manfredi. "It is past time for a new era of fiscal responsibility and public stewardship. This clear rejection of big government programs, reckless spending, and tax increases will reverberate from Sacramento to Washington, D.C."
Citizens for the Republic, Inc. (CFTR) is a national organization dedicated to revitalizing the conservative movement. Through education, grassroots organization, advocacy, and political activism, CFTR promotes the principles of limited government, maximum freedom, personal responsibility, peace through strength, and defense of the dignity of every individual. These are the ideas that Ronald Reagan championed when he founded the original CFTR in 1977 to make conservatism a vibrant political force.
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Stephen Manfredi, contact Katelyn Gimbel at (703) 739-5920 or
kgimbel@sbpublicaffairs.com.