Thread: Gavin Newsom's budget calls for new tax on drinking water

Gavin Newsom's budget calls for new tax on drinking water

By Eric Ting, SFGATE
Updated 3:32 pm PST, Friday, January 11, 2019




Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

California Gov. Gavin Newsom presents his first state budget during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In order to help disadvantaged communities obtain safe and affordable drinking water, California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a new statewide water tax.
In the newly-released 2019-20 budget, Newsom calls for the creation of a "safe and affordable drinking water fund" that would "enable the State Water Resources Control Board to assist communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in paying for the short-term and long-term costs of obtaining access to safe and affordable drinking water."
A McClatchy investigation from 2018 found that 6 million Californians rely on water providers that violated state standards at some point in the last six years. According to the report, the majority of Californians that lack safe drinking water live in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert.

The details of the proposed tax are unknown, but a similar proposal was abandoned by then-Governor Jerry Brown last year after failing to garner enough support in the legislature.
California residents would have been taxed 95 cents a month, or $11.40 a year, under that plan.

Took my Cabinet on a surprise trip to the Central Valley to hear directly from folks who lack access to affordable, clean water.

Our first stop: we met with residents who cannot drink or bathe with the water in their homes — while paying more for it than those in Beverly Hills. pic.twitter.com/b25vueQf4B
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 11, 2019

On Friday, Newsom took his Cabinet on a trip to the Central Valley to hear from residents who lack clean drinking water.
"We met with residents who cannot drink or bathe with the water in their homes — while paying more for it than those in Beverly Hills," the governor tweeted.

The Association of California Water Agencies, a group that represents more than 400 water suppliers across the state, announced its opposition to the latest proposed water tax from Newsom.
"The vast majority of the state's residents have access to safe drinking water, but a small percentage of the population does not," the association said in a statement. "This unacceptable reality is a social issue for the State of California. ACWA believes that making access to safe drinking water for all Californians should be a top priority for the State. However, a statewide water tax is highly problematic and is not necessary when alternative funding solutions exist and the state has a huge budget surplus."
Orange County Republican Travis Allen, who ran for governor in 2018, took to Twitter to blast the new tax.
"In one of his first official acts @GavinNewsom wants to TAX YOUR WATER," Allen tweeted. "There is no limit to what @TheDemocrats will tax or excuses they'll make to TAKE YOUR MONEY. It's time Republicans start fighting and TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA!!"

In one of his first official acts @GavinNewsom wants to TAX YOUR WATER. There is no limit to what @TheDemocrats will tax or excuses they'll make to TAKE YOUR MONEY. It's time Republicans start fighting and TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA!! https://t.co/mCQOYPIH3t
— Travis Allen (@JoinTravisAllen) January 11, 2019

Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association told the Sacramento Bee that he believes the state should fund water systems without implementing a new tax.

He cites the fact that the state has a $14.8 billion budget surplus, and called the proposed tax an example of "California's knee-jerk reaction to default to a new tax whenever there's a new problem."
Eric Ting is an SFGATE staff writer. Email him at eting@sfchronicle.com and follow him on Twitter

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/arti...UQfOEI0cOjEwr4

Republicans should definitely start fighting in California. California used to be Republican. It can be again. President Trump needs to campaign hard in California in 2020. I thought he should have tried for it in 2016, but I think the cost of it and risk of it didn't pan with his limited budget. But this time, cost won't be an issue, so go for it!!

California's New Governor Proposes Taxing Drinking Water



The new budget, titled 'California for All', declares drinking water a "fundamental right"... yet proposes to tax that "right"...

Mon, 01/14/2019 - 18:25
77 SHARES
Authored by Mac Slavo via SHTFplan.com,

Just when you think California cannot possibly come up with more things to tax, the new governor, Gavin Newsom, decides to tax drinking water. In Newsom’s first budget proposal on Friday, the communist included a tax on drinking water.



The new budget, titled “California for All,” declares drinking water a “fundamental right,” yet proposes to tax that “right.”

“The Budget includes short-term measures to bring immediate relief to communities without safe drinking water and also proposes an ongoing sustainable funding source to address this problem into the future.”

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the details of the proposed tax are unknown, however, a similar proposal was abandoned by then-Governor Jerry Brown last year after failing to garner enough support in the legislature. According to Breitbart, critics have already slammed the plan. Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen is urging fellow Republicans to “take back” the state on social media, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association and the Association of California Water Agencies are saying that the state should tap into its budget surplus to pay for the needed clear water supplies.

Travis Allen @JoinTravisAllen

In one of his first official acts @GavinNewsom wants to TAX YOUR WATER. There is no limit to what @TheDemocrats will tax or excuses they'll make to TAKE YOUR MONEY. It's time Republicans start fighting and TAKE BACK CALIFORNIA!! https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article224239685.html …

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2:24 PM - Jan 11, 2019
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Gavin Newsom budget calls for drinking water tax to help poor communities

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed taxing drinking water to help clean up water supplies in disadvantaged communities. The plan died in the Legislature last year.
sacbee.com

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Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund—Establish a new special fund, with a dedicated funding source from new water, fertilizer, and dairy fees, to enable the State Water Resources Control Board to assist communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in paying for the short-term and long-term costs of obtaining access to safe and affordable drinking water. This proposal is consistent with the policy framework of SB 623, introduced in the 2017-18 legislative session. The Budget also includes $4.9 million General Fund on a one-time basis for the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Food and Agriculture to take initial steps toward implementation of this new Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Program, including (1) implementation of fee collection systems, (2) adoption of an annual implementation plan, and (3) development of a map of high-risk aquifers used as drinking water sources.

Newsom is using the typical democrat line of “helping the poor” clean up their water as an excuse to tax what he calls a “right.” And according to the Sacramento Bee, not everyone thinks taxing drinking water is a bad idea.

“We’re excited,” said Anja Raudabaugh, the CEO of Western United Dairymen.
“We appreciate Governor Newsom’s commitment to providing long-term solutions to drinking water in our communities, and we’re looking forward to providing a solution that includes certainty for our dairy producers.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...drinking-water