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Schwarzenegger proposes approx. 10% tax on "golf services" in California


Chas
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Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing a CA State tax on golf of approx. 10%. The tax is for (as of now ...) unspecified services but will almost certainly include green fees and possibly private club membership, among other things. No tax is being proposed on any other specific sport, such as skiing. Just golf. Arnold must think that the golfing community is politically irrelevant - his eyes are popping at all the lovely $$$$$ spent at the State's golf courses.

What an imbecile that man has turned out to be.

This from the NCGA (Northern CA Golf Association) website:

------------------------
SACRAMENTO – California’s golf industry and its three million golfers would pay millions in new taxes if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal becomes law. The proposal, which the Governor unveiled today, would broaden the sales tax base to target golf and a handful of other services for much of the burden of the huge new tax increase.

“It is patently unfair to single out California’s golfers, who already pay a fair share of taxes, and expect them to assume a disproportionate share of the revenue needed to close the state’s budget deficit,” said Bob Bouchier, executive director of the California Alliance for Golf. “With courses suffering and golfers staying at home while the economy flounders, this is exactly the wrong time to deal a major blow to an industry that plays such an important role in California’s economy.”

According to the independent research firm SRI International, golfers, golf courses, equipment suppliers, and the activities they support, pumped $6.9 billion into the state’s economy in 2006. Golf course facility operations were the largest revenue component of California’s golf industry at $2.85 billion, which includes greens fees, range fees, membership fees, golf cart rentals and food and beverages.

SRI’s analysis puts the golf industry on par with biotechnology ($4.6 billion), wineries ($8.2 billion) and semiconductor manufacturing ($10.9 billion). When indirect impacts are included — such as the goods and services purchased by golf courses and by golf employees — the total direct and indirect economic impact of the golf industry in California is estimated at $15.1 billion.

The California Alliance for Golf is a trade association of golf course owners, managers and superintendents; professional golfers; equipment manufacturers and golf associations such as the Professional Golf Association and the Northern and Southern Golf Associations.

--------------
So, what do people at The Sand Trap think?

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Go! Run! Get to the chopper! What a meat head.

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This goes right along with the meathead idea of taxing "veterinarian services"

I am not so sure those action packed days as an actor didn't do something to that man's Grey and White Matter between his ears.
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If a state chooses to offer the range of services California does, it has to pay for them someway, and that means somebody is going to be tagged with the bill. We all hope that someone is not us... but upon reflection it is always someone who pays and this time golfers are being singled out (among others.) It was the good citizens of California who created this deficit for their state. I guess I will be helping pay the bills as well, on our annual trip to Carmel. Come to think of it, maybe we drop California from our golf trip list. In fact, I just dropped a March trip to Southern California today. Think Arizona might be more accommodating.

RC

 

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If a state chooses to offer the range of services California does, it has to pay for them someway, and that means somebody is going to be tagged with the bill. We all hope that someone is not us... but upon reflection it is always someone who pays and this time golfers are being singled out (among others.) It was the good citizens of California who created this deficit for their state. I guess I will be helping pay the bills as well, on our annual trip to Carmel. Come to think of it, maybe we drop California from our golf trip list. In fact, I just dropped a March trip to Southern California today. Think Arizona might be more accommodating.

Great idea. Boycott California for golf trips. Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas. So many other great choices for warm weather and golf, we don't need California's extra 10%.

Arnold has taken plenty of supplements, which I do feel has affected his decision making. If you want to tax something, tax alcohol, tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment (all the legal vices)

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Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing a CA State tax on golf of approx. 10%. The tax is for (as of now ...) unspecified services but will almost certainly include green fees and possibly private club membership, among other things. No tax is being proposed on any other specific sport, such as skiing. Just golf. Arnold must think that the golfing community is politically irrelevant - his eyes are popping at all the lovely $$$$$ spent at the State's golf courses.

The State of California has put themselves in desparate shape. What is wrong with cutting expenses, instead of starting new fees like the one proposed for golf? I think it is all a farce. Many times politicians send up a "trial balloon" with many "revenue enhancers", knowing full well that some, like the golf fee, will never be approved, and then they get the remainder through, and say, "See I listened to the voters." This was attempted in New York State a few years ago, when either Cuomo or Pataki was Governor. They proposed fees on bowling and golf. After a public outcry, and many phone calls, letters, and emails were sent in protest, the political leaders backed off and put through other enhancers. It is all a political game.

Mitch Pezdek------Dash Aficionado and Legend in My Own Mind

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Wow. That stinks. I'm glad I moved out of CA then. :p

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More information here:

www.forecalifornia.com

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So, what do people at The Sand Trap think?

It isn't just Arnold. The entire California GOP refuses, with the occasional exception of someone like Tom McClintock, to cut spending, or to even propose it. They have the power in Sacramento to do this, but I guess they worry they'll lose ground to their opponents if they do.

Between them and some things the national GOP has done this year, I seriously think there's a major effort within the GOP to get me to re-register as a Democrat. For the first time in my adult life, I've heard prominent Republicans talk about controlling spending and being fiscally conservative, but it took having Obama in office for this to happen. The golf tax is just another Republican tax, just like we were arguing about on the presidential vote threads. I'm not surprised and, really, I'm this close to wishing Davis was back in office. So what do I think? I'm not surprised.
More information here:

Thank you! I signed up for that and will figure out who my state representatives are and will send them a traditional mail. This thing is projected to cost me $102 if I play 30 rounds a year... and I'm likely to play more than that.

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"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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If you live in California then you should know the Senate and State Assembly are overwhelmingly in the hands of the Democrats. If the tax passes, it will be because either Democrats enact it, or the overwhelming majority of democratic voters in California enact it, it's not a "Republican" tax.

Arnold should have kept quiet on this one. Don't kid yourself he's even attempting to be a "Republican" with this proposal.

Where do you come up with the idea that the Republicans in Sacremento have any power?

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If you live in California then you should know the Senate and State Assembly are overwhelmingly in the hands of the Democrats. If the tax passes, it will be because either Democrats enact it, or the overwhelming majority of democratic voters in California enact it, it's not a "Republican" tax.

I've lived in California my whole life and the Republican Party holds well over a third of each house. The governor is a Republican. They could easily veto it and uphold the veto.

This also answers your questions about what type of proposal this is from Arnold and why I think the Republicans have power in Sacramento.

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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Well, it's only a proposal, and don't forget Arnie is not viewed as a Republican by any self-respecting party member (or non-member of like tendency). If it is actually voted on, we'll see how many Republicans vote against - it'll need a 2/3 majority to pass. Maybe there are a few Dems who will vote against their tax-increasing spinal reflex.

I've lived in CA for almost 10 years and nothing surprises me any more - about the feebleness of our so-called Republicans (McClintock excepted, as stated), or about the endless Big Government expansionism of the Democrats. But this one does stand out a bit for sheer hyper-idiocy.

I agree that if this goes through CA should be boycotted by golfers to some extent, including professionals. Let the industry really suffer for a while, and let the consequences to State coffers become apparent. It may take some real pain like that to bring those m*o*ns to their senses.

Thanks for posting the link to forecalifornia.com. I wanted to wait and see what people posted before weighing in. I gotta say, I'M PROUD OF YOU GUYS.

Now get out there and let your views be known.


flanagan: well said. You live in this State one month and you learn which party holds the power, and has done for decades. No prizes for guessing, guys. Don't people look at the State returns in the Presidential election - just about any Presidential election ?

Driver: Cobra 460SZ 9.0, med.
3 Wood: Taylor stiff
3-hybrid: Nike 18 deg stiff
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Taylor RBZ 22 deg regular
Irons:5-9, Mizuno MP30, steel
Wedges: PW, 52, 56, 60 Mizuno MP30
Putter: Odyssey 2-ball

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Well, it's only a proposal, and don't forget Arnie is not viewed as a Republican by any self-respecting party member (or non-member of like tendency).

I respect myself and I'm registered as a Republican. Many people I know who are likewise have told me not only that Arnie isn't "really" a Republican, but neither was either Bush, nor was John McCain. It made me wonder when I'll see a "real" Republican run for office, and which party banner he'll run under.

If it is actually voted on, we'll see how many Republicans vote against - it'll need a 2/3 majority to pass. Maybe there are a few Dems who will vote against their tax-increasing spinal reflex.

That's the goal of letter-writing. I'm pretty sure all the elected officials from my area are Democrats. Maybe we need to print flyers and post them at our golf courses.

The rest I'm with until:
Don't people look at the State returns in the Presidential election - just about any Presidential election ?

When I say "California voted Democrat" below, I mean the electoral votes in the presidential election went to a candidate from the Democrat party.

1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 - California voted Democrat. But between Clinton's popularity and the unpopularity (here) of both George Bushes, it isn't a big surprise. But to find a time California voted Democrat before Bill Clinton, you have to go back to 1964. In fairness, though, in 1984, Michelle Wie got almost as many electoral votes as Walter Mondale, and she wasn't even born yet. Prior to LBJ, the last time California voted for a Democrat was 1948. In that time - that is, since Earl Warren won both primaries - we've had only two Democrats for governors - (Pat) Brown and Gray (Davis).

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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I have never been to California. The furthest west of the Mississippi River that I have ventured is Texas. I went to Dallas, Houston, and San Antone, and saw Paseo del Rio (the River Walk) and the Alamo, of course. I have no desire to go to California, and less desire now. Canada is not far away, and I have been to Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec. I will to go to the Banff State Park, see the Canadian Rockies, and play golf there.

Mitch Pezdek------Dash Aficionado and Legend in My Own Mind

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I've lived in California my whole life and the Republican Party holds well over a third of each house. The governor is a Republican. They could easily veto it and uphold the veto.

At least I got you to look it up. Nice try, but your previous post was whining about the Republicans, blaming this on the Republicans and threatening to register Democrat over something that the Democrats would have to pass. The Republican members in the Senate and Assembly are not the problem (unless they are out there supporting this, then go get 'em). You think Arnold will veto his own bill? Please. Your blaming this on the California Republicans is silly.

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Unbelieveable.....

Wow. That stinks. I'm glad I moved out of CA then. :p

Don't worry....I'm sure this will generate a wave of such ideas....across the country.

When do we start throwing crates of tea into the harbor?
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Raising taxes during a recession is stupid. What will be the result of this?

1. The cost of "golf services" will go up.
2. People (who have already cut back on spending due to the recessison) will cut back on their purchases of "golf services."
3. Companies that provide "golf services" will have fewer customers.
4. "Golf service" companies will have to either lay people off or cut employee pay because they have fewer customers (and some will go out of business.)
5. The state will collect LESS in taxes (even with the 10% tax increase), because the amount of "golf services" consumed in the state will have shrunk, fewer people working in the industry (who now collect unemployment benefits instead of paying income taxes), and the average pay of those that work in the industry will remain stagnent or go down (lower pay = lower income taxes paid.)

In other words, raising this tax 10% will probably end up costing the state money.

Politicians never seem to understand that the best way to increase tax revenues is to help businesses expand and grow. More businesses paying taxes, more employees paying taxes.

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Raising taxes during a recession is stupid. What will be the result of this?

+1

Exactly! Unfortunately there are still many that don't believe that trickle down economics works and trickle up (evaporating) economics does not.
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