To view the 2009 Legislative Report Card, go to:

http://www.hjta.org/legislative/report-cards/

Withholding Going Up But You Can Limit the Impact on Your Paycheck

Beginning November 1st, the state increased withholding by 10%. Officials are saying that this is not a tax increase because at tax time you will owe no more than before the increase.

Wrong!

It is a tax increase because all withholding is borrowing money from taxpayers without paying interest, and an increase in withholding is borrowing more money without paying interest. The result is more money for government and less for taxpayers, which to reasonable people is a tax increase.  Read more >>

The Pasadena Star-News reports that Metropolitan Water District General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger made an executive decision to cancel the union deal, which would have raised district workers' pensions during a time when state programs are being cut by the dozens because of lack of funds. As one MWD board stated, "you don't have to be a financial genius" to know that this plan was not a good idea.

Click Here to read the article.  Read more >>

Click Here to listen to the HJTA radio spot featuring HJTA president Jon Coupal.

Bloomberg.com released a report on the corrupt practice of "school district refinancing." This practice, in which banks encourage school districts to refinance for some extra cash, actually just increases taxpayer debt and property taxes by a decade. To top it off this money is spent irresponsibly, while school violence flairs and school facilities fall apart.

Click Here to read the article.  Read more >>