Gov. Wilson’s Proposal to Cut Car Tax

Re “Cut the Car Tax for Kids--and Families,” Commentary, June 8: Gov. Pete Wilson is certainly bold in proposing to cut the vehicle license fee. The problem is, he’s not playing with his own money.

While quick to invoke the spirit of Prop. 13, his memory fails when it comes to Prop. 47. Prop. 47, passed by the voters in 1986, permanently allocated the license fee to local government. Now the governor wants to parcel out the presents while local government foots the bill. But wait! He promises a “statutory requirement” to ensure no loss of local revenue. Surely the governor must understand the difference between a statutory requirement and a constitutional guarantee!

The result of the Republican fee proposals would be to put our local cities’ finances smack dab in the middle of the state budget process. Does anyone really believe that the friendly folks way up in the state capital will be looking out for the best interests of our neighborhoods when times get tough? It’s local government that best meets the needs of the people in the community: public safety, libraries, public works. We do a good job with the tools we have. If the governor thinks we can absorb a 15% cut, then I invite him to visit my city hall, examine my budget, interview my staff and tell me how.

JONATHAN SHARKEY

Mayor, Port Hueneme

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We’re wondering why Wilson is now paying back his supporters by reducing their high, luxury car registration fees, at the expense of California’s most precious resource: our children. The nation’s richest state must invest in our kids now or pay bloated, unwanted liabilities later.

AL and ESTHER ROTH

Granada Hills

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The entire car tax doesn’t need to be cut, just the part that was added as an emergency measure to get us through the economic crisis. If the state doesn’t repeal this part of the tax, how are we to believe officials the next time they ask for a temporary emergency tax?

SCOTT C. BALDRY

La Crescenta

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On June 8 there was a Sig Alert on the radio to avoid a major Los Angeles street because a large pothole was causing tire blowouts. When so many thousands of miles of California roads need repairing, how can it make sense to reduce automobile taxes? It is the right time to take in as much tax money as possible, when the economy is booming, to make our environment safer. When the economy is depressed is the time to reduce taxes or distribute surpluses.

SIMON ZIMMELMAN

Los Angeles