AB 9 raises taxes. In this case, the “tax” is called a “fee.” Not a fine, mind you. A fee. It raises the fees you have to pay to file a lawsuit, appeal a judgment, request copies of records, etc. The bill clearly states on the first line that it “Requires Two-Thirds Majority Vote,” meaning it raises taxes.
The bill passed out of the state Assembly on April 20 with only two of the sixteen Republicans voting against it: Assemblyman Ed Goedhart and Assemblyman Kelly Kite. Fortunately, it was killed in the state Senate this week. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that two Republican senatorss voted for the bill (it needed three Republicans to get the 2/3 supermajority required): liberal Senator Joe Hardy (no surprise) and Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness.
That’s the second tax hike McGinness has voted for this week. This is a very bad omen for the end-game.
