Tax Cuts

DOWNTOWN GLENDALE — Business leaders and a City Council member gathered at Porto's Bakery and Café Monday to express their disapproval of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides' economic proposals. Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian; Vartkes Iskdanrian, an owner of Zankou Chicken; and Betty Porto, owner of Porto's Bakery and Café, spoke at the news conference, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign organized. The group discussed what they characterized as Angelides' plan to increase taxes.

Calling a deal approved by the House on Tuesday to avert the so-called fiscal cliff “far from perfect,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said in a statement after the vote that the legislation at least prevents what surely would have been a “body blow” to the economy. The House voted Tuesday to roll back income tax increases on the vast majority of Americans, finalizing a deal on the so-called fiscal cliff after weeks of gridlock. The L.A. Times reported that the approval, in a session that stretched late into the New Year's holiday, came after hours of closed-door debate among Republicans, with conservatives threatening to derail a bill that had overwhelmingly passed the Senate in the early hours of the morning.

Jack Scott "When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, yell and shout." This old saying comes to mind when some assemblymembers stand on the floor and shout for the immediate repeal of state gasoline taxes. Recently Assemblymember Tony Strickland tried to move such a bill from the Assembly floor without going through the regular procedure of referring the bill to committee for thorough discussion and public input. And now the obvious political game is being played!

What is faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a steam locomotive? Well, if it isn't Superman, then it must be our congressman, U.S. Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale) pretending to be the man of steel. But, instead of saving the world from the forces of evil, Super-Rogan is telling stories about saving America's senior citizens by improving Medicare. And, in telling the story, he hopes that he'll receive all the credit. Medicare is certainly an issue worth discussing.

The politicians, Republican and Democrat, federal, state and local, along with the media, continually harangue the public with anti-government tax and spend diatribes, editorials, speeches, as well as advocacy of expensive, unstable and frivolous solutions to budget and deficit problems. Completely and conveniently ignored is the fairly obvious -- a just, collectible and fully enforced income-tax program. We constantly hear that the taxpaying public is being overtaxed and that there is no need to increase taxes, especially on the upper class, as they are the ones that make the economy click.

Yousefian served Glendale well Carol and I have lived in Adams Square for more than 40 years and have seen it turn from a forgotten ghetto into a green, landscaped and restored community. There have been numerous city council members and city managers who were beneficial to the whole community, and some only to preferred areas. About 13 years ago we got lucky. Meaning that we were gifted with the utmost in civic-minded councilmen. They were guiding the city long enough to reconstruct and rebuild areas like Brand Boulevard and Adams Square into modern, updated spots that would make you proud.

CITY HALL — Under pressure to submit public infrastructures projects in time for federal stimulus funding, the City Council on Tuesday voted to submit a $155.8-million wish list for state and federal consideration. The list of 40 projects included $12 million for the realignment of a major wastewater line, $11 million for a chromium removal water treatment plan, $6.1 million for park development and $184,000 to expand community gardens. City officials and lobbyists were pushing to have the list of existing or nearly ready-to-go projects lined up in time for the $819-billion economic stimulus bill that the U.S. House of Representatives sent to the Senate on Wednesday.

With regards to the Howard Jacobson letter, Oct. 23, and Sara Gair letter of Oct. 25 attacking Rep. James Rogan's record, there has been a pattern throughout this campaign of misrepresenting Rogan's record. When a bill has harmful underlying provisions, I would prefer that our congressman have the courage to vote against a badly written bill until the bill is appropriately revised. For example, Schiff supporters have taken every opportunity to distort Rogan's position on HMO reform.

DENNIS MOUNTJOY The liberal elite -- from their East Coast newsrooms to their Hollywood studios -- never tire of attacking what they call the "Religious Right." They constantly proclaim that the American people do not want to hear politicians talk about moral values. On Nov. 2, the American people rose up and told them. "Oh yes, we do," and reelected President George W. Bush by a 3.5-million-vote margin. President Bush is a man that the political left loves to hate -- not simply to disagree with or dislike, but actually hate.

Gary Moskowitz After a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease, former president Ronald Wilson Reagan died Saturday afternoon at his Bel-Air home. Reagan, who was the 40th president of the United States, was 93 years old. He died of pneumonia complicated by Alzheimer's disease, according to news reports. At 69, Reagan was the oldest man ever elected president, when he was chosen on Nov. 4, 1980, over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter. Reagan served two presidential terms between 1981 and 1989.