Call it a case of the farmer insulting the cow. Or a case of a term-limited politician feeling free to express the contempt he’s kept bottled up all those years. During a speech Gov. Jerry Brown, D-Calif., recently made in Orange County he referred to taxpayers outraged by his latest tax increase as "freeloaders."
Brown explained the appellation by saying, "The freeloaders — I’ve had enough of them," Brown said, adding that the approved tax and fee hikes bring those charges to the level they were 30 years ago if adjusted for inflation. "They have a president that doesn’t tell the truth and they’re following suit."
In case you’re confused by who is and who isn’t a freeloader, Redstate.com helpfully explains, "The 1,000,000 citizens in Los Angeles County alone who collect food stamps provided by taxpayers are not freeloaders.
"The millions of illegal immigrants being harbored in California’s sanctuary cities to the cost of taxpayers are not freeloaders. Illegal immigrants being provided 'free' legal help by the state on the backs of taxpayers are not freeloaders.
"The bloodsuckers in the Sacramento legislature who get paid $178 a day in per diem funds on top of their bloated salaries just for walking in the door to their job every day are not freeloaders."
Instead taxpayers hit with a 12 cents per gallon gas tax and an average increase in $50 annually for their car registration are the freeloaders for wondering why Brown and the rest of his leftist gaggle in Sacramento don’t spend the taxes already collected for roads on roads, instead of wasting the money on high speed rail for the few and driver’s licenses for illegal aliens.
Complete details of the tax increase and where the money comes and goes can be found in an earlier column here.
The only reason the tax increase made it through the legislature was because Democratic Sen. Josh Newman beat Republican Ling Chang last November to give leftists the two-thirds super majority required for tax increases. Trump on the ballot may have helped in some states, but in the People’s Republic of California he was the kiss of death.
Now residents in Newman’s district have decided to close the barn door after the tax increase horse is long gone. They’ve begun a recall effort, but it’s mostly an election over pique and they will get scant satisfaction.
Even if they beat Newman, the taxes have already been passed, and the freeloaders also can’t harm Brown politically since he won’t be running again.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.