California: Ted Costa

February 10, 2009 - 10:54 pm
NEWS FEED: Sacramento Bee

AM Alert: Taxes on the table, fundraisers across town

Details of what's under discussion in the budget talks are slowing trickling out.

To be clear, no deal has been struck and negotiations are continuing (and shifting). But Jim Sanders teased out at least some of the taxes on the table for today's Bee:

• Increasing the state's sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar.
• Increasing gasoline taxes by 12 cents per gallon.
• Raising the state's vehicle license fee from 0.65 percent of a vehicle's value to 1.15 percent, with 1 percent going to the general fund and local law enforcement getting 0.15 percent.
• Increasing the personal income tax across the board, either by assessing a surcharge on tax liability or increasing the tax rate.

Sun, 08/10/2008 - 19:23

Wilson gets endorsement from Ted Costa

San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson picked up the endorsement in his 15th Assembly District race of a familiar name to California residents who are stridently against new taxes.

Ted Costa, CEO of the government watchdog group People's Advocate, called Wilson, a Republican, a committed steward of public monies in Wilson's role as San Ramon mayor.

"Mayor Wilson has an excellent track record for responsible government - and he will ensure California's taxpayers dollars are spent wisely," Costa said in a statement from Wilson's campaign.

Wed, 06/18/2008 - 21:00

Government reformer down on redistricting initiative

Taxpayer advocate Ted Costa blasted Wednesday a redistricting initiative that made the November ballot this week, saying it has too many loopholes to be effective.

Costa, CEO of Sacramento-based group People's Advocate, said a provision in the initiative would allow a commission created to redraw political boundaries the latitude to disregard certain criteria if a particular geographic area met a certain designation.

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