California residents now ten percent less happy
From the
Las Angeles Times:
California to withhold a bigger chunk of paychecks
Reporting from Los Angeles and Sacramento - Starting Sunday, cash-strapped California will dig deeper into the pocketbooks of wage earners -- holding back 10% more than it already does in state income taxes just as the biggest shopping season of the year kicks into gear.
Technically, it's not a tax increase, even though it may feel like one when your next paycheck arrives. As part of a bundle of budget patches adopted in the summer, the state is taking more money now in withholding, even though workers' annual tax bills won't change.
Think of it as a forced, interest-free loan: You'll be repaid any extra withholding in April. Those who would receive a refund anyway will receive a larger one, and those who owe taxes will owe less.
But with rising gas costs, depressed home prices and double-digit unemployment, the state's added reach into residents' regular paycheck isn't sitting well with many.
No shit sherlock -- maybe this will tip the voters against the big government option.
Years ago, there was a meme that an earthquake would cause the coastal area to slide into the ocean. If we could localize that to the Bay area, that would be a wonderful thing!
Posted by DaveH at November 1, 2009 1:24 PM