Bad News for Rob Reiner

He never had the conservatives and now he's lost the socialists.

Rob Reiner's contribution to California's June ballot, the Preschool for All initiative, was denounced today by Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik.

Mr. Hiltzik complained that the proposal, which would impose a 1.7 percent increase in the state income tax on household incomes above $800,000, would make it difficult to further raise taxes on these Californians -- their top marginal rate will be 11 percent -- in order to pay for all the other priorities he has for their money.

The $2.4 billion a year raised by the initiative, Mr. Hiltzik said, would have to be spent as the initiative directs, on preschool education for all children, and couldn't be diverted to pay for grade school teachers or textbooks or health programs or lunch or anything else.

That money could be better spent, Mr. Hiltzik suggests. He has a long list of needs that are going unmet.

Mr. Hiltzik shares with Mr. Reiner the premise that it is morally right for families who earn more than $800,000 a year to be forced by everyone else to pay for whatever everyone else needs.

For another view, read "The Tyranny of the Children" at www.SusanShelley.com.


Copyright 2006

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