Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Border Fees

Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Border Fees

In view of the defeat of Proposition 1A, Gov. Schwarzenegger has everything on the table again except anything to eat. The light bulb didn’t come on until way after the governor proposed the new $5 border crossing fee into Mexico to help balance the budget. He was heard to exclaim, “Why wasn’t I thinking straight when I proposed that. If I can get $5 from people going to Mexico with all the killing going on, think what they’ll pay to go to Arizona. Of course it would have to be seasonally adjusted- much cheaper in the summer. And why should all that money go out of state to Las Vegas and Reno without a fee to get there. If we charge a return fee based upon what people claim they won gambling, we’ll do quite well. During the summer, people will pay just about anything to be able to get into Oregon. And while we’re collecting the return fee, it gives us a chance to also collect the sales tax on items that they bought in Oregon to avoid the sales tax in California. And if it looks like they’re packed up and moving out of the state, we could hit them with a pretty stiff permanent exit fee because I doubt if they’re coming back. This has got to be one of my best schemes so far, to be able to collect more money because I haven’t had much luck lately raising taxes.”

©2009 Eric Stamets