Action alert on proposed sales tax on veterinary medical svcs in CA:

[kestrel91316]

Schwarzenegger still hasn't given up on his dream of charging sales tax on veterinary medical services in CA. Time to call and let your voices be heard. And please pass this on to all your animal-loving friends.


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January 16, 2009

"VETERINARY SERVICES TAX"

The Governor is listening! We need you to take action again and register your "opposition"... It's simple and effective.

Call the Governor's office at 916-445-2841.
Select your language choice.
Press "5" to leave your opinion on a current issue.
Press "1" to select the issue of extending the sales tax to veterinary services.
Press "2" to "oppose" the Veterinary Services Tax proposal.

January 15, 2009 Budget Update:

Yesterday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presented his 2009-2010 "State of the State" address to the California State Legislature. This speech came on the heels of the release, on December 31, 2008, of his 2009-10 State Budget proposal which continued to include a proposal to tax veterinary services.

The Governor has expressed great frustration that, despite the fact that he has called several sequential "special sessions" of the legislature, a compromise has not been reached by Democrats and Republicans. In the last two weeks, there appears to be some movement with the negotiations. However, due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, and in an attempt to prevent outside forces from impacting the discussions, the "Big 5" (Senate & Assembly leaders) has been relatively silent with regard to the specifics of the issues currently on the table.

With little information leaking out of these confidential "Big 5" meetings regarding the Governor's tax proposals, we must assume that the veterinary tax remains "on the table" for discussion. Therefore, we are requesting that CVMA members continue to express their opposition to the Governor's proposal to tax veterinary services by calling the Governor and your local legislator today.

Updates will continue to be posted at www.cvma.net. If you have any questions, call the CVMA office at 1.800.655.2862.

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