Why should lawmakers oppose the proposed California veterinary service tax?

California veterinarians, clinic staff and clients are outraged over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to close an $11.2 billion deficit in part by adding a nearly 10 percent tax to veterinary services, but no other medical services. Read more about it here.

What are your thoughts on this proposal, and what argument would you present to state leaders against it?

Dear veterinarians,  it is an economic fact of life that taxes act as incentives and disincentives.   tax something and folks use less for reasons of substitutability and lack of resources.  IT'S LIKE THAT FOR EVERYTHING.  next time you are encouraged to vote for any tax please consider that the tax will hit some other industry or social group just as negatively as the proposed tax on your services.   consider also that such taxes are regressive...that is they more greatly impact the lower income earners than the higher earners (like Vets).

and believe it...10% is just the beginning.   taxes like this are incremental.  does everyone remember when the calif sales tax was 6

FYI, the "fairest" tax is NONE.  by keeping their money in their own pockets your customers can decide for themselves where they should best spend their money.  perhaps an additional pet or an occassional extra visit to the groomer or the clinic...or an additional contribution to their favorite charitable cause, or a trip to a bowling alley...sacramento has PLENTY of your cash already.  it's time for them to start spending it as carefully as we all spend our own money.

until the state starts controlling spending my stance is NO NEW TAXES OF ANY KIND...EVER.

Breaking news from dvm360:
The tax on veterinary services is officially off the table in California.

Legislators finally passed a 17-month budget during after overnight session Feb. 19 after months of negotiation. The final bill, approved by state Senate and Assembly, does not include a veterinary service tax included in previous versions of the budget proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Read the full article here.