October 19, 2009 meeting

Regular meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Montecito Clubhouse.

Here are the announced topics:

1. California is in dire need of raising revenue to cover the large deficit in the budget. Various proposals have been advanced. Some of the proposals which we can discuss are (a) off-shore drilling for oil, (b) modify proposition 13, and (c) replace some of the income tax rates with an expanded sales tax on food, medicine and various services which are presently exempt. Can you offer some other proposals which would be more effective or more fair?
2. A memorial to the veterans of WW 1 was erected in the 1930s in the Mojave National Preserve in the form of a large cross. It has been challenged in the Supreme Court on the constitutional grounds of separation of church and state. How should the Justices vote?
3. Should owners of property in high risk areas of fires and floods be charged a surcharge annually to offset the costs of dealing with these calamities? Should they be allowed to build or rebuild in these areas?

Regarding item #2:

SCOTUS 10/7/09: Oyez, AP, CSPAN, oral argument transcript, ACLU explanation

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