God Jan 26, 2025
California pays more into the federal pot than it takes out—if Trump wants to withhold disaster relief, why not just cut out the middle man?
Show threadChris Geoghooligan ✊Jan 26, 2025

@godpod because, as I understand it, it’s not California contributing to the federal pot but it’s citizens via federal taxes. The CA state government doesn’t have control over the outgoing cash flow because it is not involved in the collection of federal taxes.

I love the idea but it doesn’t seem feasible for CA to interject itself between taxpayers and the IRS. CA could litigate the equal protection clause in the Constitution, but it ultimately will be a court battle 😟

Show threadArne Dehli HalvorsenJan 26, 2025
@VTDARKSIM There was a reddit comment several years back, which I have tried to find without success, in which it was suggested that the populous blue states could get together to form a coalition to repeal federal tax, but introduce a state tax to be balanced between coalition partners.
Show threadArne Dehli HalvorsenJan 26, 2025
@VTDARKSIM If additional states wanted to join (and be part of the balancing), they would have to ratify a few consittutional amendments and other laws: Medicare for all, alterations to Citizen United, 2nd amendment, standards for redistricting, congress reallocations, and acceptance for new states, congress members for Puerto Rico and other territories, election reform, ...
Show threadChris Geoghooligan ✊
@arne_d_h I’m all for it, but they’d need to repeal the… I forget which amendment… 14th?… that gives the federal government the ability to levy taxes, and that requires 2/3 states I believe. I don’t see that happening but I am certainly open to hearing otherwise!
Jan 26, 2025 at 9:14pmWeb