Governor Gavin Newsom at the California and New Zealand Partner to Advance Global Climate Leadership press conference, San Francisco, CA, May 27, 2022. (Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock)
California ‘Inflation Relief’ Checks Will Go Out Later This Week
‘People need cash, not a card’
By Evan Symon, October 4, 2022 2:30 am
This week, the first inflation relief checks for Californians, known as the Middle Class Tax Refund, are to be sent out.
During the spring and summer, the Governor and state legislators butted heads on how to best hand out the latest round of tax rebates following a series of reliefs checks during the COVID-19 pandemic. At first largely based on gas prices, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed $400 direct deposits for all car owners in the state, with public transportation vouchers for non-car owners. However, legislators instead insisted on a flat rebate program based on making under a certain income level and not being based on car ownership.
In June, both sides finally came to an agreement worth a total of $17 billion. According to the agreed-upon package, those making up to $75,000 a year, or joint filers who make up to $150,000, will get $350 each. Those who make up to $125,000 a year, or joint filers making up to $250,000, will get $250 each. Those who make up to $250,000 a year, or $500,000 filing jointly, get $200 each. One dependent may also be added at each tier for the same amount as each filer, meaning Californians could see as much $1,050, $750, or $600 coming in per household depending on tier level.
This package, later renamed the Middle Class Tax Refund, was refined by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). According to the FTB, those who filed taxes electronically and received a direct deposit refund will also receive a relief check direct deposit. But, for everyone else, they are to receive a debit card, including those who filed a paper tax return in 2020, those who received a 2020 tax refund by check, those who received their 2020 tax refund by direct deposit, but have since changed banks or account numbers, those who received a tax refund by check regardless of filing method, those who received an advance payment from a tax service provider, or paid their tax preparer fees using their 2020 tax refund, and those who received a Golden State Stimulus payment by check.
While many are happy to receive the extra funds, many note that the timing shortly before election day match around the time last year when the Golden State Stimulus checks were sent out shortly before the Governor recall election – a move widely seen as garnering a last minute support bump for Newsom.
“It’s not nearly as drastic this year since he has such a commanding lead, but this does help Newsom right before the election,” explained former lobbyist Harry Schultz to the Globe on Monday. “Free money going out before an election, right during the beginning of a recession with consumer prices still being high? Yeah, that buys goodwill.”
“Honestly, it’s a good bet hedger. Just in case something catastrophic comes out that hurts Newsom, he still has some cards to play, and this is one of them. It has been odd timing both times to say the least, and if I were [Newsom Gubernatorial opponent Senator Brian] Dahle, I’d bring this up during the debate, even just a passing mention of it being ‘coincidental.'”
“Also, the choice of debit cards is going to make a lot of people mad. People need cash, not a card, and a lot of places, especially in poorer areas, are cash only still. So this might not win Newsom over everyone exactly.”
Relief checks are due to start going out on Friday.
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March 15, 2022 -
How convenient! Checks from the state arriving in the mail right before an important election! Please. This is shameless, bald-faced vote-buying by the Gov and his Gang. As you know.
Are you totally fed up and sick and tired of the dirty tricks and corruption of CA Gov Newsom and the rest of the CA Dem ‘leadership’ at this point?
It’s no different than the Biden’s college loan forgiveness program right before an election. Republicans are currently blocking it.
YUP!
No quid-pro-quo here, no siree…. are people really stupid enough to fall for this blatant vote-buying scheme, after being tyrannicided for the past two-plus years???
Wait, don’t answer that question – I think I know the answer…
My Brian Dahle for Governor 2022 sign is proudly out in the front yard (unfortunately, it’s only one-sided though)
Newsom is a complete TOOL….
Amazingly, people ARE stupid enough to fall for this. After all, they were stupid enough to vote for Newsom in the first place and then to squander the opportunity to recall him last year.
I’m not so sure – I think we got “Dominioned” ….
With the “vote by mail”, they have to print out ballots for each voters’ registration, and I’m betting that the Republican & Independent ballots are printed EVER so slightly off-center, requiring “adjudication” to “determine the will of the voter” and that’s where much of the fraud is taking place….difficult to prove without knowing the specs of the respective ballots sent to the printers, but would leave the field wide open under the current rules for interpretation…
Good for you, CD9, putting a Dahle for Governor sign out in the front yard. I’d put one on my lawn but in my neighborhood if the neighbors saw it they would vote the opposite way. Twice. Or maybe more. 🙂
It’s not Inflation Relief… it’s a ‘REFUND of tax over-payment.’ There should be two separate payments:
1) Gas tax refund to registered vehicle/agriculture equipt owners 2) the Income tax ‘surplus’ refund , required by law…. Right?
They combined the two, reduced the $$$ amount? … then made their own determination as to who would receive it.
Yep that’s what the voters voted for,how many surpluses have we had and nothing to show for it.A big chuck of this money is from covid relief they would not part with any surplus money.
what I dont get is why the middle class get the title of this stimulas how about the ones on wc/or social security who didnt have to file taxes?? i worked my whole life to be put on workers comp for a hip replacement?? i get 0 anything would help but if I made over 200.000.00 they get money?? why ?? the rich keep getting rich and the poor keep getting poor I hate this state!!
Reading these comments are funny. Do you really think Democrats need to buy votes in California? Also all this voter fraud talk with zero proof is not dangerous at all for our democracy right lol. Republicans had the chance to get Newsom out and failed miserably.
So I pay my inflated taxes, and the state “refunds” me my own money. I will have to declare this on taxes, and, effectively, pay tax TWICE on “my” same amount of money?
So, I pay my inflated taxes, and the state gives me a small amount of my own money back. Now I will have to declare the “help” on my next return and pay taxes AGAIN on the SAME money? If this is so, this is asking for a legal challenge.
I live in Calif & pay for two trucks tags & I did not receive anything..why? I’m retired & on
Social Security..what is this Governor thinking? That I don’t need it ..im 75& pd taxes my whole life..it’s so sad that politicians can pick & choose who gets what.. they forget one important thing..they won’t be young forever!!!!