BILL NUMBER:  AB 1745
  VETOED	DATE: 09/29/2010




To the Members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 1745 without my signature.
Benjamin Franklin said it best when he wrote, "In this world nothing
can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."   This bill is
one of five measures this year attempting to assess new fees onto our
state's vital records system for birth, death and marriage
certificates.  While I can appreciate the Legislature's interest in
funding particular policies and special programs, if this bill were
enacted, it would increase the burial permit fee by 73% and less than
half of that new fee would actually fund the state and local
registrar functions.  Implementing the others would raise millions of
dollars in additional fees, none of which would actually fund the
base programs.  Counties are already allowed to allocate a sum for
indigent burials from the existing fee ? and since the state has to
live within its fiscal means, I would suggest that counties do so as
well.  If raising revenue for this purpose is a priority, then each
county can place a measure on its local ballot and seek approval from
their local voters.
For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.
Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger