Los Angeles leaders have found a tax increase they support. In fact, this week, the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce has sent a delegation to Sacramento to lobby legislators to reinstate the Vehicle License Fee (VLF). Yes, the so-called "car tax" that gave life to the recall of Governor Gray Davis.

If not for the "car tax" Davis would have continued as Governor, perhaps steering the state out of its budget issues of the time and moved on to the national scene, where he could have made the short list for vice presidential pick of the Democratic nominee.

But as fate would have it, Davis planned to reinstate it, enough of our base was pissed off for it, the right wing seized the opportunity and we've had 5 years of a celebrity governor who's first official act was to repeal the VLF.

Clearly politically inept, the Los Angeles business community believes its okay to lobby state officials against tax increases on businesses, oppose sales tax increase and oppose split roll property tax to bring commercial properties in line, but to support a political non-starter that would be opposed by even by progressive voters.

What gall?

Even Sen. Don Perata would not introduce this tax increase proposal.

Taxation must be fair, even to the business community, but a more coherent long-term tax structure is what we need. Stop cherry picking loopholes and tax increases, support structural reform of the tax code which can ensure fairness to all.