California's Tax Machine

A comprehensive account of the history of taxing and spending in the Golden State, complete with the background rationale for unique taxes and tales of the back room dealings on everything from Prop. 13 to the Car Tax rebate. An easy-reading, informative chronicle of California Tax Law every tax attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, or tax preparer should read!

David R. Doerr has been chief tax consultant for the California Taxpayers' Association since 1987. From 1963 through mid-1987, he served as the top tax policy advisor to the California State Assembly, participating in the development of all of the state's major tax legislation, including all of Governor Ronald Reagan's tax proposals. As chief consultant to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, he prepared reports and analyses, and chaired various task forces and committees, including one that developed the statutory implementation of Proposition 13's acquisition-value assessment system. This experience makes Doerr uniquely qualified to detail the history of taxing and spending in California, and the characters who helped craft the state's laws. His writing experience -- including a stint as editor of his unit newspaper in the U.S. Army -- allows him to describe even the most complex legislation in an easy-to-follow, entertaining style. Doerr is a native of San Jose, California. He earned B.A. and M.A. degrees from San Jose State University, and has done additional graduate-level work at the University of California.