CalTax Policy Staff

The most experienced tax policy and tax-lobbying staff in Sacramento resides with CalTax. When working on tax policy problems before the Legislature, tax agencies, local governments, in court, or on statewide ballots, the CalTax advocacy team is an effective business partner with member companies. This successful partnership between CalTax and member companies has never been more important. CalTax staff members closely monitor legislative, tax agency, and local government tax policy deliberations and coordinate with CalTax members and industry representatives to stop unnecessary tax policy changes that would increase the cost of doing business in California. CalTax also supports changes that would have positive impact on its members.

Teresa Casazza - President

Teresa was appointed CalTax President in January 2008 and is responsible for overall management of policy research, advocacy and communications. Teresa joined CalTax in 2005 as Vice President and Legislative Director. Prior to joining CalTax, Teresa was Vice President and Legislative Advocate for the American Electronics Association. She is a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of state tax policy experience.

Gina Rodriquez - Vice President of State Tax Policy

Gina joined CalTax as Vice President of State Tax Policy in February 2011. Gina, who leads CalTax's advocacy efforts, served as Sacramento editor for Spidell Publishing Inc. from 1991 to 2011, writing extensively on state tax policy, advocating for sound tax policies and conducting seminars for tax practitioners. She has worked with the Franchise Tax Board, Board of Equalization, Employment Development Department and other state agencies on issues relating to tax policy, with an emphasis on income, franchise, sales, use and employment taxes and government efficiency. Her experience also includes teaching courses on federal income taxation and working as a tax administrator at the FTB.

David Kline - Vice President of Communications and Research

David was named Vice President of Communications and Research in January 2010, after serving since 2007 as Director of Communications. He fields media inquiries, oversees research projects and production of CalTax publications, and serves as editor of the CalTaxletter. From 1992 to 2004, he worked for the Metropolitan News Company, first as the Capitol bureau chief and later as editor of Senior Spectrum newspaper, which received several journalism awards during his five-year tenure. From 2004 to 2007, he was a principal consultant and chief speechwriter for the Assembly Minority Leader.
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David R. Doerr - Chief Tax Consultant

Since 1987, Dave has served as CalTax's Chief Tax Consultant, analyzing tax policies and reporting on tax issues for the CalTaxletter, a publication he founded in January 1988. He previously served for 24 years as Chief Consultant for the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and is widely recognized as the foremost expert on California's Revenue and Taxation Code. His institutional knowledge of California's tax structure is unparalleled. Dave's book, California's Tax Machine: A History of Taxing and Spending in the Golden State (second edition published in 2008), is used as a reference work by the state's policy makers and has been called “the bible on California taxes” by respected political columnist Dan Walters of The Sacramento Bee.
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Therese Twomey - Fiscal Policy Director

Therese joined CalTax as Fiscal Policy Director in August 2011. She represents the association before state tax agencies and the Legislature, and provides analysis of policy proposals. From 2006 to 2011, she was the principal consultant on revenue, taxation and public pension issues for the California Senate Minority Leader’s Policy Office. From 1999 to 2006, she was the principal consultant on budget issues for the Senate Minority Leader’s Fiscal Office, where she audited state expenditures and provided recommendations for reducing the state’s deficit. Therese’s experience also includes serving as a senior budget analyst for the California Department of Finance from 1994 to 1999.
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Robert Gutierrez - Research Analyst

Rob joined CalTax in August 2009. He has completed research on California property taxes, unclaimed property, public employee fringe benefits, and legislative spending priorities. He also writes regularly for the CalTaxletter, and assisted in the publishing of the second edition of California's Tax Machine: A History of Taxing and Spending in the Golden State. Rob holds a degree in political science from Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

Peter Blocker - Project Analyst

Peter joined CalTax in October 2011. He contributed to writing CalTax's Government Cost Savings Report and California Tax Facts, and contributes content for the CalTaxletter. Peter has performed research on parcel taxes, government waste, legislative districts, elections, and local transactions and use taxes. Peter is a graduate of the University of San Diego.

 

To become a member, contact Karen Yee at karen@caltax.org or contact her by phone at (916) 930-3111.