Same song, different decade – Orange County Register

More than 42 years ago, California voters overwhelmingly enacted Proposition 13 in response to an out-of-control property tax.

Even as time goes on, Proposition 13 remains very popular with citizens of all political backgrounds.

However, many politicians and officials hate Proposition 13 because it prevents them from taking unlimited cash from the taxing public.

In response to the passage of Proposition 13, these tax and spending gains retaliated by trying to create a loophole in Proposition 13 to bypass voter-approved taxpayer protections. approvals and provisions that enforce more government accountability. This has required additional taxpayer protection legislation to close these loopholes through more recent initiatives such as Proposition 218 (1996), also known as the Tax Voting Rights Act and Proposition 26 (2010) seeks to prevent taxes from getting out of bounds by calling them “fees.”

In this tug-of-war between taxpayers and government interests, the latter has been aided by California’s increasingly progressive judiciary that has, in several recent decisions, demonstrated public hostility toward the public. declaration to taxpayers. As just one example, the longstanding Proposition 13 requirement that local special taxes get two-thirds of the voter vote has been virtually destroyed by the notorious Upland decision to put tax benefits and spending becomes a pattern of new imposition. taxes, for 40 years, were illegal.

For that reason, a broad coalition of taxpayers, businesses and property owners from all over the world joined to push for a new initiative, the Taxpayer Protection Act. and Government Accountability to close the highland loophole and strengthen the voter intent behind Propositions 13, 218 and 26, all of which are designed to bring sanity to taxes beyond California’s control.

As might be expected, the organization claims that this simple attempt to close the many loopholes they themselves have created in Proposition 13 will lead to the end of Western Civilization. For example, the Federation of California Cities, which have never been subject to a tax they don’t like, has just released an “analysis” of the measure with many factual errors.

These scare tactics were right in the middle of the campaign against Proposition 13 more than 42 years ago.

In the months leading up to the June 6, 1978 election, here’s a list of what the opponents predicted, none of which came true:

• The City of Oakland warned it would close fire stations, close zoos and turn off more than half of the city’s traffic lights;

• A state senator and staunch ally of employee unions, predicts mass layoffs of teachers;

• One of the opposition’s television commercials featured a UCLA economist who, in a pitiful tone, predicted that California would fall into a deep recession if voters approved the measure.

• The same Federation of Cities that predicted the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act would cause catastrophic damage to California made similar statements 42 years ago, including Even the city of Los Angeles would have to fire more than 2,200 police officers if Proposition 13 passes.

For 42 years, big government advocates have lied to deceivers about tax control efforts in California.

The Federation of California Cities’ latest propaganda piece continues that tradition in good form.

Californians are currently grappling with one of the highest costs of living, the highest adjusted poverty levels, the highest gas prices in the nation, and rapidly rising inflation.

Working families can’t afford the extra billions of dollars in new and higher taxes.

Jon Coupal is the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.