Coastal
Post Online
January,
2004
Prop. 56 "Dangerous and Deceptive"
Taxpayers call Proposition 56, on the March ballot, as dangerous
as it is deceptive.
"This initiative is first and foremost about making it
easier to raise taxes," explained Carol Evans, vice president of the
California Taxpayers' Association. "It would eliminate the two-thirds vote
that's now required for any tax increase or any new tax. Taxpayers are calling
this the Blank Check Initiative because that's exactly what it would give
Sacramento politicians -- a blank check to raise state taxes -- any time, any
tax."
The initiative would reduce the vote required to increase taxes
and to pass a state budget, from two-thirds to 55 percent. It also contains
other provisions described by supporters as creating more accountability, such
as withholding paychecks for elected officials if they don't pass a budget on
time.
"There are some attractive hooks in this initiative,"
explained Evans, "but the bottom line is that this is a deceptive measure
that pretends to hold politicians accountable, while rewarding them with a
blank check to raise taxes and spend more money. That's not real
accountability."
The Blank Check Initiative will be joined on the March ballot by
a host of other initiatives and the potential for confusion is high.
"Voters will now have plenty to sort through on March
2," explained Evans, "but one certainty, is that Prop. 56 is the only
measure on the ballot that will make it easier for Sacramento politicians to
raise your taxes, and nothing in any other measure changes that."
The Legislature considered tax and fee increases totaling almost
$65 billion in the last session -- including proposed income tax increases,
sales tax increases, and surcharges on a wide range of goods and services, such
as cell phones and insurance.
"If the Blank Check Initiative becomes law," Evans
said, "the sky's the limit on how many of those proposed tax increases
will also become law. That's why we have the largest coalition of taxpayer groups
ever formed in California, working to defeat this Blank Check Initiative.
"This would also be a huge step backward for our struggling
economy. We need to stimulate the economy and create new jobs -- not bury
California under a blizzard of unlimited new taxes -- and that's another danger
in this Blank Check."
More information is available at www.noblackchecks.com;