Learn About Legislative Action

THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, THE TAXPAYERS' VOICE IN SACRAMENTO

State Senator Tom McClintock and HJTA President Jon Coupal stand behind the thousands of petitions that HJTA Members signed in support of McClintock's legislation to increase the Homeowners Exemption.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association maintains a permanent legislative office in Sacramento where bills that can harm or help taxpayers are carefully reviewed and analyzed by our Legislative Analyst.

HJTA takes strong action to counter those bills which undermine the taxpayer protections contained in Proposition 13 and 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes

Act, by directly contacting individual lawmakers, testifying at committee hearings, and meeting with the Governor and his staff in the Office of Planning and Research. Not only does HJTA work actively to fend off these blatant attacks on important taxpayer rights, but also to block the hundreds of tax-increasing bills that lawmakers introduce each session. HJTA must take on a more difficult challenge when these tax increases are disguised as fees in order to lower the vote requirement from Proposition 13's mandated two-thirds vote to approve new taxes, to the simple majority needed for fees. Often HJTA stands as the taxpayers' first, and final, line of defense against such legislation.

HJTA also sponsors and support bills which will help California taxpayers. Unfortunately, most current members of the Legislature are hostile to such legislation, and these bills usually die in committee.

To support the taxpayers' legislative agenda, HJTA delivers thousands of petitions from grass-roots taxpayers to the State Legislature each year. Often lawmakers are accustomed to hearing from only the special interests that favor greater spending and tax increases. These petitions pack a wallop because they are a clear reminder that the voters back home are paying close attention to what goes on in Sacramento.

Use the links on the left to review current legislative threats to taxpayers, find out if your representatives are supporting your interests, and to contact them.

• To find out more about the California State Assembly click here
• To find out more about the California State Senate click here
• To find out more about a specific bill, click here
• To find and read California Law and the State Constitution, click here
• To register to vote and find out more about current ballot measures, click here