Two-Thirds Vote

ARTICLE: Supreme Court Upholds Two-Thirds Requirement

tgaul — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:35:40 -0700

The Supreme Court promptly dismissed the most recent lawsuit to overturn the two-thirds vote requirement, which claimed that the requirement was "unconstitutional." The court invoked its previous decision on the matter, in which it declared the requirement to be perfectly in line with constitutional law.

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ARTICLE: Two-Thirds Vote is Public's Best Friend

tgaul — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:00:58 -0700

This article in the San Diego Union-Tribune explains how Sacramento lawmakers are blaming the budget crisis on the constitutional requirement that tax legislature must pass a two-thirds vote to become law. In the same breath, these lawmakers are trying to force a $7.9 billion education bonus nearly identical to the one voters rejected just last month. Clearly the problem lies not in the two-thirds requirement, nor in the actions of voters, but in lawmakers trying to sidestep California’s political process. Read more >>

ARTICLE: Blame the Unions

tgaul — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:41:00 -0700

This article in the National Review Online highlights the numerous over-simplified explanations for California’s budget crisis offered by national media. These explanations point fingers at the California budget process, Proposition 13 and California voters. However, as the author shows, the true cause is something else entirely.

Click Here to read the article.

Taxpayers, Lawmakers and Small Businesses File Suit To Block Illegal State Tax Increases

gforster — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:39:09 -0800

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), more than 40 state legislators opposed to higher taxes, and John Eastman, dean of Chapman University, have filed suit to block the implementation of new taxes approved by the Legislature without the constitutionally required two-thirds vote. Read more >>

Surprise Attack on Proposition 13

gforster — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:24:41 -0800

In perhaps one of the most brazen political moves in California history, Democrat leadership last week unveiled a budget proposal that would shred the California Constitution by raising billions of new taxes without the required two-thirds vote. Read more >>

CalTax Gets Rolled by the Governor

gforster — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:38:06 -0700

The California Taxpayers Association (CalTax), after weeks of heavy pressure from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, agreed to support his "compromise" budget plan which includes a $10 billion tax increase. Apparently, CalTax thinks Californians don't pay enough taxes. Read more >>

Would You Get Into a Car With a Drunk Behind the Wheel?

gforster — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 17:18:20 -0700

For over two months, a small, well disciplined cadre was able to hold off a howling army of eager spenders in the State Capitol. While Senate Republicans may not go down in history along side the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, by holding out for a better deal on the state budget they achieved more than expected for California taxpayers. Read more >>

Assemblyman Gives Taxpayers the Foam Finger

gforster — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:10:15 -0700

As a state, California ranks 8th in per capita state and local taxation. Some politicians may counter that we are "only" 12th when our tax burden is measured as a percentage of personal income, but either way, we are running near the front of the pack in a 50 team league. Read more >>

Another assault on Prop. 13

gforster — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:25:27 -0700

Freshman Democrat Assemblyman Jared Huffman of San Rafael wants to make increasing property taxes easier. Read more >>

Prop. 88 Puts Prop. 13 in Jeopardy

Jon Coupal — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:22:49 -0800

Homeowners are easy targets. Typically, we commit most of our working lives to pay for a home. For many, it is our greatest financial asset, our security, as well as that place on earth where we feel most at ease. We will go to almost any lengths to protect and preserve our family homes.

This is why, for those who are constantly searching for more government revenue, homeowners and others who pay property taxes were juicy targets -- until the passage of Proposition 13, that is. Read more >>