Proposition 43 would make it harder to raise local taxes, such as sales taxes, by restoring an important taxpayer protection that voters overwhelmingly approved in 1978 with the passage of Proposition 13. In a series of court decisions beginning nine years ago, Proposition 13’s requirement for a two-thirds vote for local special taxes was effectively eradicated. A “special tax” is one that earmarks the revenue for specific purposes. The state Constitution says special taxes only pass with the approval of two-thirds of voters. If courts had simply enforced the plain language, Californians would not currently be paying billions of dollars in...