Today in his California Commentary @joncoupal quoted the first paragraph from my 2025 article "How California Destroyed its Middle Class." The last paragraph tells the rest of the story:
"Public sector unions, billionaire-backed NGOs, and monopolistic corporations are not
I asked CA Superintendent candidate Richard Barrera how he'll serve as a protector for taxpayers and students while being heavily backed by the state's powerful teacher's unions.
He told me he wants to work with educators to break California out of the "prison of austerity"
Politico with the comedy bangers.
You want me to believe Sacramento has a "challenge" to spend $2 billion?
How about using it to fund Prop 36 so children do not have to navigate addicts, needles and encampments on their way to school?
How about using this one-time windfall paying off some of the unemployment insurance debt to the feds? This lowers the surcharge on payroll taxes, helping families. The solutions for social media problems are not found in growing government, it is strengthening families. Which
Proposition 43 protects #California taxpayers and levels the playing field for tax increases.
Specifically, it "would overturn a state Supreme Court ruling and require that single-purpose taxes placed on local ballots via initiative petitions get two-thirds voter approval,
Definitely vote yes on Prop 43.
‘(It) makes clear that all special taxes require a two-thirds vote, including citizens’ initiatives.’
Opinion: Prop. 43 closes a loophole that’s draining California taxpayers dry
‘(It) makes clear that all special taxes require a two-thirds vote, including citizens’ initiatives.’
www.mercurynews.com
Opinion: Jon Coupal: Proposition 3 is a warning against Proposition 40
Jon Coupal: Proposition 3 is a warning against Proposition 40
Two tax increase ballot measures facing voters this November deserve rejection.
www.ocregister.com
Save the date, October 9, for another great event with The John Phillips Show and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to get the word out to vote https://YESon43.com. Join me, @Johnnydontlike, @randywangradio, @hjta & @KABCRadio at Gladstone's in Long Beach, noon to 3:00.
NEW: Justin Szlasa exposed a double-billing scandal with LA homeless services and pressed for stronger audits. He was just demoted by an appointee of Mayor Bass, without explanation.
One official says it's part of a “cover-up” of dysfunction at LAHSA.
He uncovered wasteful LA homelessness spending. He was just demoted, without explanation
Justin Szlasa exposed a double-billing scandal and pressed for stronger audits. Mayor Karen Bass and her appointee a...
laist.com
San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board says "Vote yes on Proposition 43."
"It is a constitutional amendment that would restore the two-thirds vote requirement to enact all local 'special taxes' intended to fund a specific, designated purpose."
Endorsement: Vote yes on Prop. 43 to preserve intent of state tax laws
Abuses of power aren’t limited to the executive and legislative branches.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Do not trust any new tax measures that promise “citizens oversight committee” accountability. That and all other accountability-like words have been hijacked by local governments who control these volunteer committees. we need more independent offices of inspectors general
Prop 43 is supported by SD Taxpayers and #HJTA.
"It is a constitutional amendment that would restore the two-thirds vote requirement to enact all local 'special taxes' intended to fund a specific, designated purpose, such as public safety or libraries."
Endorsement: Vote yes on Prop. 43 to preserve intent of state tax laws
Abuses of power aren’t limited to the executive and legislative branches.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Libby Schaaf left Oakland with a $350 million budget disaster, hollowed-out reserves and multiple ethics violations.
Now she wants to torch affordability by squeezing you for an extra $1B/year on top of the $6.2B/year transit agencies already get 🤡
Vote NO on Measure RTM.
Registered voters in California will receive their ballots in the mail one month from today.
Here's the official voting guide and ballot measure recommendations from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association @hjta:
https://www.hjta.org/2026votingguide/#Ballot-Measure-Recommendations
New op-ed for the Bay Area News Group about Proposition 43, which will make it harder to pass sales taxes, extra real estate taxes, utility taxes, business taxes and any other local tax for a "special" purpose. Vote yes.
Opinion: Prop. 43 closes a loophole that’s draining California taxpayers dry
‘(It) makes clear that all special taxes require a two-thirds vote, including citizens’ initiatives.’
www.mercurynews.com
On top of the issues raised in this column, the proponents of local tax measures write the descriptions that appear on the ballot, resulting in ballot questions that are intentionally skewed to encourage a "yes" vote.
California’s ballot argument rules give tax proponents an unfair advantage
This year’s California county voter information guides will once again display a serious inequity.
www.sbsun.com
SD Taxpayers SUPPORTS Proposition 43: Local Taxes Limitation.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5af07fd050a54f8fc370c748/t/6a987cb0022930285017990f/1788378288890/FINAL+Prop+43+Local+Taxes+Limitation.pdf
Other SD Taxpayers policy reports are online at https://sdtaxpayers.org/policyreports
New column: Sacramento school distgrict's financial crisis exemplifies politicalization of education.
Sacramento school district's financial crisis exemplifies politicization of public education
Having a union-dominated school board has not stemmed the tide of red ink in the Sacramento City Unified district.
calmatters.org
Why would taxpayers give more sales tax revenue to a transit agency that doesn’t comply with state compliance reporting?
Maybe they don’t want anyone to see the GM’s 7% raise in FY2025?
How is Medi-Cal spending $226 billion per year?
One respiratory therapist is flying private and buying mansions after scaling his Medi-Cal billing to tens of millions of dollars per year, despite having an apparent “ghost” business.
Our @CityJournal team has the receipts.
Opinion: Editorial: As legislative session ends, state lawmakers OK many bad bills
Editorial: As legislative session ends, state lawmakers OK many bad bills
Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto hundreds of bills that will land on his desk, but as advocates ...
www.ocregister.com
This Friday in Sherman Oaks, join us! @hjta
ICYMI: Our August 26, 2026, #CABOE public meeting is now available on demand.
Watch the full recording to stay informed on the latest discussions and updates for #taxpayers.
Part 1: https://bit.ly/BOE_Aug26_2026_AM
Part 2: https://bit.ly/BOE_Aug26_2026_PM
California to have the highest gasoline and diesel taxes in the country, the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation reports. This leads to higher shipping costs that increase the price of everyday items purchased by Californians.
Comparing 2026 Gas Taxes by State
California levies the highest state gas tax at 73.6 cents per gallon, followed by Illinois and Indiana. Explore 2026 gas taxes by state.
taxfoundation.org
Opinion: California taxpayer pension costs grew eightfold since 1999; new plans add billions more
California taxpayer pension costs grew eightfold since 1999; new plans add billions more
Bipartisan bill unwinds Jerry Brown’s reforms, doubles down on flawed law that’s strangling local governments with debt
www.ocregister.com
NEW: California drivers could pay for Gavin Newsom's personal security when he's out of office.
CALeg Tuesday will vote on a big spending bill with this $20 million item tucked in there allowing current former/ elected officials to have CHP officers.
California drivers could pay for Gavin Newsom's personal security when he's out of office
California lawmakers are poised to set aside $20 million in transportation funds this year for current and former ...
www.kcra.com
The problem gets worse every election cycle. "California’s ballot argument rules give tax proponents an unfair advantage." @hjta.
California’s ballot argument rules give tax proponents an unfair advantage
This year’s California county voter information guides will once again display a serious inequity.
www.ocregister.com
Opinion: Prop. 40 won’t solve the healthcare emergency — it will just leave California worse off
Prop. 40 won’t solve the healthcare emergency — it will just leave California worse off
Making billionaires pay their fair share sure sounds nice, but measures like Prop. 40 will only leave Californians worse off.
www.ocregister.com
Leafing through miscellaneous budget-related bills as Legislature ends biennial session and spotted this oddity: Prohibits LA from reducing auto lanes of Forest Lawn Drive serving cemeteries without public hearings and specific vote.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB194
The problem gets worse every election cycle. "California’s ballot argument rules give tax proponents an unfair advantage." @hjta.
California’s ballot argument rules give tax proponents an unfair advantage
This year’s California county voter information guides will once again display a serious inequity.
www.ocregister.com
Good take on the absurdity of the state budget by @DanCALmatters. "California's budget is so convoluted that even experts are perplexed at what it contains." @hjta.
California's budget is so convoluted that even experts are perplexed at what it contains
California's budget has become opaque, and the plan itself is a hodgepodge of phantom revenues, accounting gimmicks and off-the-books loans.
calmatters.org
BEWARE THE ONSLAUGHT OF "GUT & AMEND" BILLS! Both chambers have voted to waive the rules so that committees can hear these new bills, during the busy final days of the session, while the Legislature is also rushing to pass bills on the floor. What a corrupt process! @hjta.
The biggest obstacle to economic and fiscal sanity: "California’s Billion-Dollar Union Machine." . @hjta.
California’s Billion-Dollar Union Machine
How public-sector unions harvest taxpayer cash and rule the state
www.city-journal.org
My latest @ocregister column. Jon Coupal: Wealth disparities are no excuse for Marxism. @hjta.
Jon Coupal: Wealth disparities are no excuse for Marxism
For those desiring a society where wealth disparities are virtually non-existent, a trip to North Korea would be educational.
www.ocregister.com
What Is Gavin Newsom Hiding?
What Is Gavin Newsom Hiding?
The governor presides over a statewide culture of secrecy.
disq.us
Did politicians forget the pension crisis of 2010 or do they just not care? Maybe it's the union $$$ that motivates them. "Lawmakers set to give more lavish pension benefits to state’s highest-paid workers." @hjta.
Lawmakers set to give more lavish pension benefits to state’s highest-paid workers
Assembly Bill 1383 is a taxpayer-funded handout to highly compensated, long-tenured employees that won’t attract or ...
www.ocregister.com
It's not about the students. It's about sustaining an ossified, corrupt bureaucracy. "Los Angeles Schools Run Out of Other People’s Money." by Allysia Finley via @WSJopinion @hjta.
Opinion | Los Angeles Schools Run Out of Other People’s Money
A Covid hiring binge and lavish union contracts leave the district on the verge of going broke.
www.wsj.com
Opinion [and fact]: "California’s pension funds are rigged to stick taxpayers with the bill." @hjta. via @sfstandard
Opinion: California’s pension funds are rigged to stick taxpayers with the bill
AB 1383 would let CalPERS and CalSTRS keep lowballing what they ask public employees to pay, leaving taxpayers to cover the gap — again.
sfstandard.com
Jon Coupal: The two-thirds vote requirement for taxes is fair @hjta.
Jon Coupal: The two-thirds vote requirement for taxes is fair
As this nation’s first Chief Justice, John Marshall, noted in 1819, “The power to tax is the power to destroy.”
www.ocregister.com
Endorsement: Yes on Proposition 43, make it harder to raise taxes @hjta.
Endorsement: Yes on California Proposition 43, make it harder to raise taxes
As it stands, the final measure is praiseworthy, as it puts the brakes on local governments’ ability to collude ...
www.ocregister.com
Prop 3: The Forever Tax
Prop 3: The Forever Tax
By James Fenkner, CFA
open.substack.com
Wonderful. Should really help L.A.'s reputation heading into the Olympics. "The Typhus Rats of Los Angeles @hjta.
The Typhus Rats of Los Angeles
A medieval disease is rocking the vermin-ridden county.
www.city-journal.org
Let's not forget this. "As high-speed rail cost estimate soars, state lawmakers move to hide information from taxpayers." @hjta.
As high-speed rail cost estimate soars, state lawmakers move to hide information from taxpayers
The California high-speed rail system’s price tag continues to grow, even though there is little hope that Califor...
www.ocregister.com
Progressives' assault against Direct Democracy rights reaching new heights. "These days the collusive trusts with the most power are between government and special interests that rely on ever-higher taxes and spending." via @WSJopinion. @hjta.
Opinion | Democrats Turn Against Direct Democracy
They’re using courts and legislative tricks to block citizen initiatives.
www.wsj.com
California falls behind Texas in Fortune 500 ranking
California falls behind Texas in Fortune 500 ranking
This year, 57 of the top companies are headquartered in Texas, compared with California’s 56. It’s a reversal ...
www.latimes.com
CA Governor Candidate Steve Hilton Says 'Enough Is Enough' via @YouTube
The secret about Prop. 13 hiding in plain sight. "Jon Coupal: Prop. 13 richly funds local governments while protecting taxpayers. @hjta.
Jon Coupal: Prop. 13 richly funds local governments while protecting taxpayers
Unfortunately, praise for Prop. 13 rarely comes from local government officials, even those who know how Proposition 13 helps them.
www.ocregister.com
Good @dwalters piece. "California has a top-ranked economy. It’s also one of the nation’s most unequal." So, is wealth inequality correlated with progressivism? Seems like it. @hjta.
California has a top-ranked economy. It’s also one of the nation’s most unequal
If the next governor and legislators are serious about improving the state’s standing, they should dive into the details.
www.ocregister.com
Businesses and homeowners are susceptible to rapacious politicians when there is no local taxpayer organization. "CA's County Taxpayer Groups Are an Endangered Species - The Free Market Movement Should Save Them." @hjta. https://californiaglobe.com/fr/californias-county-taxpayer-groups-are-an-endangered-species-the-free-market-movement-should-save-them/
John Seiler: Public financing of elections is a terrible idea. No on Prop. 4. “Public financing just opens government to one more area of corruption,” Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal told me. @hjta.
John Seiler: Public financing of elections is a terrible idea. No on Prop. 4.
“Public financing just opens government to one more area of corruption”
www.ocregister.com
Can we please start calling this for what it is: Legalized graft. "The CA Governor says Trump is targeting him for political reasons, but the news has also brought some public attention to a shadier side of California politics." via @WSJopinion. @hjta
Opinion | All of Gavin Newsom’s Donors
The Governor, his wife and California’s ‘behested payments.’
www.wsj.com
A little history lesson for Governor Newsom. "No, The Framers Would Have Hated the Billionaire Tax." @hjta.
No, The Framers Would Have Hated the Billionaire Tax
Below is my column in the Wall Street Journal on the bizarre claim of Gov. Gavin Newsom and others that the ...
jonathanturley.org
It never stops. "Billionaire or not, California is coming for your money." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
Billionaire or not, California is coming for your money
OPINION: “A flood of Biblical proportions is coming to California and, no, I’m not talking about the weather,” columnist Emily Hoeven writes.
www.sfchronicle.com
This Week Two People Hold The Fate Of California’s Tax Battles
This Week Two People Hold The Fate Of California’s Tax Battles
The fate of two major statewide tax measures may be decided this week by two men sitting in private negotiations.
open.substack.com
The compelling case for @SteveHiltonx in one read. "California Needs a Pro-Business Governor by @SteveHiltonx." via @WSJopinion
Opinion | California Needs a Pro-Business Governor
The state leads the country in unemployment, poverty and the cost of living. Even Fareed Zakaria has noticed.
www.wsj.com
No, it's not the end of the world. The Local Taxpayer Protection Act merely restores the original language of Prop. 13. "Officials warn a California ballot proposal changing voting thresholds on local tax initiatives could cost San Jose millions." @hjta.
Officials warn a California ballot proposal changing voting thresholds on local tax initiatives...
San Jose officials warn a statewide initiative could void the city’s Measure E property transfer tax, threatening ...
www.mercurynews.com
My column in @ocregister with our good friends at National Federation of Independent Business. United for the common good! "California small businesses and homeowners are uniting to save Prop. 13." @hjta.
California small businesses and homeowners are uniting to save Prop. 13
California small businesses have also been hurt by the erosion of the two-thirds vote requirement for local special taxes.
www.ocregister.com