ballot propositions

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Prop 30 Passes So No Trigger Cuts for UC

Byuclafaculty

Above are the ballot proposition results as of around 5 AM this morning from the California Secretary of State with about 95% of the results.  [Click image to enlarge.]  Prop 30, the governor’s tax initiative endorsed by the Regents, has passed.  Prop 39, the corporate loophole tax, which also adds some money into the general fund despite its earmark for “green” projects, also has passed.  The Munger school tax (Prop 38), which was seen as a rival to the governor’s tax, did very poorly as polls predicted. With the passage of Prop 30, the budget trigger – that would have…

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UCLA Luskin School Ballot Proposition Forum: 11-1-2012 (audio)

Byuclafaculty

Today’s forum at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs featured a discussion of the November 2012 California ballot propositions including those dealing with taxes and the state budget.  You can hear the audio of the discussion at the link below.  Guest speakers were Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, second-highest ranking Republican in the state assembly, and former Democratic Governor Gray Davis. The full program runs about one and a quarter hours:

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Another poll shows the slide of Prop 30

Byuclafaculty

The California Field Poll shows the slide below 50%. Prop 30 – the governor’s tax initiative that has been endorsed by the Regents – had been marginally above 50% until recently.  It could still pass since the undecided voters have to vote yes or no and if most vote yes, it will have a majority.  Nonetheless, the position of Prop 30 is precarious. As readers of this blog will know, the revenue estimated to be produced by Prop 30 is built into the current fiscal year state budget.  Trigger cuts are also built into the budget if it fails, including…

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Even if you have the Marxist view on the November ballot initiatives…

Byuclafaculty

Groucho Marx, that is, and his academic perspective: Today is the day for hearing about all eleven of them. Campus Program on Ballot Propositions: Nov. 1 The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment present: Debating the 2012 California Ballot Propositions  with Gray Davis, Luskin Distinguished Policy Fellow, and Cameron Smyth, Luskin Senior Fellow California voters face big decisions on the 2012 ballot initiatives. From tax policy to the death penalty to genetically modified food labeling, a lot is at stake on the ballot. Join us for an educational and informative forum to analyze the…

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Repeal of Trigger if Prop 30 Fails: Don’t Count on It

Byuclafaculty

Various reports are floating around in the newspapers today about plans in the legislature to kill the trigger cuts that are part of the current budget and that will occur if Prop 30 – the governor’s tax initiative – initiative.  Included in the trigger is a cut of $250 million for UC.   Don’t count on it!  In theory, anything can be changed in the budget.  In theory, the governor could go along with voiding the trigger and not veto such a measure.  In theory, the legislature could come up with a two-thirds vote to override such a veto, if it…

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Anti-Prop 30 Group May Have to Cough Up Information

Byuclafaculty

A conservative Arizona political group is likely going to have to turn over confidential documents about its donors, under a tentative ruling issued late Tuesday by a Sacramento judge.  At issue is the $11 million contribution by Americans for Responsible Leadership to a California political action committee trying to help pass Proposition 32 (paycheck protection) and kill Proposition 30 (Gov. Brown’s tax initiative).  State officials have called the cash “the largest known anonymous donation in the history of California politics,” and want to audit the group’s books to see whether the identities of the donors must be made public.  The…

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The Third Tax Proposition (39)

Byuclafaculty

You have seen TV ads for Prop 39, the “Steyer” initiative that closes a loophole in the corporate profits tax that emerged from a 2009 budget deal and earmarks a chunk of the money raised for green energy projects.  But you haven’t seen any TV ads against Prop 39 because there has not been much of a campaign against it.  Part of the reason is that important elements of the local business community that feel the loophole gives competitors an advantage and thus favor Prop 39.  Those parts of the business community that oppose 39 have not chosen to fund…

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Ballot Proposition Forum Nov. 1

Byuclafaculty

Campus Program on Ballot Propositions: Nov. 1 The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment present: Death and Taxes (and other hot topics): Debating the 2012 California Ballot Propositions  with Gray Davis, Luskin Distinguished Policy Fellow, and Cameron Smyth, Luskin Senior Fellow California voters face big decisions on the 2012 ballot initiatives. From tax policy to the death penalty to genetically modified food labeling, a lot is at stake on the ballot. Join us for an educational and informative forum to analyze the initiatives. TIME Thursday, November 1, from 12:15 – 1:45 pm (Note: An earlier version…

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Gov. Brown’s Prop 30 Tax Below 50% in Two Major Polls

Byuclafaculty

Above are the results from the PPIC poll.  Both Prop 30 (Brown’s tax) and Prop 38 (Molly Munger school tax) are below 50%.  The Munger tax has been a loser all along but Prop 30 had been marginally ahead in prior polling.  More detail from the PPIC poll are below: Source: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_1012MBS.pdf The LA Times-USC poll shows similar results: You can see that poll in detail at: http://www.gqrr.com/images/stories/latusc.fq.102512.pdf If Prop 30 fails, trigger cuts are built into the current state budget.  UC would have a $250 million cut.  Tuition would likely be raised.  In theory, the legislature could repeal the trigger…