TAXPAYERS, LAWMAKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FILE SUIT TO BLOCK ILLEGAL STATE TAX INCREASES

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and many other plaintiffs including legislators and KFI hosts John and Ken filed a Writ of Mandate against LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA and Governor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.  This is response to the illegal revenue increasing bill passed by the State Assembly and Senate in late December.  The suit claims that the “fee” increases are illegal due to Proposition 13A section 3 (quoted below). 

The suit was filed the same day the Speaker of the State Assembly Karen Bass and the Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg forwarded the bill to the Governors desk for his signature.  Call the Governor at his Sacramento office 916-445-2841 and tell him to veto this bill!

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 13A  [TAX LIMITATION]
 
Section 3.  From and after the effective date of this article, any changes in state 
taxes enacted for the purpose of increasing revenues collected pursuant thereto
whether by increased rates or changes in methods of computation must be
imposed by an Act passed by not less than two-thirds of all members elected
to each of the two houses of the Legislature, except that no new ad valorem taxes
on real property, or sales or transaction taxes on the sales of real property may
be imposed.

Full text of Proposition 13

The above text is clear to me.   Revenues increase it must be passed by a two-thirds vote.  The question that needs to be answered is are the fees proposed really taxes.  If not, then we need to change Proposition 13 to address this.  
Read the full suit

The governor based his entire recall campaign on unfair and illegal taxes, the repeal of Grey Davis’ car tax was one of his first gubernatorial actions. Once he was elected his advisor Warren Buffett suggested that Proposition 13 be repealed or changed as a method of balancing the state’s budget.  Schwarzenegger, believing that taking such a step could end his gubernatorial career, said, “I told Warren that if he mentions Proposition 13 again he has to do 500 sit-ups.”  Lets show the governor that raising taxes (legal or illegal) will end his career!

Sign the Official Petition to Protect the Two-Thirds Vote and Proposition 13

TAXPAYERS, LAWMAKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FILE SUIT TO BLOCK ILLEGAL STATE TAX INCREASES | Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.