We’ve seen that the Republicans are scared of letting the voters vote on taxes. The Norquistians are saying that even putting taxes on the ballot is a violation of the no-tax pledge. Something has got them nervous, perhaps that’s because of numbers like these:
The poll, just released, shows strong support for Brown’s special statewide election on budget fixes, as well as reasonably strong support for his suggestion to erase California’s deficit with a mix of cuts and taxes.
The Public Policy Institute of California finds 66% of voters surveyed like the idea of a special election to consider budget issues. That includes not just an overwhelming majority of Democrats (74%) but a majority (55%) of Republicans, too.
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While the poll offers several more interesting nuggets (like an affirmation of the fiscal disconnect affecting the state’s voters which we’ve discussed before), here’s one more that helps explain why Governor Brown’s budget not only protects K-12 schools (for the most part), but puts them front and center should the voters reject the $11 billion in tax extensions he wants on a June statewide ballot: 75% say they oppose any more K-12 cuts, and 71% say they’d pay higher taxes to spare those schools.(Capital Notes)
In fact, a strong plurality rejects a cuts only budget. Only 36% favor cuts alone, while 49% prefer at least some taxes, and another 7% favors additional debt. As to which taxes, well, the corporate tax is still tax number one. Too bad the voters just chose to preserve a $1.5 billion corporate tax cut. I guess it goes to show you what a bit of campaign propaganda can do. You can grab all of the numbers at the PPIC survey here.
The voters clearly still need additional information on how our system works. They don’t quite understand how we fund our budget, and where it all goes. But, at the same time, I think voters understand more than they are given credit for in the media and amongst some political circles.
Governor Brown’s budget is far from perfect, but it’s enough that it is scaring the Right. And that’s a start.
Brown isn’t a liberal firebrand, but he’s not surrounding himself with centrist/rightwing folks like Obama.
Glad to see he’s doing what the right doesn’t like.
Little Grover is NOT from California, this is California’s and Californians’ business, and little Grover needs to a)shut the hell up, b)mind his own business, c)take a flying leap!
For those outsiders like Grover, he doesn’t contribute to California, and he isn’t going to worry over our children’s education, and he isn’t going to take care of our seniors and our folks with disabilities, our mentally ill, or our homeless, and shills like him really are in favor of an ignorant populace, and frankly speaking, the deaths of our seniors and disabled. That is what funds his fat salary.
It’s time to kick the Grovers and the Groverites to the curb, and think about what is really best for California!
It is an educational opportunity, our opportunity to really get out there and teach people what they need to know to really understand what is at stake here!
I for one am sick to death of UNELECTED shadow politicians trying to run our business! I am more sick of some of us allowing them to!
This looks GREAT
So far
Wait until we get a blizzard of ads against taxes
It’s gonna take hard work and disciplne to get these taxes passed
THAT will kill the anti-tax Dragon in California
But, Legislative Democrats have to co-operate
They have to bite the bullet and make necessary spending cuts Including Re-Development funds
We see city politicians trying to keep the Re-Development funds alive
Bite the bullet and kill re-development
With Governor Brown, the adults are in charge now