Proposition 56’s proponents have publicly billed their desire to reduce the margin to pass our state budget from two thirds to 55 percent as a no-drawbacks way to get California’s budget passed on time every year. What they neglected to tell the voters was that unless the GOP starts winning more seats, the proposition would completely eliminate Republicans in the legislature from future budget decisions.
What they tried even harder to conceal from voters was that this 55 percent rule would apply not only to the budget, but also to every measure that raises taxes. The proposition vaguely states it would “permit enactment of budget and budget-related tax/appropriation bills with 55 percent vote.” Despite the cryptic language, what is clear is that the proposition has the potential to have deeply damaging effects on the California economy. It also opens the door for liberal legislatures to have unchecked control of the state’s appropriation bills.
If budgets and tax hikes are allowed to pass with such a small number of votes, Californians can expect both budgets with more reckless spending and increased taxes of every sort: income taxes, car taxes, gas taxes, and property taxes.
“In just one legislative session last year, state legislators proposed 100 new tax and fee increases,” California’s voter information guide states. Add to the hypothetical equation a future under a Democratic governor. There would be absolutely no roadblocks to spending and taxation.
This scenario can easily turn into a vicious cycle of fiscal irresponsibility. After collecting more tax revenue, the Democrats will have the opportunity to spend more on wasteful social programs, allowing them to grow out of control. When these bloated programs demand more funding, the liberal lawmakers won’t be able to resist allocating more in the next budget, even if it means raising taxes again to facilitate their spending.
The proposition’s supporters have shrouded their intentions with a veil of supposed commitment to “budget accountability.” The pro-56 television commercials never mention the lowered threshold for passing tax hikes. The advertisements attempt to frame the measure as a positive for the California economy when it is just the opposite.
It is frightening that the legislature could acquire the power to decide on taxes and the budget with votes from only one party. Proposition 56 would deal a final blow to the state’s hopes of bipartisan cooperation, which, with our new governor, seemed to be making a comeback after appearing doomed last year with no Republican holding any statewide elected office.
We don’t need our budget to be a Democrat’s fantasy, and we certainly don’t need more taxes. If Proposition 56 succeeds, grave times are in store for California.
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