By Investigative Reporter, Linda Sutter – June 20, 2024
The California Supreme Court sided with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders in the Legislature on the constitutionality of a sweeping anti-tax measure, ruling today that it cannot go before voters in November.
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, broadly aimed to make it more challenging to raise taxes in California, including by requiring the Legislature to seek approval from the voters for any new or higher state tax.
Newsom and legislative leaders sued last fall to stop the measure, arguing that it amounted to an illegal attempt to revise the California Constitution and would impair essential government function.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed, ordering Secretary of State Shirley Weber to refrain from taking any steps to place the initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot. The proposed changes “are within the electorate’s prerogative to enact,” Justice Goodwin Liu wrote, “but because those changes would substantially alter our basic plan of government, the proposal cannot be enacted by initiative. It is instead governed by the procedures for revising our Constitution” — whereby proposed revisions must be submitted to voters by a supermajority of the Legislature or a constitutional convention.
Proponents of the initiative slammed the ruling as a travesty and a “gut-punch to direct democracy in California.” “Clearly, the state Supreme Court has now sent a signal that they are part of the progressive agenda in California, that we are a one-party state in California and there is no independent judiciary in California anymore,” Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, said at a press conference. He accused Newsom and the Legislature of supporting democracy “only on their terms, when they think it’s in their best interest.”
So what does that mean to us as local voters?
The Taxpayer Protection Act was defeated, however, the only way to send a clear message to our government is to vote no on any and all bonds or local tax measures.
In the meantime, the entire nation is outraged by what California is doing to it’s residents, unlawful crime and businesses. Getting rid of the current Governor is an absolute necessity if residents intend to live, work and raise a family here.
Although not confirmed and in the stages of a family discussion, particularly his bride, there are whispers of Howard Jarvis Tax Association’s Jon Coupal who would be a fine candidate for the Governor position in the State of California.
