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Proposition 13 is hanging by a thread

Last session, a number of constitutional amendments that would undermine Proposition 13 protections for California’s taxpayers were introduced by Democratic legislators in Sacramento. These bills would lower the threshold to approve bonds and raise taxes to 55 percent from the current two-thirds required by the State Constitution.

If passed, these amendments would impact elections related to raising the school parcel tax, transportation projects, library bonds, development projects and infrastructure bonds.

So far, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA 8), which passed the Assembly on June 15, is the only one of these proposed amendments that passed its house of origin.

Prospects for final passage of any of these bills have now become more complicated. Since they would amend the constitution, a two-thirds vote in each house is required prior to their being submitted to the voters for final approval.

Unfortunately for supporters, recent events in the Senate have eliminated the Democratic “supermajority” necessary for passage of these constitutional amendments. Two senators have taken leaves of absence due to ethics violations and it is unlikely that the “supermajority” will be re-assembled in time to pass any of these bills.

Whatever the final outcome for the two senators on leave, it appears that Proposition 13 protections for California’s taxpayers will remain in place, at least for now. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to protect Proposition 13 and the pocketbooks of California’s hardworking taxpayers.

By Calif. State Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-75th District)

 

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