Tag "Jon Coupal"

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Critics demand accountability for education-funding tax prior to extension vote

Proponents of a 12-year extension of a temporary tax used to bolster education funding may ask voters to consider the measure prior to a full vetting, with critics demanding accountability. By law, the state Controller’s office is supposed to audit Proposition 30’s

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First debate of 2016 CA election season tackles poverty, taxes

  It’s not even 2016 yet, but the first debate over a probable initiative on the November 2016 ballot took place in Dana Point Monday when former Board of Equalization member Conway Collis squared off with Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association president

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HJTA initiative could focus affordable housing debate

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association on May 1 filed paperwork with the state Attorney General’s Office as a first step toward qualifying an affordable-housing measure — the California Homeowners and Renters Tax Relief Act of 2016 — for next year’s

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Can tiered water rates be used to encourage conservation?

A media firestorm erupted Monday, April 20, over Gov. Brown’s opposition to a State Court of Appeals decision in a water rate setting case involving Proposition 218.  The initiative, passed in 1996, requires voter approval for any new property-related utility

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CalChamber plans another successful year of defeating “job killer” bills

Sacramento’s been taking care of business. Last week, the California Chamber of Commerce, known simply as CalChamber, announced a preliminary draft of its “job killer” bills, an annual list of proposed legislation that will hurt the state’s business community and

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Hertzberg seeks permanent extension to taxpayer relief program

As California taxpayers brace for another round of tax increases this session, they’ve found an unlikely ally in the state Legislature. State Senator Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, who has ruffled the feathers of taxpayer groups with his proposal for a $10

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‘Paycheck protection’: CA shouldn’t give up hope on checking unions yet

After the failure of three ballot attempts in the past 15 years to require unions to give their members veto power over the use of their dues for political purposes, Californians hoping for a better balance of power in local

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GOP lawmakers deliver key votes for tax extension

  how to get your ex back Last month, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a $2.3 billion tax extension. The measure, authored by a Central Valley Democrat, passed both houses of the legislature with overwhelmingly Democratic support. Yet,

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Governor as dictator

June 27, 2013 By John Seiler “Hail Caesar!” Gov. Jerry Brown likes classical references. So that’s one we should salute him with every time we see him. As I wrote yesterday about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 8,

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Six bills would make it easier to pass tax increases

MAY 17, 2013 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — The Senate Governance and Finance Committee on Wednesday passed six constitutional amendments to make it easier for local voters to pass various tax increases on property owners. “California didn’t knowingly vote for

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