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Hmmmm.... passage of prop 26 closed the loophole of calling a tax a fee. Under prop 26, all taxes require a 2/3 majority vote to pass....
Snippet:
[LEFT]But celebrations have turned to fears about the impact of what some have called its "evil twin" - Prop. 26, which passed Tuesday. That's the initiative relabeling environmental mitigation and other fees as taxes, requiring the virtually impossible to get two-thirds vote, thus starving state and local treasuries even further.
Maybe we didn't need prop 23 to stop AB32. Interesting.... No wonder CA oil companies didn't pour money into defeating 23... they may have put money into 26 instead... just a theory.
Good. The whole method of assessing fees to get around the 2/3 budgetary process tax raising requirement is part of the whole shadowgame the government has been playing for years. The ARB is mentioned and they're particularly egregious, eating up an ever increasing chunk of your DMV fees.
How many of us were aware of the possible impact of Prop 26 (which passed this week)?
Prop 26 proposed to re-define state fees as "taxes", so they would be subject to a 2/3rds vote in the state legislature before they could take affect. Apparently, many Californians, who opposed Prop 23, voted for Prop 26 without thinking through the implications.
Experts say Prop 26 is Prop 23's "evil twin". While Prop 23 failed, and the strict emmisions laws will go into effect as scheduled, Prop 26 effectively strips the state of the ability to impose or collect the related fines and fees. Such actions would now require a 2/3rds vote of the legislature (good luck).
This "stealth initiative" was bank-rolled by the same special interests that supported Prop 23, as a sort of "hedge bet" (Chevron donated 4 mil dollars). Guess it worked!
Yet another example of the expolitation and manipulation of California's direct democracy mechanism by monied outside interests. Legal challanges are sure to come, but the outlook is murky at best.
See article below, from the "FREEP" (that is, if you stand some more Conservative gloating)
But the same voters either did not see a connection between Prop 26 and climate policy or did not care.
LOL, neither did the AGW people! Otherwise they would have been all over this prop.
Also, "squeaks through the dead of night"? LOL, looks like some English major is bummed out. The prop was just as visible as prop 23. It's more like prop 26 was hiding in plain sight.
LOL, neither did the AGW people! Otherwise they would have been all over this prop.
Also, "squeaks through the dead of night"? LOL, looks like some English major is bummed out. The prop was just as visible as prop 23. It's more like prop 26 was hiding in plain sight.
I consider myslf a fairly well-informed Liberal/ Socialist/ Environmentalist voter. I didn't pay that much attention to Prop 26 before going to the polls. I'm automatically suspicious of California's propositon system, and usually reflexively vote "No". I did notice that Prop 26 would require a 2/3rds majority for the state to collect fees, so I figured it was a bad idea, and voted "No".
The California voters seemed to be a little schitzo this time. They voted against a bill designed to dismantle existing environmental legislation, then voted for a bill that will make implimentation difficult. More mischief from outside interests, combined with voter inattention, and a failure to connect the dots.
I guess we'll just have to find a judge who'll declare Prop 26 unconstitutional!
I guess we'll just have to find a judge who'll declare Prop 26 unconstitutional!
Yep, the only winners in many of these props are the lawyers!
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Prop 26- Prop 23's "evil twin"?
