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California Governor Kicks Off Campaign to Raise Taxes

Amy Quinton
/
Capital Public Radio

Governor Jerry Brown says Californians have two choices; vote yes on Proposition 30 in November, or see schools and higher education lose billions of dollars. The Governor kicked off the campaign for his tax initiative in front of a Sacramento high school.

Governor Brown says his tax initiative is needed to stave off deep budget cuts, which could include shortening the school year by three weeks. The November ballot measure would increase sales taxes by a quarter cent for four years and increase taxes for seven years on those who make more than $250,000 dollars annually.

Brown referenced the Bible’s Book of Luke in asking wealthy Californians to vote yes, saying to whom much is given, much will be required. “What was good 2000 years ago is good today, those who have doubled their income as a share of Californian income can now have the opportunity to give back.”

But John Kabateck, co-chair of the “No on 30” campaign, says in light of the financial mismanagement in the Parks department, no one should support a tax increase.

“This is not the right time, and our government needs to prove that they know how to do accounting, they just haven’t.”

About $6 billion in cuts will be triggered automatically if voters reject the initiative.