Posted on 11/04/2010 8:40:02 PM PDT by GVnana
Calif.'s Little-Noticed Prop 26 Squeaks Through in Dead of Night
By COLIN SULLIVAN of Greenwire
Published: November 3, 2010
The same California voters who rejected a proposition yesterday that would have suspended the state's climate change law also approved a separate ballot referendum that could undermine how cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are implemented by changing the definition of environmental fees.
Proposition 26, which passed officially early this morning, will tighten how the state constitution defines taxes and regulatory fees. It has been called the "evil twin" of Proposition 23 by environmental activists who fear it would inhibit the state's ability to regulate carbon emissions.
Proposition 23 would have delayed the state's climate law, A.B. 32, until unemployment dropped to 5.5 percent for a full year. The measure was roundly rejected, with more than 60 percent of the electorate voting against it (ClimateWire, Nov. 3).
But the same voters either did not see a connection between Prop 26 and climate policy or did not care. They voted to approve Prop 26, which will require a two-thirds supermajority vote in the state Legislature for many fees and new taxes.
An analysis released last week by the law school at University of California, Los Angeles, found that Prop 26 could "erect significant barriers" to many environmental programs in California, including A.B. 32 (Greenwire, Oct. 27). This despite claims by the "Yes on 26" campaign (and supporters like Chevron Corp.) that the measure would simply make it more difficult to increase taxes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Sometimes those unintended consequences can be a good thing.
Fear not. They’ll find some court somewhere to overturn it like they do everything else the voters approve.
The leftwing extremists in the mainstream media keep saying that Americans and the TEA Party lost on Tuesday while these little BIG things just keep popping up. The November 2nd tsunami washed away a lot of mud.
nothing in the way people voted here makes sense. They voted for Brown and Boxer, yet they also voted for prop 11... What about 19, so someone out there who voted for Boxer either doesn’t want people to smoke weed or doesn’t want to be taxed for it. I’m thinking the former, but it just doesn’t make any sense.
Yup. The Left is going to try to get a liberal judge to overturn it so they can raise fees to their heart’s content.
Oh it makes sent. CA’s dependent class is happy to suck the government teats but they don’t want to feed the cow.
no kidding, we had to vote yes to keep a new redistricting panel on the same ballot we had to vote no to dismantle the new redistricting panel. What would have happened if both passed? 8{
Conservatives were taken in by language in Proposition 25 that promised to punish lawmakers if they were late in passing the budget. It cleverly disguised the majority vote poison pill that otherwise would have never passed.
How in the world do Californians keep up with all the propositions they have to vote on every election?
one little proposition won’t undo the damage caused by the election of some really stupid dems.
If both Proposition 20 and 27 had passed, the California Constitution says that where two propositions are on the same subject, the one that receives the highest number of valid votes is the one that is adopted.
Somehow, our voters have decided that a two thirds requirement is a bad thing when it applies to the budget, but a good thing when it applies to taxes and fees. You have to wonder where they think the money to cover the budget comes from.
Californians like direct democracy. Most states have it also.
Its simple. Someone else pays. Basically its, keep your hands off MY benefits but don’t tax me for them!
I needed a new tagline, and your post fits my needs perfectly. Thanks.
So they end up debating useless crap like what should be the State Weed.
Slackers all.
Check who is writing the pro arguments in the voter guide. Unions, trial lawyers, Sierra club and the like tend to be a clear indications a no vote is in order. Taxes, bonds and fees get a no vote. If it makes it past those tests, read the bill.
Cutting off the water; it’s a good thing!
Good analogy.
Should be very interesting, not to mention fun to watch, as the liberals and econuts who now will run everything and will want to really crank up the spending, are going to be starved for cash since all new taxes AND FEES will require a 2/3 vote.
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