California teachers union drops initiative to raise property taxes (Prop "Meathead")

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 4/8/04 | Jenneifer Coleman - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO – The state's largest teachers union and director Rob Reiner dropped their plans Thursday for an initiative to raise property taxes to pay for education and preschool programs.

The decision came a day after three anti-tax groups raised the specter that the measure could have raised residential property taxes, despite assurances from supporters that it would only affect commercial property.

Reiner and the California Teachers Union did not address the tax issue in a statement Thursday.

They said the measure would have been competing with four others on the November ballot that seek to raise revenue for specific purposes. Confusion over the crowded and complicated ballot "makes our job, and even the most attentive voter's job, much more difficult," the statement said.

The Improving Classroom Education Act would have raised commercial property tax rates from 1 percent of the value of the property to 1.55 percent.

The proposal sought to raise $7 billion, including $6 billion that would go toward public education and creating a universal preschool system. The rest would go toward a tax break for small businesses.

On Wednesday, CTA president Barbara Kerr said the campaign was close to its goal of collecting the 1 million signatures needed to put the initiative on the ballot.

But opponents said a glitch in the proposal's language could wind up costing homeowners billions, as well as erode tax protections that have been on the books for 26 years.

Although single-family residences were exempt in the proposal, language could allow the land beneath certain houses to be taxed at the higher rate, Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said Wednesday.

Mitch Zak, spokesman for the Californians Against Higher Property Taxes, said he was pleased the initiative was pulled.

"It was becoming very clear that organizations across the political spectrum were lining up in opposition to this," Zak said.

On the Net:

The California Teachers Association: www.cta.org

[NormsRevenge]

wheww!

[byteback]

But what about the children?

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[Publius]

Archie would have been pleased.

[kylaka]

Archie would have been pleased.

At least with Reiner's nickname. Meathead indeed.

[DoughtyOne]

Have you heard about the initiative that's claiming to raise funds for the 911 system, by adding still more taxes to the phone bill? It turns out that only a few cents on the dollar goes to the 911 plan, and the rest goes to bay the hospital bills of illegal aliens.

I may have this mixed up a little, having heard about it once a couple of weeks ago, but it's one of the biggest shams I've seen.

[elbucko]

The California Teachers Union should be investigated for racketeering and extortion by the Federal Justice Dept.

[NormsRevenge]

I have heard of it, I'll see what I can dig up later. Not good if true,, not good at all, is all I can say. The Fleecing of the Flock continues.

I've exceeded my daily FR ration many fold as usual. ;-)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lots of shams out here !

[elbucko]

It turns out that only a few cents on the dollar goes to the 911 plan, and the rest goes to bay the hospital bills of illegal aliens.

I heard about this "bait-and-switch" tax plan too. If these Bozo's spent as much time looking for waste in the government, than they do in schemes to hit us up on the sly for more money, the state's books would be balanced.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Norm.

[DoughtyOne]

They flock to California. It's the weather.

[DoughtyOne]

Yep, they would be balanced indeed.

[Republic Rocker]

Hey "MEATHEAD"...stay out of my states politics, economics and policies.....

[tubebender]

Hmmmm, I wonder if the language in this bill would have hit Meathead in his personal wallet...

[Grampa Dave]

These slime ball thugs.

Sure there was a typo that allowed them to tax the property under our houses.

Notice as soon as this so called "error" became public, and we started screaming about it, they pull the bill.

That was the original intent of the bill to soak the individual property owners as well as the evil businesses. When they were outed, they ran away.

We need two amendments to protect prop 13:

#1. Only property owners can vote on any prop that will impact Prop 13. If you don't pay property taxes, you can't vote to increase our property taxes.

#2. Any proposed increase in taxes to weaken Prop 13 must be paid by those who vote for the increase and push the increase. Calculate the total cost of the latest sham and put a lien on each homeowner who votes to weaken Prop 13. That lien will not be removed until the extra costs of their latest prop are paid. If they sell their home, the lien must be paid off first.

[Grampa Dave]

These slime ball thugs.

Sure there was a typo that allowed them to tax the property under our houses.

Notice as soon as this so called "error" became public, and we started screaming about it, they pull the bill.

That was the original intent of the bill to soak the individual property owners as well as the evil businesses. When they were outed, they ran away.

We need two amendments to protect prop 13:

#1. Only property owners can vote on any prop that will impact Prop 13. If you don't pay property taxes, you can't vote to increase our property taxes.

#2. Any proposed increase in taxes to weaken Prop 13 must be paid by those who vote for the increase and push the increase. Calculate the total cost of the latest sham and put a lien on each homeowner who votes to weaken Prop 13. That lien will not be removed until the extra costs of their latest prop are paid. If they sell their home, the lien must be paid off first.

[Uncle Hal]

Win one for the good guys.