Perata changes mind on Prop. 82 [Meathead's Goverment-Nanny Initiative]

Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/1/6 | Kevin Yamamura and Jim Sanders

[SmithL]

Preschool ballot measure has fatal flaws, Senate leader says.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, one of the state's leading Democrats, on Tuesday withdrew his support for a universal preschool ballot proposal in another blow to actor Rob Reiner's initiative.

Perata, at a breakfast meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau, said his reversal on Proposition 82 was unrelated to mounting criticism of Reiner's dual leadership roles with the First 5 California Commission and the political campaign to pass the $2.4 billion initiative.

Instead, the Oakland Democrat said his own analysis determined the plan has fatal flaws.

Proposition 82 would increase income taxes on the state's highest 100,000 earners to pay for free preschool for all California children.

"Upon reflection, I believe Prop. 82 would become yet another obstacle impending prudent governance of the state," Perata wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Reiner.

Perata said he is concerned the plan will impair state government's ability to pay for K-12 education and other public services by locking up $2.4 billion annually for preschool. In the past, legislators have proposed using the same tax increase to help balance the state's budget.

He also said it will most benefit middle-and upper-middle class families while hurting private and nonprofit schools that target ethnic communities.

And he said he fears K-12 schools could suffer by losing teachers to preschools.

"I was sort of caught up in the need and the value of preschool," Perata said of his previous endorsement. "I should have thought about it or analyzed it."

[SmithL]

Even Ultra-liberals are abandoning Meathead on this.

[goldstategop]

When Don Perata sounds sane, there's a ray of light shining through in Sacramento. I would hope he would take the same perspective on other spending proposals but I doubt it.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Publius6961]

"Upon reflection, I believe Prop. 82 would become yet another obstacle impending prudent governance of the state," Perata wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Reiner.

To say nothing of further institutionalizing class warfare, a clear and explicit goal of both communists and "progressives"

[cgk]

"I was sort of caught up in the need and the value of preschool," Perata said of his previous endorsement. "I should have thought about it or analyzed it."

He should have talked to his homeschooling brother a bit more. Glad to see he pulled his backing even if it's because of the old "the wealthy will benefit" argument.