Jerry Brown submits tax petitions, says 'difficult' budget cuts next

Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/11/12 | David Siders and Torey Van Oot

[SmithL]

In one choreographed appearance at the office of the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, Gov. Jerry Brown's campaign to raise taxes appeared on Friday to take shape.

A week after announcing he had collected enough signatures to qualify the initiative for the November ballot, Brown – accompanied by a new political consultant, the first lady and his dog – turned several boxes of them in.

The event came just days before Brown is expected to propose deeper spending reductions in a budget revision Monday to deal with a deficit that likely has grown beyond $10 billion.

The Democratic governor cast his tax measure as necessary to avert more dire cuts.

"It's balanced, it's fair and it will take a major step forward in putting California in a very solid position," Brown said, leaning into a lectern outside the registrar's office and flanked by about two dozen supporters. "We are facing a world that is full of economic uncertainties, but with this tax measure, and with the cuts that I'll be proposing on Monday, California will put itself in a very, very strong position."

Brown declined to discuss his budget revision in detail, but he said it "will be a difficult day in Sacramento."

Brown, who proposes to raise the state sales tax and income taxes on California's highest earners, was accompanied by political consultant Ace Smith, whose company, SCN Strategies, will run the campaign.

[EGPWS]

"It's balanced, it's fair and it will take a major step forward in putting California in a very solid position," Brown said,

[equaviator]

Shouldn’t Linda Ronstadt try to help with some kind of benefit or fundraiser???

[wac3rd]

He is a Commie that is beholden to the crooked, bloated unions who put his ancient arse back in office.

Tax, tax, tax. There is no other Liberal way to make money as unicorn farts, green energy and bullet train boondoggles and lifetime paid pensions produce no wealth.

[wac3rd]

I support a tax on the un-earned portion of public employee pensions, e.g. if you paid in $100K and you are now getting more than you put in, using a rate of return...you get taxed at 75% for money you are stealing from the taxpayers.

Now, that’s FAIR.

[trapped_in_LA]

It will be interesting to see if the idiots here in California will vote for this. They’re framing this as a “for the children” type of thing and that it will be used to fund the schools. My feeling is that the voters will go for it but I hope that they don’t. You can bet that the unions will be pulling out all the stops to get this through.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

The sooner, the better.

The sooner CA drops over the cliff, the better.

Because that’s what it’ll take.

[Hugin]

Californians will vote for any spending inititives, and against any tax inititives, except maybe cigarette taxes. And even though the RATS have a lock on the legislature, they need at least one Republcan to get a 2/3 majority in both houses they need to raise taxes. Also Brown promised not to sign a tax increase without voter approval. So when this one goes down, they will cover what they can with the usual smoke and mirrors accounting gimmicks, but they will have to make real cuts too. And now they can’t even blame the Pubs (of course they will anyway). It should be fun to watch who screams the loudest.

[BenLurkin]

F U J B

[Myrddin]

I have to pay CA income tax because my current assignment requires physical presence in San Diego. I can’t vote because I’m a resident of Idaho. If the tax burden becomes unbearable, I’ll take a lower paying job in Idaho instead of bearing the costs of renting a room to work the current tasking. Brown will lose another taxpayer.

[hoosierham]

I’m reminded of the old science fiction story in which the character in California awakens to his abode shaking by a terrible ‘quake, rushes outside and looking EAST sees nothing but churning water and debris!!!

[JmyBryan]

Offshore drilling? Hehehe...

[vette6387]

“Shouldn’t Linda Ronstadt try to help with some kind of benefit or fundraiser???

Nah, she got thrown out of the Las Vegas casino where she was working for being sleazy on-stage. And besides she looks like one of the “Tons of Fun” now!

[MasterGunner01]

Cut all the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch politicians and lawyers making over $100,000 pay by 50%. Example: you make $150,000 before the cut, you make $75,000 after the cut. This applies to all state union workers and it includes ALL pay, both straight time and overtime.