Today, California Senate Republicans voted in opposition to Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13, which both undermine critical taxpayer protections in place.
For more than 40 years, Proposition 13 has protected taxpayers from the insatiable appetite Democrat politicians have for taxing and spending. Prop 13 safeguards against unexpected property tax increases, puts a check on out-of-control taxation, and helps slow irrational, irresponsible spending increases.
“California is already too damn expensive,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego). “ACA 13 would make it difficult, to nearly impossible, for Californians to impose new limits on taxation. This Legislature should not be attacking efforts that protect taxpayers and seek to reduce the cost of living burdens in our state. Measures like this cause Californians to wake up every morning and wonder if this is the day they should leave.”
ACA 13 undermines the initiative process and undermines the voice of California voters while creating an uneven playing field that favors greedy tax increases.
In a debate on ACA 13, Jones made it clear this was the wrong move for the Golden State. Click here to view or download his comments.
ACA 13 is an attempt to impede the voice of the voters by quickly changing the citizen-led constitutional initiative process. This change would undermine existing taxpayer protections established by past voter-approved propositions, including Prop 13.
Furthermore, ACA 1 would significantly lessen Prop 13 protections, giving local government officials more power to tax homes and businesses.
“Proponents argue that this will allow for more affordable housing, but that simply does not add up,’” Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) wrote in a recent Letter to the Editor on ACA 1 placed in the Sacramento Bee. “When you increase the cost of building supplies and the taxes on the end product the word 'affordable' seems a stretch.”
Click here to view and download Senator Niello's remarks on ACA 1.
“Far too many families can’t afford this state as it is,” said Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta). “Transferring power from the people to the one-party controlled Legislature on protections against higher taxes will just mean they do more of the same, tax away and increase living costs.”
During a passionate floor speech, Senator Seyarto articulated his opposition to ACA 13 on the Senate Floor today. Click here to watch or download his remarks.