Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act
For too long, politicians have been carving loopholes in Proposition 13 and making it easier to raise taxes. It’s time to close the loopholes.
For too long, politicians and judges have been carving loopholes in Proposition 13 and making it easier and easier to raise taxes.
It's time to close the loopholes.
Restore Proposition 13's requirements for voter approval of local taxes
Proposition 13 requires a two-thirds vote for special taxes to make it harder for special interests to game the system. However, state courts have recently invented a loophole. They say special taxes proposed by a "citizens' initiative" can pass with 50% plus one yote instead of 2/3. This loophole enables special interest groups to pretend to be average citizens circulating an initiative, when really they're interested parties who will get all the money from the tax increase.
Require voter approval of state tax increases
Proposition 13 requires a 2/3 vote in the Assembly and the state Senate for any state tax increase, but that wasn't enough to prevent the massive increase in the gas tax and vehicle registration fees, or the waste of money that was supposed to go toward fixing our roads. This initiative would require statewide voter approval of any new taxes or tax increases in addition to the 2/3 vote in the Legislature.
Ensure transparency
This initiative will stop the abusive practice of mislabeling taxes on the ballot to fool voters into approving them. It will also stop the mislabeling of taxes as "fees" or something else in order to evade voter approval requirements.
Your Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Strengthen the voice of taxpayers in California
Today, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has grown with the support of more than a quarter-million taxpayers!