A coalition of 18 taxpayer groups from across the state filed an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court, urging the Court to allow voters to vote on the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, a ballot initiative that would require voter approval for any new state or local tax increases in California.
The TPA, which qualified for the November ballot with more than 1.4 million signatures, is facing a legal challenge from Gov. Newsom, the Legislature and state Sen. John Burton. They claim that the initiative is actually revision of the state Constitution, which requires different procedures.
This is a blatant attempt to disenfranchise voters and silence their voices.
The amicus brief argues that the TPA is a valid exercise of the people’s right to initiative and referendum, which is enshrined in the California Constitution and recognized by the U.S. Constitution. The brief also contends that the TPA does not alter the structure or framework of the state government, but rather imposes a reasonable and popular check on the legislature’s power to impose taxes.
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