California's dream of a liberal utopia looks to be coming to an end

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/prop-374887-money-campaign.html

Prop. 30 limping toward finish line

Published: Oct. 17, 2012 Updated: 4:46 p.m.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Gov. Jerry Brown has launched his version of a two-minute drill for his Proposition 30 initiative, with Election Day less than three weeks away. Prop. 30 would raise up to $8.5 billion a year, through higher sales taxes and new top income tax brackets on high-income Californians. The money supposedly would prevent further budget cuts, mainly to education.

There's good and bad news for the governor's effort. The good news was that the philanthropic attorney Molly Munger has pulled the television ads that unfavorably contrasted Prop. 30 with her own Proposition 38 tax increase of $10 billion, earmarked for schools. The ads criticized Prop. 30 for not including Prop. 38's "guarantee" that the additional money would go directly to local schools.

"That's why Sacramento's behind it," a child's voice says in the ad, an apparent reference to Gov. Brown and other Democratic establishment backers of Prop. 30.

The Munger-funded attacks "clearly weren't good for us," Ace Smith, Prop. 30's campaign manager, told the Contra Costa Times. "But there was a public outcry, and we're glad they're pulling them."

We didn't notice any public outcry.

But that's about the only good news for Gov. Brown. The latest polling from the California Business Roundtable, taken Oct. 7-10, showed Prop. 30 dipping below 50 percent support, which is bad for an initiative this near an election. Absentee voters already are putting their ballots in the mail; their decisions can't be altered. It may prove difficult for the governor to reclaim a majority by Nov. 6.

The campaign money situation also isn't improving. Public employee unions, whom Gov. Brown has called his "troops," have given most of the $52 million raised as of Oct. 14 for the Yes on 30 campaign. He might not get much more.

"Labor unions are unloading tens of millions of dollars against a ballot measure that could limit their political clout in California, but the spending could come at a cost for one of their biggest allies: Gov. Jerry Brown," the Los Angeles Times reported.

The unions have realized that continuation of their dominance over California politics depends on their defeating Prop. 32, the Paycheck Protection Act. It would prevent unions from automatically deducting money from members' paychecks to be used for political campaigns. For the unions, losing Prop. 30 would be a misfortune; the passage of Prop. 32 would be a catastrophe.

As of Oct. 24, the unions have contributed almost all of the $57 million raised by the anti-32 campaign. That's money the governor might wish he could have had to spend on passing Prop. 30.

Meanwhile, anti-Prop. 30 money keeps adding up. Charles Munger, Molly's brother, has contributed $22 million to the anti-Prop. 30 campaign. And, according to the Sacramento Bee, on Monday a "mystery group" called Americans for Responsible Leadership and based in Phoenix dumped $11 million into the anti-Prop. 30 campaign.

Gov. Brown is an inveterate campaigner and, at age 74, has been boosting Prop. 30 with the energy of a much younger man. He's been especially encouraging students in the two state university systems to back the initiative, supposedly to prevent threatened increases in their tuition. "My plea to you is, don't be complacent," he told students Tuesday at UCLA. "You can avoid that tuition hike."

He didn't mention that Prop. 30 would do nothing to prevent much of the additional tax money from going to state employee pensions or other purposes. Nor did he say that both the University of California and Cal State University systems are larded with waste that needs to be cut. And he surely didn't point out that the higher taxes would likely kill some jobs that otherwise would go to students upon graduation.

Let's hope the students – and other voters – are more astute than the governor may surmise.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/jerry-brown-warns-of-orwellian-propaganda.html

California Gov. Jerry Brown warns of 'Orwellian propaganda'

October 23, 2012 | 3:19 pm

On the campaign trail today, Gov. Jerry Brown lashed out at his opponents, whom he accused of using "Orwellian propaganda" to drag Proposition 30 to defeat.

While on a four-city tour Tuesday with planned stops in Inglewood, San Diego, Bakersfield and Fresno, Brown said the tax hikes in his ballot measure are needed to protect schools and put the state on stable economic footing.

"I've been cutting and slashing and hacking," Brown told reporters at a San Diego elementary school. "I don't think we should cut anymore."

Brown called the leaders of the No on 30 campaign mercenaries" playing a "political game" with the state's schools and economy. He accused them of launching a "vicious propaganda campaign of deception and utter cynicism."

He took particular issue with a new ad that says his measure would hike gasoline taxes.

"That," he said, "is a flat lie."

Brown acknowledged that the attacks have taken a toll on Proposition 30, and that his proposal faces a tough fight.

"The biggest challenge is getting the word out to people who haven't heard of 30," he said.

But he defended his decision to stay off the campaign trail until last week. "People are just starting to pay attention now," he said. "I'm going to spend the next two weeks doing everything I can to spread the word."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/gov-jerry-brown-puts-dog-on-hunt-for-votes.html

Gov. Jerry Brown puts dog on hunt for votes

October 22, 2012 | 1:43 pm

Has the campaign for Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax measure gone to the dogs?

As supporters of Proposition 30 struggle to convince voters to approve a multibillion dollar tax hike that is teetering in the polls, they are trying a new pitch to motivate campaign volunteers: reward their work with a visit from the governor’s dog.

Sutter, the governor’s Pembroke Welsh corgi, will visit 30 Democratic Party field offices “to ‘Bark out’ the Vote for Prop 30,” said a release from the party. “Volunteers who show up on tour stops and make at least one hour of phone calls to voters will have a chance to meet Sutter as he travels across the state.”

But wait, there’s more.

Like a chance for volunteers to “get a limited edition Sutter Brown trading card as a souvenir of this unique campaign effort.”

If you want to meet the governor’s dog, fine. Just don’t bring your own.

“Volunteers are also being asked to kindly leave their canine companions at home if they plan on coming into a California Democratic Party campaign office to volunteer for this event as many offices are not set up to accommodate multiple dogs,” the release said.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I think Prop 30's downfall was that folks could read it for themselves. Damn education!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I think Prop 30's downfall was that folks could read it for themselves. Damn education!

Do you have any idea what this means if this proposition fails? Obama loses his #1 bank account aka California, the Dems in California are going to back slide a century or more and all those feel good socialist laws and programs for the illegals are going to be the #1 target. I don't know if you have read what's been happening in Oakland lately but the Feds are getting ready to take over there. If that happens it will set a new precedent in the US unlike any since the Civil War. What happens in California affects the rest of the US in a big big way. It's like the first domino and it's a big one.

Edited October 24, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[^_^ 5,021]

I don't know if you have read what's been happening in Oakland lately but the Feds are getting ready to take over there. If that happens it will set a new precedent in the US unlike any since the Civil War.

link to some background reading?

Edited October 24, 2012 by ^_^

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Do you have any idea what this means if this proposition fails? Obama loses his #1 bank account aka California, the Dems in California are going to back slide a century or more and all those feel good socialist laws and programs for the illegals are going to be the #1 target. I don't know if you have read what's been happening in Oakland lately but the Feds are getting ready to take over there. If that happens it will set a new precedent in the US unlike any since the Civil War. What happens in California affects the rest of the US in a big big way. It's like the first domino and it's a big one.

Have you been to Oakland?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

[quote name=' timestamp='1351107183' post='5777470]

link to some background reading?

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/7565569-feds-threaten-to-take-over-oakland-police-department/

[^_^ 5,021]

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/7565569-feds-threaten-to-take-over-oakland-police-department/

thats a video. not reading.

but ok, i get that you're talking about the police.. i'll google it myself. thanks for the pointer.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Have you been to Oakland?

Do you know who's running Oakland and why it's in the position it is now? Don't forget Gov. Moonbeam was mayor of that rat hole.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/7565569-feds-threaten-to-take-over-oakland-police-department/

Not going to happen.

[^_^ 5,021]

Bad Daddy - it sounds like the federal receivership (why do you keep calling it a takeover?) is something a few attorneys are asking for and it's up to a judge to grant it. Not even close to a done deal, no reason to even believe it's in the top ten of options before the judge.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

California has more important things to worry about, like earthquakes and whether or not the Giants will win the World Series. Cheapest seats for tonight's game are going for $300 ea.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/jerry-brown-taxes-churches.html

Gov. Jerry Brown stumps for taxes at Bay Area churches

October 21, 2012 | 1:26 pm

Gov. Jerry Brown pitched his tax plan at two Bay Area churches Sunday, quoting the Gospel and pledging to send more money to schools.

With less than three weeks until election day Nov. 6, Brown has been spending more time on the campaign trail rallying support for Proposition 30, his plan to temporarily raise the sales tax and levies on the wealthy. If the taxes aren't approved, he says, billions of dollars will be cut from public schools.

Brown, who traded seminary for law school and politics five decades ago, found receptive audiences at both churches. His first stop was the Third Baptist Church near Alamo Square in San Francisco, where he was introduced as "the one and only Jerry Brown."

Mattie Collins, 84, said she supported the tax hikes, echoing the feelings of several congregants.

"If I have to raise my taxes to help the state, I don't mind," she said.

Brown then headed to Acts Full Gospel Church near the Coliseum in Oakland. Like he has often done while pushing his tax plan, he cited a passage from Luke while explaining why the wealthy should pay more, saying "to whom much is given, much will be required."

Added Brown, "This election day, you'll make sure it's required."

Anthony Johnson, 56, said he was pleased the governor was targeting the rich in his tax plan.

"That's what they need to do," he said. "Go after them."

Not everyone liked all of Brown's message. At one point in his speech, when discussing higher taxes on the wealthy, he said, "I'm sure nobody here has to worry about that particular tax."

Lisa Smith, 44, described that comment as "a slap in the face" for a church in a city struggling with poverty and its stigmas.

"We have members that are rich," she said.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/gov-jerry-brown-rallies-sacramento-students-for-prop-30.html

Gov. Jerry Brown rallies Sacramento students for Prop. 30

October 18, 2012 | 1:48 pm

Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday urged students to back Proposition 30, his November tax initiative, saying the measure would stop years of cuts to community colleges.

Speaking to about 200 students at a courtyard rally at Sacramento City College, Brown cast California as the capital of innovation and education as its cornerstone.

"Education has to be No. 1," he said. "But when the whole pot of money gets smaller, then everything gets cut. ...This is a crucial opportunity."

The governor's proposal would levy a four-year, quarter-cent rise in the state sales tax and a seven-year hike in income tax rates for those who make more than $250,000. If it fails, the UC and Cal State systems each could face $250 million in midyear budget cuts that officials say would lead to substantial fee increases for the winter and spring terms. Community colleges would take a $340-million hit.

"Most of the money is going to come from the top," he told the cheering crowd, emphasizing levies on upper-income earners and quoting the Bible. "For whom much is given, much is called for and much will be asked."

"It’s fair, it’s needed and it’s balanced," he added. "Everybody puts in a little bit."

VOTER GUIDE: 2012 California Propositions

Brown reminded the crowd that Californians can now register to vote online.

He delivered similar remarks to students at a UCLA rally Tuesday. The events mark a return to the hustings for Brown, who hadn't held a campaign event for his tax initiative since Aug. 30.

Polls show Proposition 30 clinging to a narrow lead, but those surveys were taken before a newly financed opposition campaign began airing ads against the measure.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I am sure glad you are paying attention to what the governor is up to, since no one else is. It's World Series time! Go Giants!

Edited October 24, 2012 by The Patriot

[decocker 7,198]

baby steps..